Jesus destroyed the evidence against Peter

Wednesday   12-23-15  Home in Modesto 

Scripture reading:    John 15 - 18

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  John 18:10-11  Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant. But Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup the Father has given me"

Luke 22:49-51 ...they exclaimed, "Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!" And one of them slashed at the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus said, "Don't resist anymore." And he touched the place where the man's ear had been and healed him.

Mark 14:47  But someone pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest's servant.

Matt 26:51  One of the men with Jesus pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest's servant. NLT

O.  It is dark there in the garden of Gethsemane.  Here comes a mob with temple guards and armed soldiers to take Jesus prisoner.  The captain holds up a torch to see the faces in the dark.  Jesus steps forward, “Who are you seeking?”  “I am he!”  And suddenly they find themselves picking themselves up off the ground.  Now somebody grabs Jesus and our brave Peter steps forward and swings his very sharp sword at the nearest guy in the darkness.  Obviously Peter wasn’t aiming to take off the fellow’s ear.  The guy ducked or it would have been his head.

Each of the four gospel writers relate this incident.   Only John tell us “who-done-it”.  It had to be Peter!  Only Luke, the medical doctor mentions that Jesus touched and healed that man’s ear.  I wonder if Jesus picked up the ear and dusted it off and put it in its place... Who knows?

A.  Now let’s suppose that Marchus decides to bring Peter to court for attempted murder.  Marchus explains to the judge what happened.  “I was just standing there in the darkness and that man took a sword and whacked off my ear.  If I hadn’t ducked it would have been my head.  Can you imagine, oh judge, what it feels like to see your ear flying through the air and hitting the ground?  It was terrible!”  “You ask which ear?  This one right here.” And he tugs on his healed right ear.  The judge yells, “Get out of here!  You have no case!” and orders him out of the court for “lack of evidence.”  Jesus destroyed the evidence against Simon Peter.  And His death on the cross destroyed the evidence against me!

P.  Lord, I remember when President Nixon tried to destroy the tape recorded evidence against himself.  When he was unsuccessful the ugly tapes of his voice were broadcast on the air for every citizen in the USA to hear.  His own words condemned him.  Jesus, I am so thankful that You totally destroyed the evidence of my sin.   You took it upon Yourself, as if it were You that had sinned, and left it nailed to that cross and buried in the sea of God’s forgetfulness forever.  What a relief!  Amen. 

Ralph