“Permit even this. And He touched his ear and healed him.” (Luke 22:51)

“Permit even this. And He touched his ear and healed him.” (Luke 22:51)

When Jesus is betrayed in the garden of gethsemane with a kiss by Judas and the soldiers move to arrest Him, a scuffle breaks out between the temple guards and our Lord’s disciples. Amidst all of the pushing and shoving, Peter takes out a sword and says, “Lord, shall we strike?” He then swings and cuts off the ear of one of the soldiers. In John’s gospel, we learn that this [unfortunate] victim was named, Malchus. 

But Jesus was quick to tell his followers to put away their weapons, saying, “whoever lives by the sword will surely die by the sword,” reminding them that this is why He came into the world: to suffer and die a sacrificial death for all of man’s sin.

It is at this point, encircled by anger, hate, animosity, and horror, that Jesus performs His last miracle; a simple act of love, a moment of compassion and humanity amidst all the chaos that ensues. He stoops down, picks up the man’s ear, and miraculously heals him. 

Fr. John