out of the ordinary | the ear

God frequently works through the ordinary. Through them he shares something of his love for us and reveals elements of his redemption plan. In this devotional series we look at some of the ordinary things Jesus would have encountered as he journeyed towards the cross. Today, we're considering an ear. Holy Spirit, will you reveal something extraordinary through it. Amen.

While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. Luke 22:49-51, NIV

We learn from John that the servant's name was Malchus. The healing of his ear is the last miracle Jesus performs, and yet possibly his most significant. It certainly serves to point us to everything he will achieve on the cross to come.

In the chaos and darkness of Jesus’ arrest Peter strikes Malchus with his sword and cuts off his ear, but Jesus immediately heals it. To do that, he must have bent down, and picked the ear from the ground, and put it right back where it was. I imagine Malchus flinching as Jesus tenderly touches and powerfully reinstates the connections between the tissues, muscles, and nerves, bringing full restoration to what had been lost. Jesus - the King of Kings and Lords of Lords stoops to heal a slave, and undoes the damage Peter had caused.

These actions of Jesus are a phenomenal foreshadow of what he will do on the cross. As he bends under the beatings and endures the lashings at the whipping post, Jesus will bring about our complete healing and full restoration. By his victory over sin and death he will undo the damage done by Adam’s rebellion, and powerfully reinstate the connection between us and the Father.

The Son of God rescues and saves. Whoever and whenever.

Let's pray
Thank you, Jesus, for the care you showed Malchus and how it witnesses to your love and compassion for all humanity. Thank you that you made yourself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant so I could be rescued and saved. I love you, Lord. Amen.