John 18:10
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
In the Garden after His agony, when Jesus was seized and bound, Peter in vehement anger drew his sword to defend Him and cut off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant. Jesus touched the wounded ear and instantly healed it, showing He still had power to act even while allowing Himself to be taken. He stopped Peter and commanded him to put up his sword into the sheath and accept arrest rather than resist by violence. He could have escaped or asked the Father for more than twelve legions of angels, but He voluntarily submitted to drink the cup His Father had given Him so the Scriptures would be fulfilled and He could bear the sins of the world. Yet Peter, who was ready to fight for Christ with a weapon, lacked courage to acknowledge Him under scorn, and the disciples who knew He could deliver Himself were offended and fled when He chose not to.
Arrest in the Garden
John 18:10 belongs to the arrest of Jesus after His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane following the betrayal by Judas. It forms part of the great trial of betrayal, humiliation and death that awaited Him and for which He had prepared His disciples.
When the armed band fell prostrate and helpless to the ground, the disciples thought their Master would not suffer Himself to be taken and began to hope. They believed the same power that had prostrated the mob could keep them helpless until Jesus and His companions passed unharmed beyond reach. They were disappointed and indignant when the murderous throng regained assurance and laid violent hands on Jesus, and when cords were brought forward to bind the precious hands that had ever been employed only in doing good.
In vehement anger and rash indignation at seeing Him whom they loved seized and bound, Simon Peter drew his sword to defend Him. He smote Malchus, the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. Jesus touched the wounded ear and healed it instantly, at once. By this He showed He still had power to act even while allowing Himself to be arrested.
Why Jesus Refused Rescue
Jesus at once stopped Peter and ordered him to put his sword back into its sheath, refusing to allow violent resistance to His capture and accepting what must take place instead. He would not be defended by force, but willingly yielded to arrest and binding.
He had full power to escape, for He could have asked His Father and received more than twelve legions of angels for His deliverance. Yet He chose not to call them, but voluntarily submitted in order to drink the cup His Father had given Him. He did this so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. His submission was necessary because He was sent to bear the sins of the world and must pay the penalty of man's transgression, even though He had power to deliver Himself.
The disciples knew He could deliver Himself, but when He chose not to they were offended and frightened, and they fled. The servant who had been wounded was afterward identified through a near kinsman, who used Peter's presence in the garden to charge him with being a follower of Jesus. Peter's readiness to take up arms for Christ did not give him courage to acknowledge Him under scorn and reproach, for he who would fight with a weapon could yet deny knowing Him when He was mocked. As part of the chapter standing just before the account of Christ's suffering and death, this record is meant to strengthen believers who suffer for their faith and help them hold fast to it.