And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
Peter rashly struck the high priest's servant with his sword and cut off his right ear in anger and hasty zeal as armed men seized and bound Jesus after His agony in Gethsemane and Judas's betrayal. The stroke came in vehement anger at the moment violent hands were laid upon Jesus to take Him.
The disciples had just seen the strong armed band fall prostrate backward to the ground before His divine power and lie helpless there. They thought He would not suffer Himself to be taken, for the same power that prostrated the mob could keep them helpless until He and His companions passed beyond reach, and they began to hope He would deliver Himself. They were disappointed and indignant when cords were brought to bind the hands of Him whom they loved, those precious hands that had ever been employed in doing good. As those violent hands were laid on Jesus to bind Him, Peter struck.
Jesus at once healed the wounded ear, even while Roman soldiers held Him, showing mercy to one among the arresting party. That healing, together with the prostrating of those who came to take Him, proved He had power to deliver Himself from the murderous mob if He chose, and gave even His enemies clear evidence of His divine power. Jesus rejected Peter's attempted armed defense, telling him to put away his sword and rebuking its use, and suffered Himself to be taken because the Scriptures must be fulfilled thus. He declared He could pray to His Father for more than twelve legions of angels.
That declaration filled the watching angels with hope that they might surround their Commander and disperse the mob, until His adding that the Scriptures must be fulfilled thus brought them sadness. The disciples knew He had power to free Himself, yet were offended that He suffered this humiliation to Himself and to them instead of freeing Himself, and blamed Him for not doing so. Mortified and terror-stricken by His course, and sunk into despair and bitter disappointment as He let His enemies lead Him away, they forsook Him and fled as He had forewarned in the upper chamber.
The stroke belongs to His great trial of betrayal, agony in Gethsemane, condemnation in the judgment hall, humiliation, mocking by the multitude that had hailed Him as king, and death. He foresaw this trying ordeal and knew who among His followers were unbelieving and weak in faith and undecided in character. He had brought on the earlier crisis of many turning from Him while He was still present to comfort and strengthen His chosen twelve and prepare their minds for what was to follow. So when professed lovers of the Master turned from Him in His trouble, and faint-hearted ones sank beneath fear and disappointment at the hissing and reviling and the cry of Crucify Him, the faithful would not be overwhelmed with surprise in that hour of horror and ruined hopes, would not hang their faith on the inconstant favor and opinions of others, and would not be carried away by the example of apostasy.
Peter's ardent, quick, hasty zeal in raising the sword was not conversion, for the same zeal soon gave way to denying the Lord with cursing and swearing, proving the heart still unconverted. True conversion came only after Jesus looked upon Peter in sadness and grief, which broke his heart so that he repented and was made ready to strengthen his brethren. Hasty quick temper brings trouble and destroys peace and happiness, and must be overcome by the sanctifying influence of truth that makes a man patient. That victory requires holding the mouth shut when hot passion rises, and persevering in prayer and lifelong untiring effort until it is gained.
Peter rashly struck the high priest's servant with his sword and cut off his right ear in anger and hasty zeal as armed men seized and bound Jesus after His agony in Gethsemane and Judas's betrayal. The stroke came in vehement anger at the moment violent hands were laid upon Jesus to take Him.
The disciples had just seen the strong armed band fall prostrate backward to the ground before His divine power and lie helpless there. They thought He would not suffer Himself to be taken, for the same power that prostrated the mob could keep them helpless until He and His companions passed beyond reach, and they began to hope He would deliver Himself. They were disappointed and indignant when cords were brought to bind the hands of Him whom they loved, those precious hands that had ever been employed in doing good. As those violent hands were laid on Jesus to bind Him, Peter struck.
Jesus at once healed the wounded ear, even while Roman soldiers held Him, showing mercy to one among the arresting party. That healing, together with the prostrating of those who came to take Him, proved He had power to deliver Himself from the murderous mob if He chose, and gave even His enemies clear evidence of His divine power. Jesus rejected Peter's attempted armed defense, telling him to put away his sword and rebuking its use, and suffered Himself to be taken because the Scriptures must be fulfilled thus. He declared He could pray to His Father for more than twelve legions of angels.
That declaration filled the watching angels with hope that they might surround their Commander and disperse the mob, until His adding that the Scriptures must be fulfilled thus brought them sadness. The disciples knew He had power to free Himself, yet were offended that He suffered this humiliation to Himself and to them instead of freeing Himself, and blamed Him for not doing so. Mortified and terror-stricken by His course, and sunk into despair and bitter disappointment as He let His enemies lead Him away, they forsook Him and fled as He had forewarned in the upper chamber.
The stroke belongs to His great trial of betrayal, agony in Gethsemane, condemnation in the judgment hall, humiliation, mocking by the multitude that had hailed Him as king, and death. He foresaw this trying ordeal and knew who among His followers were unbelieving and weak in faith and undecided in character. He had brought on the earlier crisis of many turning from Him while He was still present to comfort and strengthen His chosen twelve and prepare their minds for what was to follow. So when professed lovers of the Master turned from Him in His trouble, and faint-hearted ones sank beneath fear and disappointment at the hissing and reviling and the cry of Crucify Him, the faithful would not be overwhelmed with surprise in that hour of horror and ruined hopes, would not hang their faith on the inconstant favor and opinions of others, and would not be carried away by the example of apostasy.
Peter's ardent, quick, hasty zeal in raising the sword was not conversion, for the same zeal soon gave way to denying the Lord with cursing and swearing, proving the heart still unconverted. True conversion came only after Jesus looked upon Peter in sadness and grief, which broke his heart so that he repented and was made ready to strengthen his brethren. Hasty quick temper brings trouble and destroys peace and happiness, and must be overcome by the sanctifying influence of truth that makes a man patient. That victory requires holding the mouth shut when hot passion rises, and persevering in prayer and lifelong untiring effort until it is gained.