13th June 2022
A healer of ears
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 (NIVUK)
On the night when Jesus was arrested, before his subsequent trial and crucifixion, Luke records that one of Jesus’ followers (in John 18:10, John reveals it to be Peter) struck off the right ear of the servant of the high priest. Of the gospel writers, Luke alone records that Jesus immediately healed the servant’s ear.
Perhaps Luke the physician was simply intrigued by the miracle, but by inspiring Luke to record this act perhaps the Holy Spirit intended to convey a deeper meaning to Christians of all ages. Those that seek to defend Jesus or the gospel message through violence metaphorically cut off the ears of those who receive such violence. They become deaf to the very message the perpetrators of violence seek to convey.
Militant atheists point to the acts of violence perpetrated by Christians, such as the Crusades or the Inquisition, as reasons to justify their anti-Christian stance.
Although we should not deny or condone these actions the best answer to these acts is to point out the many anti-violent examples Jesus gave to all his followers such as when he said before Pontius Pilate: ’My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ (John 18:36). And in the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus said, ‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.’ (Matthew 5:43-45).
Jesus came, not to cut off ears, but to enable the spiritually deaf to hear, and the gospel committed to Christians is a message of peace and reconciliation for ‘…God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.’ (2 Corinthians 5:19)
The apostle Paul summarised the Christian attitude to others when he wrote, ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.’ (Romans 12:18).
Prayer
Father, we ask for the wisdom to present the gospel in a form and in a way that the world can understand and be receptive to. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Study by Eddie Marsh
About the writer:
Eddie Marsh attends the Sheffield congregation of Grace Communion International.
Local congregation:
Please email the local congregational contact (see below) for information about the Sheffield congregation’s meeting venue and time.
Local congregational contact:
Email: sheffield@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church