All Ears

March 7, 2020

“When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!” And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.” —Luke 22:49-51 NLT

Earlier in the evening when Jesus was telling his disciples about what was soon to happen to him, they produced some weaponry, saying, “Look, we have two swords.” Instead of telling them to leave them in the upper room, or advising them that his kingdom didn’t operate that way, he simply said, “that’s enough.” As they walked to the Garden of Gethsemane, the swords were brought along. 

We shouldn’t read too much into this, implying that Jesus was advocating violence, but neither is it proper to imagine that he was an absolute pacifist. Apparently, he wasn’t bothered by the presence of what was state of the art weaponry. He knew his mission however, and when in his desire to protect Jesus Peter took a badly-aimed swipe at the head of the high priest’s servant, missing his intended mark, but managing to slice off his ear, Jesus reached out, touched the man’s ear, healing it and remarking that those who live by the sword die by the sword.

The text doesn’t tell us what that healing involved. Did Jesus pick up the ear laying on the ground, and put it back? Or did he just stop the flow of blood? Nothing more is said about this detail except that John’s gospel gives the name of the servant and the note that one of the witnesses to Peter’s denial of Jesus was a relative of this man. After this incident, this man, Malchus by name, simply disappears from the Bible.

I have no evidence for my belief, but I like to think Jesus’ healing of this man didn’t involve the restoration of the ear itself, but simply the healing of the bloody stump. I wonder if he followed the proceedings of the next day, gingerly touching the side of his head where his ear had been. Did he have trouble keeping his glasses on his face? Did he later come to faith, reckoning that the loss of an ear was small price to pay for the gift of salvation? 

God does heal people, but sometimes leaves reminders of his work in the bodies and minds of those he rescues. Jacob wrestled with God and limped his way into the Kingdom. The bright light that blinded Saul’s eyes on the road to Damascus left the reminder of that day in the poor eyesight that apparently plagued the apostle Paul even as it gave light to his soul. Sometimes we need those scars upon body and soul to remind us of the pit from which we have been delivered. Many a Christian continues to struggle with the effects of childhood abuse or the sins that once upon a time had been a daily habit. Those scars aren’t defects, but are touchstones that keep us centered on the grace that rescued and continues to hold us to the heart of Christ.