Could Peter Evangelize the Family of Malchus
John 18:10 (KJV)
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.
You pull up to a traffic light and there is a young man with tattoos all over, pink hair, earrings in places he doesn’t have ears and the loudest music that you have ever heard screaming vulgar rap music right at you, and what do you do ???? you shout at him, “ Cut you hair, clean up your act, turn that God forsaken music off and get a job”.
Then you proceed to the Church where you are holding a revival because you are an Evangelist.
That night, Deacon Jones brings his nephew to church. He has been praying for him for many, many years and finally he gets the rebellious boy to agree to go to church in hopes that this fiery preacher will speak the Word of God and the nephew will finally receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. They walk in and their eyes meet and it is the same pink haired boy that the Evangelist yelled at earlier that day.
Guess who ain’t getting’ saved !!!!!!! Right………….
The Bible says if you have an ear to hear….. The boy in the story didn’t have an ear to hear because the Evangelist cut it off before he could receive salvation.
Again, “Could Peter Evangelize the Family of Malchus”
Could this Evangelist lead the boy or any of his friends or family to Christ, I don’t think so.
This may not describe you or anyone that you know but it is sad to say it does happen.
But what did Jesus say and do after this tragedy with Malchus ?
Luke 22:51 (KJV)
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
Luke's Gospel records for us an unimaginable act of compassion by Jesus upon one of the mob intent upon murdering Him. After Malchus' ear had been cut off, we are told that Jesus "touched his ear, and healed him" (Luke 22:51). If ever there were a case of overcoming evil with good, this was it (cf. Romans 12:17-21). This act of kindness and compassion in restoring a man's ear did not change the will of the mob. They went on to seize, abuse and ultimately murder Jesus. They had been given proof beyond any doubt of Christ's divine power, but it made no difference to them. The record implies Malchus went along with them all the way.
This account has often caused me to wonder about Malchus. What were his thoughts when Jesus restored his ear? Was there the slightest guilt in his mind as he saw the One who healed his ear being spat upon, beaten and nailed to the cross? In years to come, did he ever remember this act of compassion by Jesus? The Bible never answers those questions.
What is said, however, suggests something worth considering. Whatever Malchus may have thought privately, he did not defy the crowd in an effort to defend Jesus. His failure to change sides was not due to a lack of evidence about Jesus' true nature. Malchus' problem was that he chose to stay in an ungodly crowd rather than follow Christ - despite the evidence!
Similarly, the problem with most people who fail to follow Jesus today is not the absence of clear evidence about His nature. We have the fully revealed record in the Bible today which gives far more complete, testable evidence about the nature and person of Christ than Malchus ever thought of having. Those who reject Jesus today simply love the world more than they love the truth - that is the problem!
There are many today who would prefer the company of an ungodly crowd over following Christ. Why do many make that choice? It is not rational to reject the only One who can save us (Acts 4:12). However, those who turn their backs upon Jesus love the crowd of sin and evil too much to leave it for the Lord. The Bible speaks about such people:
John 3:19-20 "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."
John 12:42-43 "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."
Our attitude towards sin should be that of the apostle Paul. He urged, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret" (Ephesians 5:11-12).
When we stand back and really see the path of sin and its fruits, we recognize it is truly a way of shame. Our country is filled with those who can attest to the shameful end of alcohol and drug addiction - of lewdness and promiscuity - of hatred and strife. The astronomical rates for divorce and teenage pregnancy are vivid reminders of the horrors of fornication. Whether it be the horrible murder rate in our society or the growing tendency towards character assassination by those feigning service to God, the carnage of sin is high. Yet this is the path chosen by many over true service to Christ.
Isn't it about time that we see the path of sin for what it is and reject it for the path of peace in Jesus Christ? He promises, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).
If we come as believers in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, we can easily learn His will for us. Believers are told that we must confess our faith in Him (Romans 10:10). We are also told to change our will away from the world and towards Christ in repentance of our sins and then be baptized for remission of our sins (Acts 2:38). Our lives are then to be directed by His will in all things commanded by Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). We never learn of Malchus obeying Christ despite the compassion shown. Will you ignore Christ's gifts to you or will you obey Him? The healing He offers to you today is far greater than that received by Malchus.
If you want to lead people to Christ, follow His teaching and show compassion.
Ephesians 4:32 - And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Colossians 3:12 - Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Galatians 6:2 - Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Matthew 7:12 - Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
1 Peter 3:8 - Finally, [be ye] all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, [be] pitiful, [be] courteous:
1 Peter 4:10 - As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Galatians 2:10 - Only [they would] that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
Luke 22:27 - For whether [is] greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? [is] not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
“Could Peter Evangelize the Family of Malchus”
If he would have had compassion…….
Now, what about you, can you love the unlovely.
By the way, the boy in the story above, was me…………………
