“And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.” Luke 22.50-51
Most of Jesus’ miracles were followed by awe and praising God. But this time, not so much. Jesus has just been arrested while praying at the Garden of Gethsemane. He is with a handful of disciples, one of whom just cut off the ear of the Jewish high priest servant. This of course was Peter, impulsive and filled with passion.
And although Jesus is about to face a great trial which will lead to suffering, humiliation and death, he just can’t help himself but attend to the servant who has just lost his ear. Maybe this servant is screaming, maybe he’s spilling blood over everything. Maybe he’s in shock with a hand covering what was once his ear. In a moment, Jesus says to people, “No more of this!” “And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.”
There’s something about Jesus who responds differently then the rest of us in the midst of crisis. He doesn’t strike back. He doesn’t knock someone down. He doesn’t obliterate the city block with fire, bombings or destruction. Jesus says, “No more of this!” — right before he performs what is an amazing act of compassion to an enemy who’s taking him off to jail.
Now if it were me, I’d be swinging the sword right beside Peter. I mean it. I would want to defend my Lord, my family and my friends with a vengeance. I’d in holster my 44 mag and maybe shoot the guy in the foot! I don’t know. I’ve never been faced with this kind of threat. But I know what Jesus did and he said, “No more of this!” — and heals the brokenness.
Our world is broken. Each night when I watch the news I weep on the inside for what seems to be God’s crumbling creation. But I must remember, that in the midst of the pain, the Passion of the Christ still applies. His mercy and grace extends to all. He is not simply the Savior of the first century, he’s the Savior of today. He can handle my pain, my loss and my sin just as much as he can the neighbor standing next to me who is of a different race, background and heritage.
I feel like Jesus is looking at the world today, power in his fingertips, love in his eyes, compassion in his heart and he says to the sin and evil intentions — “No more of this!” Jesus doesn’t simply “want” to respond to the problems of today, he is activity working to redeem them.
What will your response be? Will you show grace and mercy to all people? Will you march with those who march, weep with those who weep, listen to those who are speaking, pray for those who are suffering? No matter what your response Is in the midst of our national crisis, let it be led by love.
“O Lord God, I am but a sinner saved by your grace. Am I perfect? Hardly! Am I ignorant of the truth of other peoples’ suffering? Absolutely but who isn’t? Thank you for loving us in the midst of our imperfections. Thank you for healing divisions of race, color and political views. Thank you for being the One God over us all and in the midst of the storm. Come now, Holy Spirit, and give us compassion for all people. Help us be slow to judge and abounding in your steadfast love. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen