“When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 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. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.” Luke 22.49-53
What a horrible, magnificent moment. Horrible because Jesus is taken away to be put on trial and eventually crucified. Magnificent because, in the midst of the evil—the plan to take him and the capture—while men and women are scheming how to take down this prophet, priest, and Messiah, God is performing miracles.
I know you see it. It is with the ear. The healing that takes place after the disciples allow themselves to be overcome by evil and sin and strike out at the servant of the high priest. In doing so, they lop off his ear. Some traditions have Peter taking this action; this account only says “one of them” committed the act.
At the very moment it was done—when evil was creeping in on both sides and the darkness was descending like a weighted blanket—Jesus brings in the light. Power goes forth from him. Not just power to stop the blood flow or clean up a messy situation. Not the skill of a surgeon to reattach after hours of surgery, but the power to heal. With one touch, no audible words, no crazy ritual, no lengthy prayers—spontaneous, spectacular, supernatural healing occurs.
Light bursting through. Chain-breaking power. And hardly anyone notices. Luke does; he writes about it. But no one else sees it for what it is: God’s restoring work. Light in the darkness. And still humanity did not know what to do with it. They still found a way to kill the best man ever to walk the planet.
Isn’t it crazy how we can miss the amazing work of God when we cover it up with evil? When we choose sin rather than salvation? Jesus was there in their midst—God in the flesh—and yet they chose another way. Everyone in that picture except Jesus needed a Savior. All sinners, all worthy of destruction; only one could offer redemption.
I am thankful for that healing touch because it tells me, like the old hymn, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” If Jesus could do it then, he can do it today. If Jesus can heal an ear, he can heal my pain, my grief, my loss, my needs. He is Savior of both the big and the small. And he is with us right now, in the stillness, in the quiet. Christ is beside you and me. Let’s turn to him, invite him in, and walk a life of love and release.
“O Lord God, to be a fly on the wall in the garden of Gethsemane. To witness the world throwing everything they had against you, and you allowed it—knowing that sacrifice and redemption was the only way to healing. Thank you, Lord, for your power and might. Thank you for saving me and for keeping me in your care. Come now, Holy Spirit, guide me and bless me. Help me know the power of your love and save me by your grace. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen