Truly Innocent Man Arrested

“While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 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 22:47-51

He was praying. He had asked the disciples to pray with Him.

They slept.

Jesus woke them.

As they came awake, they heard the sounds of the “crowd” approaching. The beginning of the end for Jesus had come. Imagine being kissed on the cheek by one whom you had spent three years teaching the truth. Does being betrayed by one you believed a friend seem appealing?

At first the disciples were brave.

The gospel of John identifies Peter as the one who cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Within minutes bravery became cowardice. All of Jesus’ disciples fled. At this time, there appeared to be no one on earth who would testify that Jesus was the Son of God.

What about the servant of the high priest?

Is it possible to imagine the pain which would come from a sword slicing off your right ear? All the servant could think of at first was agony. Pain and suffering take all other thoughts away. He may have dimly heard the authority filled words of Jesus when He said, “No more of this!”

He would have become intensely aware of everything the moment his ear was healed.

There was blood on his outer clothing…but is was from before. Now there was no more bleeding. There was no more pain. Would the servant have reached up to touch the ear that once lay on the ground? We can be almost positive the servant looked at Jesus. Would we be able to speak? Did he? Would we be able even aware of the need for gratitude? Luke does not tell us if the servant thanked Jesus. Or would we remain silent with our eyes fixed on Jesus? Giving thanks to Jesus under the circumstances would not be fitting. The malicious crowd had come to arrest an innocent man.

They did. And they took Jesus away.

Does it seem likely that one man in the crowd believed Jesus was the Savior of the World?

Wherever the servant of the high priest went after this, he had a vivid reminder of the power of Jesus. He needed only to touch his ear. And…do we believe this servant could forget the touch of Jesus? How many times in this servant’s life did he reach up, touch his right ear and think Jesus did this? Pain and suffering have a way of sharpening human memory.

The Bible never speaks another word about the servant of the high priest.

We do not need more words.

We have these: But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Is there anyone in world history would could touch the place where an ear was severed from the skull and then restore the ear completely whole again? And then this healing with only a touch?

When arrested that night Jesus said “No more of this!” He healed the servant. Jesus spoke-He ordered no more violence!  

A few hours later, on the cross He said, “It is finished!” Jesus spoke, then died. His death ended the grip of sin on the human soul.

His death has never been forgotten. The righteousness He bought for us on the cross touches all who believe.

AND

Those who believe in Jesus are healed from their sin just as the servant’s ear was healed.