John 18:1–14 (ESV)
18 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” 12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
Dear fellow redeemed:
Today we meet the third witness, Malchus, the servant of the high priest. All four of the gospels record the only casualty during the arrest of Jesus. He was the servant of the high priest, and in an attempt to defend Jesus from arrest Peter cut off his right ear. One wonders what it must have been like. If you look past the stereotypes you see that the disciples are strong and energetic men. They are at the center of what seems to them a powerful movement, and they go about armed with deadly weapons (Peter wasn’t the only one armed, either). They are so powerful that the strategy was to catch them alone. And the four gospels give us a picture of power directed against Jesus, here under the direction, at least in part, of Judas. A band of soldiers (Roman?) representing the state, officers from the chief priests, representing the temple, and from the Pharisees, the religious rulers. Here they collide, the leaders of Jesus’ huge following together with the powers of the state, and only one man get’s wounded. Only John tells us his name – Malchus. So how is he a witness? How does he contribute to John’s argument that Jesus is the Christ?
Let’s look at the whole situation. First, we see who is really in charge- Jesus. He goes across the brook Kidron into Gethsemane. He knows Judas will find him there. Instead of fleeing, Jesus confronts them. 4 Then Jesus, knowing
all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to
fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” Jesus is in control. In Matthew he tells the disciples to stand down and then says, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53, ESV) He could have nuked Rome! But while the judgment of Christ will one day be carried out in power, His mercy is carried out in His humble service. And so the only miraculous power He uses here is to undo the bloody work of Peter. 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew
it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) He had Peter step aside and He stanched the flow of blood and healed his wound. He undid 3 the little teeny bit of effort that was expended on his behalf, so that he would drink the cup of suffering that would atone for your sins. So you see, it comes down to you and me. Here we are, born sinners, deserving of nothing, with a life of sin heaped up to our account, lacking the spiritual life and love that would open heaven to us. But Jesus would let nothing, not even a man’s wound, stand in the way of his sacrifice.
Now Peter didn’t understand it and was opposed to it. He wanted to prevail, not “lose.” Remember before, “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!
You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:21–23, ESV) So here also, 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” Malchus can bear witness that the man who could cast his opponents onto the ground, who had mean ready to fight and die for him, who had the power to restore from bloody injury, this man stepped forward to pay the price of YOUR sinfulness and MINE. 12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. And he went on to redeem the world.
AMEN