John 18:7–12

Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”

And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

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.

So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

The hunter has become the hunted. The “detachment of troops and officers” gets up off the ground, having fallen down in shock from Jesus’s previous comment. Now Jesus is asking the questions and they’re on the spot for answers.

Again. Same question; same answer. At least this time they can stand. So Jesus makes a demand, in the form of a logical deduction. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way.

These guys are in no mood to try to argue with God, but Peter jumps in to spoil the moment. Way to go Peter! Jesus had just convinced the soldiers to not arrest anyone else, and Peter commits a crime worthy of arrest. It’s a miracle that they didn’t kill Peter on the spot.

So, Jesus has to get Peter, and his sword, back in their respective sheaths. Luke notes that Jesus even healed Malchus’s ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. — Luke 22:51

Despite the distraction, Jesus gets His way. Only He is arrested.

It’s interesting that the Bible never again mentions Malchus. You have to figure he was converted. Having your ear cut off by a sword is pretty serious stuff. Somehow Jesus stabilized the situation and fixed everything. That’s mind blowing.

And all this happened right on the heels of them falling down in shock from Jesus claiming to be the great I AM. Then He pretty much confirmed it right before their eyes.

The soldiers apparently aren’t all converted on the spot, but some mighty big seeds were planted that day.

These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.