Malchus’ Ear

Sometimes, when I read scripture, I visualize the imagery or events. I feel the texture of Jesus’ garment when the hemorrhaging woman touches its hem. I hear giggles from Jairus’ daughter as Jesus raises her from the dead. I catch a whiff of fragrance as Mary of Bethany pours costly ointment over Jesus’ head in the days before His crucifixion. I often wonder what happened next — to the woman who became ritually clean for the first time in 12 years, to the preteen who was given a new future or to Mary for having lavished Jesus with the outrageously expensive gift from her alabaster box.

One scene I play out in my mind begins in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night the soldiers came to arrest Jesus. In the melee, Peter unsheathed his sword, took a wild swing and cut off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s servant who accompanied the detachment of soldiers. In the chaos that ensued, Jesus touched Malchus’ ear and healed him before being arrested and removed from the garden.

What happened next to Malchus? He is not mentioned again in the story.

Imagine the “what next” with me for a minute. We know that Caiaphas, the high priest, plotted for months to destroy Jesus. He used all his power — every available resource, including his trusted servant Malchus as eyes and ears — to gain damning evidence. He thought he timed it perfectly and fully expected the story to end with the capture and death of Jesus. Yet, whenever Malchus entered the room, the story continued. 

That right ear. Caiaphas tried not to look, but he couldn’t help himself. When he closed his eyes, Caiaphas could still see the bloodstain down the right side of Malchus’ robe. He discretely searched for a scar whenever Malchus’ right side was turned toward him. He heard the whispers of the priests, elders and soldiers as they retold the miracle story. The one enslaved by the high priest made whole by the Great High Priest. That right ear — once relied on for inside information — is now a constant reminder of the power of Jesus that Caiaphas could neither deny nor ignore.

My prayer is that each of our lives will so bear the transforming power of Jesus that we, too, will serve as living reminders of His love, grace, mercy and redemption.  

See Matthew 26:50–54; Mark 14:45–49; Luke 22:49-53; John 18:10–11