Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and smote the the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. And the servant’s name was Malchus. John 18:10
A preacher named Dr. Ralph F. Wilson wrote a fictional account of Malchus. Wilson’s tale begins with Malchus being the man who used his ears to learn what was happening in the community and to report to his master, Caiaphas. Impressed at the gentleness of the One Who healed his injured ear, Malchus becomes ashamed at his part in the capture of Jesus of Nazareth, and follows the trials and crucifixion with remorse. When he hears the prayer ‘Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”, he is no longer the servant of the high priest, but the servant of the Nazarene. As I said, the story is fiction; we have no idea what happened to Malchus after his ear was restored. But all the others who saw the miracle were not affected, although they should have been.
People today are looking for miracles. They say they will believe if Jesus will reappear and stop the violence and killing, and fix all the injustices and pain in the world. They say they will believe if Jesus will do some great thing for them, such as provide them with wealth, health, or happiness. But even the restoration of his ear did not cause Malchus to speak up for the Healer. People need conviction, not miracles, to cause them to repent and trust. Dr. Wilson’s tale aside, Malchus stands as proof today that it takes more than the loss of an ear to change hearts and convict souls. Poor Malchus probably died with both ears intact and perished in his sins.
Malchus is a tragic lesson to the unsaved. But He is also a reminder to you and me that even those who encounter great experiences concerning Christ can still remain His enemies. Do we have false professors around us who have had dramatic experiences, and nothing but dramatic experiences? Even among the saved are those whose salvation has not created a difference between themselves and the world they once belonged to. Like Malchus, they allow themselves to remain in the camp of the rejectors and despisers. Let us not be among them.
Jesus healed Malchus’ ear, but would just as readily have saved his soul. Jesus has saved you and me, but would just as readily be Lord of our lives. -Jim MacIntosh