Miracle of the Ear

Luke 22: ⁴⁷ 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, ⁴⁸ but Jesus asked him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’

⁴⁹ When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, ‘Lord, should we strike with our swords?’ ⁵⁰ And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus answered, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, ‘Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? ⁵³ Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour – when darkness reigns.’

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“This is my chance to get back at the person” I said to myself. I worked hard, yet this person gave me a “so-so” evaluation and said I needed to improve. Now the shoe was on the other foot. This person was trying to interview at the company I moved to and my boss asked me if this person was worthy of an interview. “No” I said in a satisfying way.

• There were times when I wanted to fight those who pushed me around.
• There were times when I couldn’t wait to get back at those who did me “wrong.”
• There were times when I temporarily felt great when I saw someone’s demise.

JESUS shows extreme compassion towards a servant of those who came to arrest HIM. When one of HIS disciples cut off the servant’s ear, JESUS immediately performs yet another miracle by reattaching the ear. JESUS never said “It serves you right” to the servant, nor does HE say “Let this be a lesson to those who try to mess with ME.” HE stopped the fight.

• JESUS wants me to allow HIM to have vengeance on my enemies.
• JESUS wants me to allow HIM to show compassion to those I “think” have wronged me.
• JESUS wants me to understand HIS compassion includes people I do not like.

Perhaps GOD is showing me more compassion than I think. HE heals me when I am hurt and lifts me up when I am down. HE shows me grace when I deserve punishment. Why am I spiteful at “that” person when JESUS wants to show them, and me, compassion? GOD’s grace is sufficient.

• Are you mad at someone?
• Do you think that person has done you wrong and you want to get back at them?
• Will you allow GOD to show them compassion so HE will pour out HIS compassion on you more abundantly?

Fake Friends

Mark 14: ⁴³ And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. ⁴⁴ Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.”

⁴⁵ As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

⁴⁶ Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him. ⁴⁷ And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

⁴⁸ Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? ⁴⁹ I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

⁵⁰ Then they all forsook Him and fled.

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“He called me the wrong name again!” I said to myself. He would greet me with the warmest greeting, but when someone important walked in the room, he would leave our conversation. This, however, was the guy to know. “How can I get noticed by him?” was my thought.

• Sometimes I have sought out fake friends.
• Sometimes I wanted to be in the “in” crowd so much that I would settle for fake friends.
• Sometimes I was popular enough that I was a fake friend to people.

Hundreds of people are pictured here in this passage, yet JESUS had no friend. The army of hundreds had no feeling towards HIM and Judas put on the act of love when his heart was filled with deceit. Not even the disciples acted like a friend as they forsook HIM and fled. BUT JESUS does something different.

• JESUS says to me “Greater love hath no man than this, that a MAN lay down HIS life for HIS friends.”
• JESUS says to me ”I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from MY FATHER I have made known to you.
• JESUS says to me “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

At times JESUS has been my only friend. When the winds of life are blowing hard against me and those around me are questioning me, JESUS has been right there comforting me and lifting me up. HIS love endures forever and HE shows me that friendship is not about leaving it is about loving.

• Has everyone left you?
• Do you feel alone?
• Can you take some time to be a friend to someone today?”

Loser

Mark 14: ¹⁰ Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. ¹¹ And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.

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As the newness of this potential boss wore off, I could see some flaws in his leadership style. Instead of helping, I put some “distance” away from his projects. I asked another leader in the department, “Can I work for you?”

• Sometimes I want to bail on a person who is not acting the way I want them to.
• Sometimes I want to leave the person I think is acting opposite of my beliefs.
• Sometimes I want to escape from the person I categorize as a “Loser.”

Judas decided to switch sides. As the political landscape was rapidly changing, Judas may have seen his fame, wealth and glory slipping away. “What a loser” Judas may have thought about JESUS. Since he had the inside track on JESUS, he figured he could simply have JESUS jailed and get some money. What harm could this do?

• GOD says to me “If you call your brother a worthless fool you will be in danger of going to the fire of hell.”
• GOD says to me “Put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth.”
• GOD says to me “Have compassion.”

Impatient labeling is a dangerous practice. GOD wants me to remove my negative labels of people and see them as HE sees them… forgiven. HE wants me to stop judging people and to turn to HIS graceful ways. This is not always easy but it is a practice GOD is pleased with.

• Are you labeling someone?
• Do you place nothing but negative labels on others?
• Can you stop labeling people and start encouraging them to have a wonderful relationship with the LORD?

Surrounded

Matthew 26: ⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Why have you come, friend?”

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

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Finally the day was over, or so I thought. I paid my fare and sat down on the strangely open window seat. I figured someone got up and I was the fortunate soul to ride in bus comfort. 

When I sat down the person behind me said something but I could not discern what he said. Then someone sat next to me on the aisle and then two more stood in the aisle. I was being robbed with no way out!

• There were times I felt surrounded.
• There were times when I looked around and I could not see friendly faces.
• There were times when I had no choice but to give in to the difficult situation.

JESUS faced the same thing. An army came to arrest HIM because they thought they were in control. They had seen miracles and chalked it up to JESUS being a person who got lucky and they were going to make HIS luck run out. BUT JESUS knew.

• JESUS knew HE was going to be arrested and allowed it anyway.
• JESUS could have stopped them with a mere utterance of a word, but HE chose to be taken.
• JESUS saw how far HIS betrayer went and still called him “friend.”

Later in life I was surrounded again, only this time it was corporate bullies and thugs. GOD opened my eyes to see that I may be surrounded again and again in life so I should expect it, like HE did. HE taught me to trust HIS protection even when it seems like there is no way out.

• Are you surrounded by your trouble?
• Do you see problems on all sides with no way out?
• Can you calm down for a moment and allow GOD to protect you?

Silver and Gold

Matthew 26: ¹⁴ Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶ From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

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Desperate and tired of the job search, I started applying for positions I had no experience in. “Hmm, Deep Sea Diver… I went in the ocean a few times maybe I qualify for that!”

• There have been times when I was desperate for money.
• There have been times when I was only focused on my bank account.
• There have been times when I was so focused on money that I would do almost anything to get it.

Stretching my moral boundaries was a thought as I considered positions I was not qualified for. In other words I could lie a little because I figured I would be a hard worker and eventually be the best at whatever “it” was. BUT GOD wanted me to be different.

• GOD says to me “Be anxious for nothing” even when times look difficult.
• GOD says to me “The love of money it the root of all kinds of evil” so my desperation could make me go places I may not return from.
• GOD says to me “I AM your dwelling place” so HE has a right to guide me in difficult times and in peaceful times.

Looking back I can see it was not the lack of employment that caused my desperation, it was my love of money. One would say I was justified in my actions, but I was the same even when I was employed. Judas was the same way.

He saw an opportunity to put a man in jail for money. He probably never considered they would kill JESUS. He would do anything to please the rich so he would have his slice of the pie. GOD wants me to grab my desperation and give it to HIM. HE wants to be my guide.

• Are you desperate for money?
• Are you on the path to doing “anything” for money even outside of your moral boundaries?
• Can you stop focusing on your bills and ask GOD “How do YOU want me to serve YOU?” today?