ESOCS Devotional 21 June 2025 – Lend Me Your Ear
MEMORY VERSE: “Just then Simon Peter, who was carrying a sword, pulled it from its sheath and struck the Chief Priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear.” John 18:10
TEXT: JOHN 18:1-11
When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”
5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”
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 the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”
Read Other ESOCS Devotional Here
What’s Peter doing with a sword (18:10)? Aren’t Christians supposed to be non-violent? He was obeying the Lord (Lk.22:36)! Swords are only used to take human life in self-defence, as are handguns. So, you know it is okay to own one, even just to defend your property (Lk.11:21), as the Law said (Exod. 22:2). If you find a stranger in your home at night, you don’t know if he is there to just rob you or harm the family you have sworn to protect (Eph. 5:25). Even if he just robs you, he robs you of your ability to obey (I Timothy 5:8).
What about “Thou shalt not kill”? Well, the same Bible says murderers must be killed (Ex. 21:12). So, the Bible sees a difference between cold-blooded murder and the orderly execution of cold-blooded murderers. So, “Thou shalt not kill” must be taken in context, and the same is true for Matthew 26:52. He couldn’t have meant that it is never good to use a sword, for that would contradict when He told them to buy one. He just didn’t want a sword used to resist His arrest, as we know from what He went on to say (Mt. 26:53, 54). He was rather telling Peter that those who had come to arrest Him with swords (Mt. 26:47) would eventually die by His sword (Rev.19:11-15). Knowing this will give Tribulation Jews the patience to endure the Antichrist’s sword (Rev. 13:10). “Manchu’s (John 18:10) means king, making him a type of the kings that will rise up against the Lord (Ps. 2:2-5), the kings the Lord will strike through at His coming (Ps. 110:5). After that, the birds will feast on these kings (Rev. 19:17, 18).
But here in John 18, it is time for the Lord to die, not conquer with the sword. So, He tells Peter to sheath his sword (John 18:11). The commentaries jump on Peter here, but for the wrong reason. They say Peter should have known our weapons aren’t carnal (2 Cor.10:4), that we don’t battle flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12), and that the only sword a Christian should use is the Sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17). But those things are only true of believers in this dispensation. Peter’s mistake was a dispensational one, but not how the commentaries think! When the beast gathers against the Lord (Rev. 19:19), the saints will take up swords to protect Him (Ps.149:1-9). Let’s let mindful of our actions; vengeance belongs to the Lord, let Him do fighting always.
CHALLENGES
- Prepare your heart to always deal with emotional stir-ups that make you unduly reactionary like Peter.
PRAYER POINT
- Lord Jesus, help me to always rely on you to fight my battles, in Jesus name. Amen.
FUTHER READING: Ezekiel 16:31-End; 17:1-12; Acts 3:1-16
ESOCS Devotional 21 June 2025
