In the Garden of Gethsemane, a moment of chaos unfolded that would forever illustrate the difference between earthly conflicts and the divine mission of Jesus Christ. As a mob armed with swords approached to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and struck the high priest’s servant, Malchus, cutting off his right ear (Matt. 26:51). Amid the tension, Jesus chose not to retaliate but to respond with compassion: “He touched his ear, and healed him” (Lk. 22:51). This act was more than a display of His supernatural power; it was a declaration that Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world. Through this viewpoint, we see Malchus—and every sinner—not as an enemy to be defeated, but as an opportunity for God to extend grace, restore a relationship, and expand His eternal kingdom. Later, Jesus told these words to Pilate:
My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here. (Jn. 18:36).
Jesus clarifies that His rule would not be established through military might or political revolution. Instead, His kingdom is a spiritual realm where transformation happens through the gospel. The “battle” in Jerusalem was not against Roman soldiers or Jewish leaders; it was against the forces of sin and darkness which separate humanity from God. As Paul explains in Ephesians 6:12,
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Malchus, as the servant of the high priest Caiaphas, was part of the religion opposing Jesus. Jesus could easily have seen him as an adversary, but He treated Malchus as a soul in need of mercy. This ought to shift how we view sinners: not as threats to be condemned, but as individuals God longs to save. The Bible affirms God’s desire for man’s redemption. In 2 Peter 3:9, we read,
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
God’s patience extends to those who actively resist Him, offering them a chance to turn from sin and embrace salvation in Christ.
This opportunity is universal. No one is beyond reach. A sorcerer, who claimed to be the power of God, became a follower of Christ (Acts 8). Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, became a pillar of the faith (Acts 9). Even Malchus, though the Bible does not record his response to Jesus, was given a tangible encounter with divine mercy, inviting him to reconsider his allegiance.
As followers of Christ, the church inherits His mission: to engage in spiritual warfare rather than earthly strife. In Matt. 28:19-20, Jesus commissioned His disciples,
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.
Jesus sends us to make disciples through proclamation, not through coercion or violence.
History shows the danger of confusing this commission with physical battles; crusades and holy wars distorted the gospel. The early church grew under persecution, not through physical power, as believers loved their enemies and prayed for those who spitefully used them (Matt. 5:44). The church fights spiritual battles with the whole armor of God: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:11-18).
In today’s world, we must address social issues like injustice and division, not with hatred or force, but with compassionate evangelism and service. We must remember that sinners are opportunities for God’s glory. The church’s victory comes not from cultural dominance but from souls redeemed and fellowship restored by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The healing of Malchus’ ear challenges us to examine our own responses to opposition. Do we reach for the “sword” of anger and division, or extend the touch of God’s grace? Jesus’ miracle reminds us that His kingdom progresses through spiritual means. As we navigate our spiritual battles, we must prioritize prayer, truth, and love—transforming enemies into brothers and sisters in Christ. In doing so, we fulfill the church’s eternal mission and imitate the Savior, who healed even as He headed to the cross.
-John Garza