Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” John 8:10-11

Simon Peter has spent a lot of time with Jesus. He’s seen him minister to the sick, calm the wind and the waves and expertly exegete parts of the Old Testament.

But here we see that despite all of this time with Jesus, Peter still doesn’t get it.

Jesus is being attacked and Peter pulls out a knife. Clearly, the man has no clue and Jesus tells him as much.

This is not how things are to be done in God’s kingdom. Peter’s behaviour is totally out of line.

Rather, Jesus will do what he came to do, which, horrifically, is to drink the cup of God’s wrath.

Jesus is resolute and has his face set on the task. He will not lower his behaviour to a violent skirmish.

However, not only is Jesus resolute, but in John’s bracketed detail, we also see how important people are to Jesus. Even people who are nobodies, like a High Priest’s servant.

Malchus was the man’s name and it is recorded in the pages of the Bible. He was a nobody. Probably brought along for the evening having been told to carry a torch or a weapon. He had no say in the matter and now the hot-headed Simon Peter – who he probably didn’t know from a bar of soap – has gone and chopped his ear off.

Malchus was innocently just doing as he’d been told. Possibly had no idea what he’d been dragged into. And now this.

God sees it all though. That tiny detail of Malchus’ name blows open the reality that God sees and God cares about the individual. Even those who the world says are not very important.

Everyone is important to God.

King. Servant. Professional. Tradesperson. Adult. Child

It doesn’t matter who you are, you are seen and you are loved.

Malchus’ name in the text suggests that it is so.

Jesus’ determination to “drink the cup” on our behalf proves it.

Yours reading in the brackets,

Alison