Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” Matthew 26:53-54
Jesus spoke these words on the night He was betrayed in the garden and one of the disciples tried to stop the soldiers from seizing Him, and ended up cutting off the ear of one of them. Jesus immediately healed the soldier’s ear, told the disciple to put away his sword and spoke the words quoted above.
These words are indeed relevant for us today. They are relevant for some of you who are suffering chronic illnesses that God has chosen not to heal — at least not yet. They are relevant to all of us who struggle with something for which a few thousand angels would most likely come in handy. And they are relevant to what’s going on in the world right now that we wish God would swoop in and fix. Of course He could, so the fact that He’s not must mean that He has other plans for what He wants to accomplish.
Thousands of angels would surely be nice for me right now; how about you? But the same thing applies to us. If God did call in angels, how would God’s will be fulfilled that describes what must happen now? What must happen now is the key element here. We are all living in the what must happen now. That is the will of God, and you do not want to stand in its way.
By the way, have you ever thought about that soldier who lost his ear and had Jesus put it back again? How bizarre was that? What do you think was going through his mind as they took Jesus back to town? Can’t you imagine him feeling for his ear all the way to the high priest’s house just to make sure it was still there? Maybe we can ask him about that in heaven, because he must have become a believer that night.
John Fischer The Catch 
Another good Catch!
Hallelujah!
The apostle Paul asked God to remove his thorn in the flesh but God said to him that
His grace is sufficient. We may not like what is happening because it’s uncomfortable but His grace is still sufficient for us. And I believe we are being set up for a revival that has been long in the making in spite of our current conditions or is it because of them?
Trust the Lord therefore, and do not lean unto your own understanding because He has your back and mine. Long term, the Lord will have His way and He has your best interests at heart. So don’t worry, your faith will be rewarded. He is still on the throne and He works everything out for the good of those who are His!
Dare to trust God today and take Him at His Word for He has risen and goes to prepare a place for you. Our future is in His hands and if we can trust Him with our future is there anything that we cannot trust Him with?
Andrew🔥
May His grace and mercy continue to be your guide through all things He has ordained for your benefit. ✝️
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
When I saw the title of today’s Catch I half-expected to read another anecdotal story about your beloved team from L.A…. Whew – what a relief (pitcher)!
Speaking of the healing of Malchus’s ear, I took this opportunity to re-read the account and even though I knew the story, I didn’t realize until now that it is included in all four Gospels. After all these decades, how did I miss that?!
Hmm, maybe I did know that fact at one time and have since forgotten?
Honey, get the Ginkgo Biloba!
We’ve all heard how the Gospel accounts vary (not contradictorily, mind you) because of the different perspectives of the authors. And, when something is repeated, it is particularly important to pay especial attention to the deeper lesson(s) being presented.
So, what does Malchus’s story written four times teach us?
Well, right away for me, I need to reexamine the Word and passages I think I’m familiar with just to make darn sure I really am familiar with the Scriptures – the less-familiar ones, too! Not just glance at them or skim over them during daily devotions but really focus on them just like I did during my youth when the Word of God was new and alive and pulsating through every part of me! .
Obviously, there are deeper lessons beyond that for sure but, still, thanks to Malchus, I just had my own “mini-revelation” in that there is yet hope for me because I’ve not closed myself off: I’m still able to learn new things, re-learn old lessons and I’ve been given the opportunity to apply those teachings in the days I have remaining!
Indeed, there is hope for all of us no matter where we’re at or what our struggles.
(By the way, Scripture says Malchus was the High Priests servant (or slave) but not necessarily a soldier which may explain why Peter wasn’t immediately run through with a lance or sword right there and then. Regardless, it will be a fascinating conversation with him… I wonder if his healed ear ever filled with earwax afterwards?!)
On a final note concerning Malchus: out of all the filmed depictions of Christ’s arrest – apart from Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” – I cannot recall ever seeing an ear-slicing scene. Perhaps it was implied in another movie? Perhaps I need more Ginkgo Biloba?!
Anyway, below is that scene from Gibson’s film.
I include it not to gross anyone out but to show the silent communication between Jesus and Malchus (Jim Caviezel & Roberto Bestazzoni respectively).
Watch their eyes.
See Malchus’s pain, astonishment, silent plea, wonderment, and mental-processing.
See Jesus’s love for His enemy…