A Story of Thankfulness from Malchus

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Today, we have a very special guest with us. Malchus. He met Jesus in a very unusual way. But Jesus took care of his need, in spite of the fact that Malchus opposed the LORD.

Quiet Spirit: I would like to hear the story of your encounter with Jesus. Malchus, are you ready to share.

Malchus: Yes, I am. I’ll be glad to share with your friends.

            I am a servant in Caiaphas’ household. I started in service as a young boy, about eight or nine. My duties at that time were working with the animals. You know feeding them, cleaning the stalls, and replacing the hay in their stalls. As I got older, those duties changed.

QS: How did you meet Jesus?

Malchus: The year I was 20, on the night of Passover, I found myself going in a group of 200 men, some were assigned to Caiaphas, others were Priests and also there were Roman soldiers. It was dark; we carried torches to illumine our way through Jerusalem, up the Mount of Olives, and into the garden Gethsemane.

    As we approached this man Jesus, the one we followed there gave the sign to identify him. He actually kissed this Jesus person.

    Jesus asked who we were looking for. The priest answered. Jesus asked another question and again the priest answered. One of the men with Jesus asked yet another question and suddenly I felt something hit the side of my head. I reached up with my free hand and felt something warm on my skin. Someone near me held his torch closer to me and shouted, “This man is bleeding; his ear has been cut off.”

    Jesus chided one who was with him “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” He took my severed ear in his hand, placed it against the side of my head; said a few words, and removed his hand. This itinerant preacher, whom everyone wanted to die, healed me!

    My fellow servants told me which one of the men with Jesus did this to me. Later, after they brought Jesus to my master’s house, I recognized that man. I approached him and asked if he was with the Galilean. (Pause) Of course, he denied it.

QS: How has your encounter with Jesus affected your life?

Malchus: All I knew about Jesus was what I overheard from Caiaphas, Annas, and the other priests. I really didn’t care for him. That’s why I didn’t mind going in that group to find him that night.

     However, after he healed me, I thought about how he showed compassion to me by taking the time to do it, someone unworthy. If Jesus had not healed me, I don’t know what my life would have been like. I could have been reduced to a life of begging. He will always have my thanks.

Freely, Freely