Father God, I’m just musing over these two verses breathed by your Spirit through the pen of John. Why would Peter attack the servant and not the high priest? A fisherman, not a soldier, was Peter aiming for the high priest and missed, hitting the servant instead? Was Peter picking the lesser opponent? I can’t say, because John doesn’t tell me. The Peter who struck Malchus is the Peter prior to the betrayal, resurrection and breakfast on the beach. This is Peter prior to Pentecost and the ascension. This is Peter prior to the bold preaching of his first sermon. Grant us the boldness to speak the gospel in the name and authority of Jesus, according to your good and perfect will. Amen.
“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.) So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?’” (John 18:10-11 ESV)