This week we're looking at an admittingly strange passage. When they come to arrest Jesus, Peter tries to defend him and cuts off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus - even as he's being arrested - heals the man and rebukes Peter. What is going on here? Love of enemies? The Church injuring people? Jesus healing enemies? Jesus healing Peter? Yes. Let's talk about Jesus “Restoring Malchus’ Ear”
Discussion Questions
Sheep Video
https://twitter.com/urupzia/status/1383518691963260933?s=21
Metaphorically speaking, what’s an example of this kind of thing happening with sheep in the church?
People get injured by the church; we’ve all been there! But at what point is it reasonable to be hurt, leave, and sulk, and when is it a moment to forgive, turn the other cheek, and seek unity in the same body – staying put!? After all, in the first century, it wasn’t so easy to find another church; there was only the one (i.e., Ephesus, Corinth, Thessalonica)! Is it too easy to flee, bounce, and evade in our culture? Do you do this?
Peter literally gave a rock-solid confession about Christ (Matthew 16:18), yet here he is in a shameful moment. Has your faith ever been tested and proven through a spiritual hero’s failures? Do you share failures, or keep them secret?
The sign of a good leader is that they lead you to Jesus. Who has been vulnerable with you, yet you treasure them so much because they have helped you grow in your faith?
Jesus touches His enemies in order to heal. (Romans 5:6-10) Both Peter and Malchus were restored. Enemies became family, assuming Malchus became a part of the Church. What’s the closest you’ve come to this?
Gospel: The King went down for us, the pawns. We can receive genuine criticism, accepting we are failures, yet still feel loved. Our value comes from the One Who gave up His rights to get even with us, so that we could be restored.
What did you need to hear in the sermon, or during this discussion?
