John 18:10
"Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus."
Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying with His disciples, when a band of men came to take Him by force. When one of the servants of the high priest moved to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of this servant. There is no doubt that Peter was angry for more than one reason. He was angry because Judas Iscariot was with the crowd who wanted to kill Jesus. He was also angry because this servant wanted to take his master to have him killed. Yet, though Jesus knew all this, He told Peter to put his sword in the sheath.
In this story a very important truth is often missed. What do you think the servant who's ear was cut off felt like? His ear has fallen on the ground, pain is shooting through his body, anger has welled up in his heart and revenge was no doubt the first natural response of this man. The only hope that this man had of being healed from the pain and anger of what someone else did to him was to take his ear to Jesus. Jesus was the only One Who could heal that ear. When he handed his ear to Jesus, this man experienced a healing like never before. The experience of the healing was a far better feeling than the revenge he wanted to exercise.
No doubt you have also faced the anger of another person. Maybe someone drew their sword of vicious rumors, false accusation or hateful words they have spoken to you, and the ear of that anger is held in your hand. What are you going to do with your ear that has been cut off by someone else?
Revenge is never the answer when someone tries to attack you. Throughout the years of my ministry, there have been many hateful attacks that have been launched against me. The feelings of revenge have certainly reared its ugly head in my heart, but if I had tried to get revenge their would have only hurt me. Revenge is never the answer when someone has hurt you. Revenge does not make the pain you have experienced any better; instead, it makes it worse.
What are you going to do with the cut off ear that attacks have caused? Are you going to sit and sulk about the pain? Going into your little cocoon and never trying to help someone again will never change a life. Just because one person has hurt you does not mean that all people are going to try to hurt you. Don't stop trying to help people because your ear was cut off.
The only hope of healing the pain from attacks is to take your ear to Jesus. When you give your ear to Jesus, He can put your life back together and heal the hurt so that the pain is completely gone. Friend, Jesus is the answer to heal the hurts from the swords that have caused the pain in your life. Only Jesus can heal those hurts.
I don't know what pain you have been living with for many years because of the attacks of others, but the only answer is to take it to Jesus. The pain may have been caused by a bitter divorce. The pain may have come from angry words launched against you. The pain may even be the result of your own sin. Jesus is the only answer to whatever pain you feel inside.
Go to Jesus, and tell Him of your pain. Don't carry your ear one more day. Make this the day that you take your ear to Jesus and give it to Him so that the healing process can begin. When you finally give your ear to Jesus, you will find that many of the problems you are facing in life will also be healed as they were only a byproduct of you carrying your ear. Jesus is your only hope! Right now, take your ear to Him.