Short Story by Leon

Malchus once more found himself contemplating that night. The unforgettable night that changed him in more ways than he could put to a number. The memories of that night were still vivid for him, to the point that these memories carried sensations that made his flesh tingle. Malchus cautiously placed his hand upon his ear expecting to feel the wound. Yet there was no wound nor was there any discomfort.

Malchus recalled the excruciating pain for which that night brought upon him. He recalled the gaping wound and the bloodshed that nearly caused him to fall into slumber. Malchus recalled the enraged face of his attacker which was equally shrouded with dark intent and a hatred for Malchus that could not be put into words. After that, on the brink of unconsciousness, and his vision blackened, Malchus felt himself being held.

The warmth in this embrace was not restricted to the physical. No, this embrace was far greater than anything that a mere mortals embrace could offer. Malchus felt as if righteousness itself had wrapped its compassionate arms around him. This embrace brought with it a peace that could only compare to the bosom of a mother clinging to her infant.

          He knew internally that this must have been his master Caiaphas come to rescue him. It would be only natural that such warmth could only come from the righteousness of the High Priest. Yet when clarity returned to Malchus he saw not the face of Caiaphas, but the face of the one that Caiaphas wished to condemn. Malchus gazed directly into the visage of Jesus, the teacher from Galilee. He felt Jesus’ hand placed gently upon his wounded ear. There was a sensation and almost immediately the pain ceased. Jesus looked at Malchus for a few moments with a benevolence that could not be spoken.

The teacher then swiftly turned to his disciple, the aggressor who attacked Malchus and rebuked him. “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

And then, Jesus was taken away to be tried and to be executed. Malchus could never forget these moments. He could not forget the face of his attacker who brought both fear and rage upon reflection. He could not forget the terrible pain, nor could he forget the great comfort from the embrace of Jesus. Most notably Malchus could not forget that this Jesus caused all his pain to disappear with the touch of his hand. Jesus had healed Malchus, wholly, as if the sword were never drawn against him. Surely Jesus was a prophet, Malchus reasoned within himself. After all, who could perform such miracles without the spirit of God upon him? Yet, Malchus’ master who was a righteous man had Jesus condemned and killed. The thought of this greatly troubled him, nevertheless, what could be done about it now? Jesus was dead and Malchus was but a simple servant, who did not wish to speak out against his master.

Malchus shouldered a variety of supplies from the market for which he gathered for the household of Caiaphas. The crowds in the streets were unusually large for this time of day. There seemed to be a multitude gathering around two men. Malchus curiously pushed through the crowds to see what the commotion regarded. To his utmost shock, Malchus gazed upon a face that he would never erase from his memory – The face of Jesus’ disciple who had raised a sword against him. Yet this face no longer expressed rage, but rather love, and his face was not shrouded in darkness anymore. No, his face shined as bright as the sun.

Peter spoke to the crowds. “Repent, therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.”

The day drifted into night, and Malchus had spent this time listening to Peter speak. There was great turmoil within Malchus. The words that Peter spoke impacted him more than any teacher had in his life. Yet this was the same man who had attacked him in a furious rage. And for Peter to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah went against everything that Caiaphas had taught. Malchus spent the evening pacing in the streets, contemplating all that he had heard. He felt an enormous burden upon his spirit. He wanted to hate Peter, but he could not. Every time Malchus’ memories returned to that night, all that his mind could focus on was the overwhelming comfort of Jesus. Jesus’ gentle eyes looking into Malchus’ spirit, and his hand of healing placed upon his once wounded ear. Peter had cut Malchus’ ear clean off from his head. Yet it was presently intact as if nothing had ever happened.

Malchus’ overburdened spirit soon caused him to produce tears. Eventually, in his overwhelmed state, he fell upon his knees in recognition that everything Peter said was true. It was in this moment that Malchus would choose to no longer serve his master the High Priest Caiaphas, but turn instead to serve the real High Priest, Jesus.

Author’s Note: This is a completely fictional story based on Luke 22:50. While writing, this one lesson kept coming to mind. We all must choose at some time or another to serve a master. A Caiaphas, of the worldly order of things, or Jesus himself, the master of eternal life. Maybe Malchus did not make the right choice, the Bible does not tell us. We can only hope that he did. But right now, that does not matter. What matters is that YOU make the right choice.

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15