I've entitled this message, Christ's
Last Miracle. Now, we just read of the last
physical miracle Christ did, touching that man's ear and healing
him. Now, I realize that any time
the Lord saves somebody, it's a miracle. If you're saved, you're
a miracle of grace, aren't you? A work of God. But here we read
of Christ's last physical miracle, and it's the only one like this,
where someone was wounded, ear cut off, and the Lord touched
him, and his ear returned. He didn't bend over and pick the ear off
and reattach it. I suppose surgeons could do that
if that happened. They could reattach an ear and
probably would reattach fingers and hands and things like that.
But this was not like that at all. This was him actually touching
this man's ear and he was given a new ear. Christ's last miracle. Now we know from John's account
who did this. And whose ear was cut off? It
was Peter who did this. You'd know it would be Peter,
wouldn't you? He was trying to cut the guy's head off. The guy
ducked, and all he got was the ear. And back there where the
Lord said, sell your garment and take on a sword, he wasn't
saying, now that I'm dying, we're going to start battling. He was
just letting them know tough times are ahead. That's all that's
being said. Tough times are ahead. And Peter
took what he said literally, and he was going to protect the
Lord. He meant well, no doubt. And
the man whose ear was cut off was Malchus. He was a servant
of the high priest, the one who plotted the destruction of the
Lord Jesus Christ. And Peter was going to try to
get him. So he swings, fell ducks, His ear comes off and Christ
touches him and heals him. Turn with me for a moment to
John chapter 18. Judas had come to betray the Lord with a kiss
and that's been duplicated over the centuries. When Jesus had spoken these words,
he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where
was a garden into the which he entered and his disciples, the
garden of Gethsemane. And Judas also, which betrayed
him, knew the place. For Jesus oft times resorted
there with his disciples. Judas then, having received a
band of men and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees,
and was a great multitude, cometh thither with lanterns and torches
and weapons, Jesus therefore knowing all things that should
come upon him." Jesus of Nazareth. is God. And He knew all things that were
coming upon Him. Why? Because He determined everything
that was going to take place. He was in absolute, complete
control of everything that was taking place. I love thinking
about that. You know the Lord's always in
control of everything all the time. And he knew exactly what
was going to happen to him because it was his will being done. He wasn't a victim in this thing.
He was in control. Jesus, therefore, knowing all
things that should come upon him, went forth and said unto
them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them. Now, if
you have a King James version, you'll notice the he is in italics. It was placed there by the translators,
but it's not in the original. He said, I am. The name of Jehovah, the self-existent
one. I am. The same name that God
said to Moses when Moses said, who shall I say sent me? He said,
tell them that I am has sent thee. I am that I am. I love that name of God. He never has to say, I want to
be, or I will be, or I used to be, or I could be, or I should
be. He's always, I am that I am. Now look what happened when the
Lord said this. Verse six, as soon then as he
had said unto them, I am, they went backward and fell to the
ground. Don't you love thinking about
that? He's letting them know at this time, I'm not in your
hands. You're in mine. I'm controlling
every event. This is nothing less than my
will being done. You guys think you're coming
to get me? I'm letting it happen. I'm going to make sure you know
it. And by irresistible, almighty, invincible power, they were knocked
backwards and fell to the ground. And they knew at this time, this
is no ordinary man. I have no doubt that they were
scared to death. They saw they couldn't resist this power. Verse 7, Then asked he them again,
Whom seek ye? I would like to heard the way
they said Jesus of Nazareth this time, wouldn't you? Jesus of Nazareth. They were
scared. They were scared. Jesus answered,
verse 8, I've told you that I am. If therefore you seek me, let
these go their way. And let me remind you, that wasn't
a request. That was a command. You see,
everybody that he represents is going to be saved. Because
he was taken, they're going to be let go. That's the gospel,
isn't it? The gospel of substitution. Verse
9, that the saying might be fulfilled which he spake, of them which
thou gavest me have I lost none. You know, if anybody that Christ
died for was lost, he'd lose his glory. He'd lose his exaltation. He would have failed. But he's
no failure. You see, everybody that he died
for must be saved. Of those whom you've given me,
I've not lost one of them. Then, verse 10, Simon Peter having
a sword, I guess he felt empowered by seeing he was with the Lord,
and he thought, nothing's going to happen to me. Now, he'd soon
lose his courage, and a little maid would call out his name,
and he'd deny he even knew the Lord, but right now he feels
very empowered. 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. Then said that Jesus unto Peter,
Put up thy sword into thy sheath. The only sword we're to use is
the Word of God. We don't need to be using human
methodology. Peter was trying to protect the
Lord and help him. The Lord doesn't need his help.
The Lord's doing this by himself. Put up the sword into thy sheath. And this is what we considered
last week, the cup which my Father hath given me. Shall I not drink
it? The cup of the sins of God's
elect, the cup of wrath that came as a result, the cup that
he prayed three times, Father, if it be possible, let this cup
pass from me. But it wasn't possible, was it?
Christ is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,
and he must drink of this cup for you or me to be saved. He
must drink of this cup, who his own self bear our sins in his
own body on the tree. He said, the cup which my father
hath given me to drink, shall I not drink it? Turn with me to Matthew 26, and
let's look at Matthew's account of this for just a moment. Verse 47, And while he yet spake, Lo, Judas,
one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude. I read where men said, I don't
know where they got their information, that this was a thousand men.
They had some reason for it, I didn't. It's one of those they-say-things. They said it, so maybe it's true,
a thousand men. And while he had spake, lo, Judas,
one of the twelve, came with him, and with him a great multitude,
a large crowd with swords and clubs, staves or clubs, from
the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed
him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss the same
as he. Hold him fast. And forthwith
he came to Jesus and said, Hail, Master, and kissed him. And Jesus
said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then
came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. And behold,
one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew
his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and smote
off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword
into the place. For all they that take the sword
shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou," now he's speaking
to Peter. Peter, you're trying to help me. Thinkest thou that
I cannot now pray to my Father, and He shall presently give me
more than twelve legions, seventy-two thousand angels? You think I
need your help? But how then, verse 54, how then
shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? Now Peter meant well. You know
that. I know that. He loved his master. He was doing what he could. But
the Lord says you put the sword away. This is the scripture being
fulfilled. This must be. You see, everything that was
determined in eternity must take place in time. And Christ is
called the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and He
must go through this. You know, He said as a young
boy, wished ye not that I must be about my Father's business. It's absolutely necessary. That's
what the word means. He said in John chapter 3, as
Moses lifted up the servant in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of Man be lifted up. He said in John chapter 10, I
lay down my life for the sheep. Another sheep I have which are
not of this fold, them also I must bring. When it says he must need
to go through Samaria, it's because one of his elect was there. And
he was going to bring that elect sinner in. When he said to Zacchaeus,
make haste, come down, today I must abide at thy house. It's because it was the Father's
will. You know, this is so prominent in the preaching of the apostles. Now, looking back to Luke chapter
22. Luke chapter 22, verse 37. For I say unto you that that
which is written must yet be accomplished in me. And he was
reckoned among the transgressors. And it was absolutely necessary
for this to take place. It was written. It was written.
I wish that you and I had some understanding of the authority
of the Scriptures. When the Bible speaks, God speaks. This is not the production of
a man. This is God's inspired Word, and the Scriptures must
be fulfilled. That's why He must be reckoned
among the transgressors, because it was God's purpose. He must
be the Savior of His people. Look in Luke chapter 24, verse
7. Or verse 6, this is the angel
speaking. He's not here, He's risen. Remember
how He spoke unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, The
Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of
men. He must because it's God's purpose.
Look in verse 26, ought not, and that word ought not is the
same word translated must in the original, was it not necessary
For Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His
glory, it was necessary because it was God's purpose. It was
necessary because He was made sin and became guilty and He
had to suffer under the wrath of God because God's just. God
can't accept anything short of perfection. He had to die. He
had to be punished. That's how truly He was made
sin for His people. Look in verses 44 of the same
chapter. And He said unto them, These
are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you,
that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law
of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning me. Then
opened he their understanding, that they might understand the
Scriptures. And he said unto them, Thus it is written, And
thus it behooved, that's the same word, thus it was necessary
for Christ to suffer and to arouse from the dead the third day and
that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in
his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem and you were witnesses
of these things. How many times has the Lord said
this happened that the scriptures might be fulfilled and this is
absolutely necessary. And this was so prominent in
the preaching of the apostles. I think of Acts 4, verse 12,
there's none other name given among heaven whereby we must
be saved. Acts 13, 29, and when they had
fulfilled all that was written of him. This is Paul's first
public sermon in Acts 13, and he says regarding the death of
Christ, and when they had fulfilled all that was written of him.
They took him down and laid him in a sepulcher, but God raised
him from the dead. And when Paul's preaching is
summarized in Acts chapter 17, verse 3, it says this was his
manner. He went into the synagogue as
his manner was, and here's what he preached, opening and alleging
that Christ's must needs have suffered and risen from the dead.
Now, I love that word of necessity. Why must needs he have suffered?
Because it was God's will. because he was a sin-bearer. And God's just, he must be punished.
Why must he be raised from the dead? Because he completely satisfied
God's justice. The justice of God said, Enough! I need nothing else. He was raised
from the dead. Do you see how prominent that
was in the apostles' preaching? Now let's go back to Luke 22. Verse 50, And one of them that
we know was Peter, he smote the servant of the high priest, and
cut off his ear. And Jesus answered and said,
Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and he heals him. The Lord undid
the mess that Peter made. I don't know how many times I've
prayed, Lord, undo this. I've messed up. I've done wrong. Would you be pleased to undo
this? You know, the Lord does that.
That's a prayer we're allowed to make. The Lord undid the mess
that Peter made. And he healed this man. Now this
man was one of the men that came to arrest him. And he was the
servant of the high priest. the man who had plotted the death
of the Lord Jesus Christ. This man wasn't a friend of Christ. He was an enemy of Christ. This
is a man who wanted the Christ to be put to death. And what does the Lord do for
him? He has mercy on him. And he heals
him with a touch. There's something infinitely
powerful about the touch of the Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, there
came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if you will, you
can make me clean. And Jesus moved with compassion. put forth his hand and touched
him. How long you reckon it had been
since that man had experienced a human touch? Nobody touched
him, but the Lord did. And immediately the scripture
says he was made clean by the touch of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter's mother-in-law is sick. He touches her and she rises
up and ministers to them. Two blind men came to him and
the scripture says, he touched their eyes, saying unto them,
according to thy faith, be it unto thee, On the man of transfiguration,
Peter and James and John are scared to death after Peter makes
that stupid comment. Lord, let us make three tabernacles.
One for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He'll make
three tabernacles. All of a sudden, a bright cloud
overshadowed them. And they were scared to death.
They hit the dirt. And they heard a voice from heaven, This is
my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. They were afraid. And the scripture says, Jesus
touched them and said, Arise and be not afraid. And when he
touched them, you know what it says about those fellas? They
saw no man save Jesus only. Now the only way you see Jesus
in his glory is when you see Jesus only. As everything in
salvation, everything to God, everything in this book, you
see Jesus only. There was a widow. Her only son
was dead. A funeral procession was taking
place and the Lord came up and touched the coffin and said,
young man, I say unto thee, arise. And immediately he popped up
alive. I love that scripture where they
brought infants unto him that he would touch them. And I can't
help but think, wonder what those people's lives were like after
that, those infants that he touched. It'd be interesting to know,
wouldn't it? And here, Malchus, he comes with
malicious intent to take the Lord and have him crucified. And his ear is cut off. by Peter trying to take his head
off. And the Lord reaches forth his
hand and touches him. And he's healed. Notice in verse 50 of Luke chapter
22. And one of them smote the servant
of the high priest and cut off his right ear. We're given that detail. Wasn't
his left ear, it was his right ear. When a leper was cleansed and
he went to show himself to the priest, what did the priest do? He sprinkled blood on his right
ear. Now this is of great significance.
The Lord didn't reach down and pull up that ear and reattach
it. He gave him a new ear. He gave him a new ear. A hearing
ear. And you know when God has given
you a hearing ear? You listen real carefully. God
is giving you a hearing ear when the gospel, the gospel of Christ
actually is good news to you. It's good news to you that God
freely elected a people. It's good news to you that Christ
accomplished salvation on the cross, that He didn't just make
salvation possible, but He saved. It's good news to you that God's
grace is irresistible and invincible. It's good news that He preserves
His people all the way to the end. It's good news that Christ's
righteousness is the only righteousness. You don't want any other. It's
good news to you that He is all in salvation. That's when you
hear the Gospels. The Gospels aren't just doctrine
to you. It's good news. It's the way you're saved. He
was given a mirror. Just like that leper that came
that was cleansed, he had blood applied to his right ear. This man was given a new ear
and he was able to hear the gospel. Isn't it a blessing when the
Lord enables you to hear the gospel? I think of the law of
the bondservant. Remember in Exodus chapter 21
when a servant When his seven years is up and
he can go free, what if he says, I love my master. I love serving him. I love my
wife, my children. I want to stay right here. I
don't want to go anywhere else. I'm here for the rest of my life.
Now that, first of all, is a type of Christ. Christ said, I love
my bride. I love my people. I'm staying
right here and I'm going to be theirs forever. but He's also
a type of the believer. You know why we serve Christ?
Because we want to. I want to be a follower of the
Lord Jesus Christ. I want to be a disciple of Christ.
I want to be a sinner saved by grace. I want to simply be found
in the Lord Jesus Christ. I don't want anything else. This
is what I want. And what do you do? He would
go and they would take an awl of some kind and pierce His ear
And he was a willing servant. Now this man named Malchus, he
was a slave of the high priest. He was a slave of sin. He was a sinaholic. There wasn't
anything he could do to deliver himself from his sin. He was
a slave. And he wasn't seeking Christ. He didn't ask Christ
to heal his ear. I don't know what he was thinking.
Maybe he's thinking, I'm going to... You know, it's amazing,
Peter, that they didn't retaliate against Peter. I guess they'd
seen what Christ did. Just, you know, when they went
backwards, I guess they were all scared. It's amazing that they didn't
retaliate against Peter. But maybe, I'm sure this man
was wanting to retaliate against Peter. And what did the Lord
do? He touched his ear. And he healed
him. Now this is what you would call
one-sided mercy. One-sided mercy. This was all
the Lord. It didn't have anything to do with Malchus. Malchus was
like Paul on the road to Damascus getting ready to kill some Christians.
And the Lord appeared to him. This is the Lord's last physical
miracle. And it's a demonstration of His
mercy. Now Jesus Christ the Lord, listen to me, He delights in
mercy. He delights in healing those
who can't heal themselves. He delights in showing mercy
to sinners. He loves doing it, that's who
He is. He demonstrated it with this man. Now, I don't care who
you are or who I am. God still delights in mercy.
I don't care if you're the most wicked person to ever live. Tell the Lord, I'm the chief
of sinners. He knows. He knows. You're not telling
him he didn't already know. but he delights in mercy. Now, if you come to him for mercy,
you will not be turned away. I can guarantee you that. There
has never been a sinner. And remember, if you're a sinner,
your sin is all your fault. If your sin is not all your fault,
you don't really believe you're a sinner. You believe you're
a victim of something. Maybe a victim of the sovereignty
of God, or a victim of your circumstances, or a victim of something. Now,
that's no good. If you come that way, Christ
won't have anything to do with you. But if you come as a sinner,
where your sin is all your fault, and you plead for mercy, Mercy. Mercy for the miserable. Mercy
that cannot be merited. Mercy that cannot be demerited.
Mercy. Pure, free mercy. Lord have mercy on me. Like The Syrophoenician woman. Jesus, thou Son of David, have
mercy on me. My daughter is grievously vexed
with the devil. Have mercy on me, Lord. Have mercy on me. I deserve to
be damned. My sin is ever before me. Have
mercy on me. Anyone. I don't care who you
are. Anyone who comes to Christ like
that. He has mercy on. And we're talking about saving
mercy. That's the only kind of mercy
there is, is saving mercy. But God who is rich in mercy,
for his great love wherewith he loved us even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. Now
I look at Malchus. Was Malchus saved? I don't know. I like to
think he was. You remember, everybody the Lord
touched. He was touched by the Lord. I know he was healed. He
wasn't seeking mercy, he wasn't seeking salvation. He was coming
to be an instrument in the death and destruction of the Lord Jesus
Christ. But the Lord had mercy on him. And there has never been
a sinner that sought mercy that he turned away. May every one of us, right now,
right now, don't wait for anything. May every one of us say, Lord,
have mercy on me. God be merciful to me, the sinner. And what did the Lord say about
that man? He said, I say unto you, that man went down to his
house justified, not merely forgiven,
justified. Let's pray. Lord, how we thank you for the touch of thy son. And Lord, we ask that you would
reach down and touch our ears, that we might hear the gospel
and believe the gospel. And Lord, we pray with the publican of
old, God be merciful to me, the sinner. Lord, we ask that you would take
your word and bless it for your glory and for our good. In Christ's
name we pray, amen.