Malchus is not one of the more common people mentioned in the New Testament, yet his short account is recorded in each of the four Gospels.
When Jesus was arrested, the apostle Peter was so enraged that he drew his sword and took a swing at one of the Roman soldiers. It was a close call for this soldier, as Peter’s sword narrowly missed his head—but it did sever the man’s ear. That soldier was Malchus.
Jesus attempted to calm that situation by commanding Peter to put away his sword. Then, Jesus healed Malchus.
But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. – Luke 22:51
And that concludes most of what we know about Malchus:
Malchus received a firsthand miracle from Jesus, yet we have no record of how that impacted his life. Did he become a Jesus follower? Did he attribute this miracle to something else? Did he become famous among his peers? Did his life change significantly in any way whatsoever?
Jesus followers believe in something much more significant than an instant healing. We believe that God’s perfect Son, Jesus, died for our sins and rose from the dead. But the question that presents itself is the same one we asked about Malchus: Does believing something translate into life change?
According to the apostle James, believing is the start of life change. But acting on that belief is where an abundant life really begins to take shape.
But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. – James 1:25
Heavenly Father, give us the courage to live out our beliefs.