“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Revelation 3:20 (ESV Emphasis added)
Biblical Ear Miracle
Jesus and His disciples hastened into the evening to Gethsemane, one of Jesus’ favorite places to pray. He knew it was His time to be the sacrificial Lamb, and He was desperate to commune with His Father.
Peter, James, and John strode with Jesus deeper into the garden until they reached the usual place of prayer. As Jesus needed to go a little further, He asked them to “stay here and watch with Me” (Matthew 26:38). Jesus also counseled them to “watch and pray” (Matthew 26:41 ESV). Then, retiring to His place of prayer, Jesus gripped the ground pleading with His Father. His prayer was so intense that He sweat drops of blood.
That suspenseful night, Jesus asked that the cup of agony that He was about to endure be taken from Him; nevertheless, He prayed for the will of His Father to be done. Also, the loving Savior prayed for His disciples, for you, and for me.
Later, He rose to His feet and trod to the threesome. There, on the dew-laden ground, Peter, James, and John lay sleeping. “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?” (Mark 14:37 ESV). Disappointed, Jesus cautioned them to roust themselves and confer with their heavenly Father. Jesus knew what would befall them in a short while, so He admonished them to seize strength from on high.
Commotion and rushed footsteps shattered the quietness in the garden. Torches blazed to illuminate the darkness. The disciples arose from their sleepy stupor to find their Master bound in arrest. The scheming priests finally captured the Man they believed to be their nemesis. Jesus’ disciples did not think He would allow Himself to be apprehended.
Peter, the disciple who often reacted rashly, whipped out his sword and shaved the right ear from the head of the high priest’s servant. For a moment, Jesus freed Himself from those who detained Him. Retrieving the ear, He placed it in its proper location on the servant’s head, connecting blood vessels, nerves, and every detail to restore the hearing loss of this, His enemy.
Modern Ear Miracle
Dr. Bennett1 was a godly man who possessed a passion for prayer. The good doctor understood that the only way he could adequately serve people was to connect with the ultimate Physician. He not only conversed with the great Healer in his prayer closet, but he also prayed with his patients to lead them to the One who could restore their health. They loved him for it.
One evening he learned that a friend of his had been in a vehicular accident. Even though he was not on call that night, Dr. Bennett drove to the hospital to help his friend.
Among her injuries, Shellie’s2 right ear had been stripped from her head. The emergency room doctors did not believe they could save the organ, so they tossed it into the garbage can.
Upon receiving permission from the on-call physicians to help her, Dr. Bennett retrieved her ear from the medical waste. He understood that he was like the other doctors and could not make things work on his own, but he knew the God who could, so he asked God to sterilize it and to be his Guide in reattaching it.
The prayerful doctor went into surgery with the supreme Surgeon supervising every detail of the delicate procedure. Because of the divine direction, Dr. Bennett ably connected the blood vessels, nerves, and every other nuance to reestablish her hearing, just as Jesus did for the servant. Today, Shellie hears well; a slight scar is the lone reminder of how God used a man to work a mighty miracle.
Call to Action
Why do you suppose Jesus healed the high priest’s servant? After all, he was running with a rough crowd. Perhaps Jesus desired to endow this man with every opportunity to turn from the wickedness surrounding him and embrace salvation.
Jesus once said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27 ESV). When we listen for the voice of Jesus calling for us and open the door to our hearts, He will come in and dwell within us as He promised in Revelation 3:20. Is that something you desire? Ask Him. Listen for His call.
Unless noted otherwise, scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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