Unless you look carefully in your Bible, you will probably never notice Malchus. He is not a significant individual within the pages of scripture, but it is worth our while to spend some time considering him as one of the faces surrounding Calvary. And even if you do find him, you are likely to pass him by without a thought.

Malchus was the recipient of great harm, as well as a wonderful blessing. It would not surprise me if that instant in his life had the power to completely change him. Mark writes, “And they laid their hands on him, and took him. And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear” (Mark 14:46-47). John is more precise in his description, giving us the name of the servant (John 18:10). Malchus was the unfortunate individual who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But Luke gave us one more piece of information concerning this servant: Jesus healed him (Luke 22:51). Malchus, who moments before was condemned to be mutilated for the remainder of his life, was now whole again! Jesus, amidst those whose desire was to take Him captive, took time to heal the wounded. Malchus went along with the other servants and guards in taking Jesus to the High Priest, but what was going through his mind? He had just felt the power of God in being made whole again. We have no idea whether Malchus ever obeyed the gospel, but we do know that he had reason to. He was a first hand witness, and recipient of the grace of God. Did Malchus return for a spiritual healing as well?

Kyle Campbell