“Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.”
(Luke 22:54)
God often works contrary to human expectations, as Isaiah 55:8 reminds us, “His ways are not our ways.” This reality calls us to “bow to the majesty of God’s thoughts and the incomprehensibility of His ways.”[1] A perfect example of this truth is when Peter drew his sword and cut off one of the soldier’s ears in Gethsemane the night before Christ was crucified, which is how we typically respond in such a context … as opposed to Christ, who surrendered without resistance.
And even though the soldiers in attendance witnessed undeniable miracles when Christ restored Malchus’ ear with a touch and felled the entire band backward with nothing but His words, “I am He,” they remained unmoved. His word alone knocked them down, revealing the Lion of Judah’s power. His touch restored the soldier’s ear, proving His supremacy. Yet, no awe or belief followed. Similar blindness afflicted religious leaders at Lazarus’ resurrection (John 11:44), who watched Him do wonder after wonder while remaining not only skeptic but intent on seeking His demise.
How could this be? The answer lies in the fact that God holds the keys to every heart. And apart from His opening our spiritual eyes, none can or will see (John 12:40). Truths remain hidden except to those He chooses to reveal them. For it is only when God opens our eyes can we behold Christ’s miracles, gospel wonders, law, mercy, and grace.
Miracles abound in creation, providence, and redemption, and yet so many see without perceiving (Isaiah 6:9-10) because God’s revelation is selective; He only reveals Himself to the humble (Matthew 11:25). The Pharisees witnessed Christ performing multiple miracles but still their hearts were hardened. Judas watched the Lord work wonders daily and still betrayed Him.
And yet God uses the Gospel to open the eyes of those He chooses to see the depths of sin and Christ’s sufficiency. By His grace, they are able to see the significance of the cross, which is folly to the world, but to those who believe it is the power of God unto salvation (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Contemplations:
- Losing life to save it. You promise that losing life for Your sake saves it (Matthew 16:25), restoring it through grace. And still I cling to self, fearing surrender. Help me pursue You fully, Lord, making Your Word my lamp (Psalm 119:105) that guides my path toward You.
- Mercy on enemies. You healed Malchus, one of the soldiers who came in the night to arrest You, Lord. My sins seem unforgivable, yet Your mercy is boundless. As Isaiah 59:1 affirms, Your hand saves, Your ear hears. Bind my broken heart (Psalm 51) and grant repentance.
- Imitating mercy. I cannot match Your majesty, wisdom, or power, Lord, but I can emulate Your mercy (Luke 6:36). Adam displayed wisdom (Genesis 3), and Nebuchadnezzar power. I ask You to clothe me in mercy that I may reflect You, my heavenly Father.
- Spiritual sight needed. Miracles blinded soldiers, Lord; open my eyes to Your truth. I see wonders wrought by Your hand, and yet I still doubt. Reveal Yourself to this meek seeker, and grant me faith’s sight that I may behold miracles from Your law, Your mercy, Your gospel, and Your grace.
Prayer (supplication)
O majestic God, You are the sovereign revealer, whose ways surpass human understanding. I come before You, blind and needy, pleading for eyes to see Your truth. Isaiah 55:8 declares that Your thoughts are higher; humble me to trust when You work unexpectedly. In Gethsemane, soldiers saw Your miracles and yet did not believe. Open my eyes, Lord, to recognize Your power as the Lion of Judah.
I beg You, Father, pierce my heart’s darkness. Soften my stubborn will, and grant me faith to perceive Christ’s conquest by way of the cross and not the sword. I cannot open my own eyes; only You hold the key (John 12:40). Show Your ways to one who fears You.
For Your church, I ask for enlightenment, for many witness signs and yet remain blind. Awaken us to gospel wonders, law’s demands, mercy’s depth, and grace’s flow. Help us follow Christ’s submission and not Peter’s impulse.
I ask for grace to conquer through suffering (Matthew 26:53-54). Illuminate Scripture to my heart, that I may behold Christ’s miracles in creation, providence, and redemption anew. Break the blindness that chains souls and draw the lost to see salvation’s light.
And as Psalm 119:105 promises, make Your Word my lamp. When doubts hound me, remind me of Gethsemane’s lesson that apparent defeat yields victory. I depend on You alone for sight for I know that without it, those greatest wonders will pass unseen. Glorify Yourself in opened eyes and transformed lives.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture references for Luke 22:54 as it pertains to Christ’s conquest as the Lion
Rev. 22:16, Heb. 7:14, Gen. 49:9, Rom. 15:12, Isa. 11:1.
[1] Herman Bavinck, Our Reasonable Faith, trans. Henry Zylstra (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2016), 422.
