We have just posted a new sermon on the Keep Believing website called Midnight Miracle based on Luke 22:49-51. This is the story of Jesus healing the ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest, in Gethsemane on the night he was betrayed and arrest. This is the final miracle of bodily cure performed by our Lord and the final miracle before he went to the cross. It is a fitting message for Holy Week. Here’s an excerpt:

"Everything about this story makes perfect sense. You can hardly blame the disciples for thinking, “It’s time to fight,” and of course, we would expect no less from Peter, the volatile, emotional leader who generally acted first and thought about it later. The whole scene reminds me of a chapter from a business bestseller that extols “a bias for action.” The chapter begins with a subhead Peter would have appreciated-”Ready. Fire. Aim.” Which exactly describes what happened."

"It is at this point that we recall the words of James, writing many years later. “Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness” (James 1:19-20 NET). Slow to anger. How many of us are good at that? Raise your hand if you are slow to anger. I am sure there is a slice of humanity that can honestly say, “I am slow to anger,” but for the rest of us, here is a message from the Lord. Your anger and God’s righteousness generally move in opposite directions."

You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free weekly email sermon.