Servants, Sounds, and a Sword (Poem)

 

Two servants serve their great high priests

Their work extends beyond the feast

One fisherman from Galilee

The other from David’s city

Two servants hear instructions late 

The sound of someone’s deadly fate 

One prayer asking God’s will be done  

A surprise arrest had begun

Two servants met at garden plot 

Torches, swords, and questions are brought

“Where is Jesus of Nazareth?” 

“I am he,” and ready for death

Two servants face off in a fight

Peter draws a sword, cuts with might

Severs the right ear of Malchus 

The sound he hears is treasonous

Two servants listen, Jesus corrects

Those who live by sword will be wrecked

“Peter, please put down your weapon” 

The Good Shepherd is not frightened 

Two servants watch as Jesus heals

Picks up a bloody ear and feels

The power to bring all sound back 

Malchus’ hearing in tacked 

Two servants leave Jesus late that night 

One in tow, the other in flight

One obeys, and we know no more 

Peter denies; Christ he ignores

Two servants: part of history 

And Malchus, we don’t know fully

Did he trust in Christ and repent

God hasn’t revealed that yet

Two servants: a tale for us 

What do we do when we lack trust? 

Peter will repent of his sin 

And Jesus offers hope in him 

Two servants living in the dark

One emerges to leave his mark

Jesus died to forgive our sin

And now’s our chance to live for him