John chapter 18

vs 1-2

Jesus has now finished his long prayer. And so he leaves, with the disciples, for an olive grove. This was normal, so the disciples weren't disturbed about it - he had been there with them several times - and that's how Judas knew where they'd be.

vs 3

Can you say "lynch mob"? Well, they are soldiers, so he is going to be arrested, but you get the feeling don't you?

vs 4-5

He knew who they wanted. I mean, who are they going to arrest, Matthew? Simon the Zealot? This is one of those classic God questions, like "Where are you?" or "Where is your brother?" - it forces them to admit to what they are doing. I'm not suggesting necessarily that this is in a larger pattern of "God Questions" or anything though. But Jesus replies that he is who they seek, and their reaction is startling.

vs 6

The power of Jesus is flowing pretty obviously here. Just at his claiming of that name, these people fall to the ground, making his authority obvious.

vs 7

So he asks them again, and they have to be bloody sure that they want to take him. The respond again that he's the one they want.

vs 8-9

Jesus protects his disciples by basically ordering the mob to let them go. John sees this as a fulfilment of his earlier words. But the disciples aren't going to go that easily.

vs 10

Peter, hot-blooded as always, whips out a sword, and of comes Malchus' ear. I don't think I need to tell you where he was aiming if he got the guy's ear. Now, I don't know much about ANE swordplay, but he was either striking upwards or downwards. Medieval strokes generally go downwards, in which case you'd think the blade would get imbedded in the poor guy's shoulder, but it might have glanced off his skull. An upward stroke would be far less likely to take an ear off, me thinks (upwards strokes are generally going for the belly or the groin).

So Peter just tried to plant a sword in this guy's head. Those who would like to suggest that Peter is some sort of swordplay genius and was aiming for his ear, you go ahead and claim that. I won't dispute it, because the evidence is nowhere clear enough to prove he wasn't. Except that, of course, he was a fisherman.I think I'll stick with Peter trying to kill someone. Great move as one of Jesus' disciples, eh?