By Drake Hunter | Devotional, Rocky Mountain Voice
July 13, 2024: This day marked a distressing moment in history — an assassin’s attempt on President Donald J. Trump’s life that reverberated globally, evoking echoes of past events where seemingly insignificant details held immense significance.
It felt as though we were bearing witness to the unfolding of history, and the blood on the President’s ear marked a transformative juncture in time and the annals of history.
For those familiar with literature, particularly the Bible, the symbolism of blood as representative of life, sacrifice and atonement, and the connotation of the right ear as a symbol of attentive listening and obedience to God’s voice, are familiar themes. When such significant events occur, it is natural for people to scrutinize the images, seeking to discern their potential meanings. While this is commendable, I am inclined to explore these symbols from a different vantage point — I am keen on delving into the peaceful significance of the blood on the ear.
One of the most renowned narratives in the Bible recounts the moment when one of Jesus’s disciples, Peter, resorted to violence by severing a soldier’s ear. This episode is chronicled in John 18:10, illustrating Peter’s reaction of anger, aggression and animosity — a manifestation of what we could call “The three A’s of hatred” in that intense moment. The crux of this narrative lies not only in Jesus’s rejection of violence but also in his act of kindness and compassion in healing the injured soldier.
Before this event, Jesus had corrected Peter’s defensive attitude and his misconceptions about addressing the political and religious conflicts of the time. While Peter sought retribution, Jesus’s words to him, “Get behind me, Satan,” unequivocally underscored his staunch disapproval of violence in any circumstance at all cost, even death. Despite his initial reactions, Peter emerged as a significant peacemaker in the tapestry of time.
The question now arises for those who follow Christ: when faced with the image of blood on the President’s ear and the biblical tale of blood on the ear, will you choose violence akin to Peter, or will you endeavor to emulate Jesus’s path and draw the world closer to God’s love and unity? If you opt for the immature approach of Peter, allow me to echo Jesus’s words to those who consider themselves disciples of Christ: “Get behind me, Satan!”
With those thoughts, let me close with a well-known rallying cry to prepare for spiritual warfare: Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” It’s a timeless call to prepare for spiritual battle and equip yourselves for a time of schemes of the devil and his minions.
It’s interesting to note that this verse shares the same numbers as the time President Trump was shot: 6:11 p.m. As we move forward and strive to heal the unity of our land, let’s remember this rallying cry and embrace the transformative power of compassion to shape the course of history for generations to come.
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