Is it OK for a believer to have pierced ears?We might startle at the words in 1 Jn. 2:6: “Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” Really? A challenge! So let’s look back at Psalm 40 for some help here. “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come … I desire to do your will, O my God; your Law is within my heart”. (Ps. 40: 6-8). Hebrews 10 locks this prophecy in as referring to our Lord Jesus.

But why the ear piercing? Under the Law (Ex. 21) we see that slavery was much more humane than in pagan cultures. A slave who served his master for 6 years was to be set free, but if the servant loved his master and wanted to serve him for life, the master would back him up to the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. He would serve his master forever.

Jesus had pierced ears, so to speak! He was an obedient servant to the Father day after day. We know that he often rose very early to talk to the Father. I imagine him asking, “What’s on for today, Father?” And the marching orders came.“Today, Son, go through Samaria. You’ll meet a woman at Jacob’s well who is thirsty for living water. Yes, I know the Jews don’t talk to Samaritans and men don’t converse with women, especially about spiritual things. But you’ll tell her that you are the Messiah she’s been longing for.”Or, “Go visit with Mary and Martha in Bethany. Mary is hungry for some one- on -one teaching. Martha won’t like it but Mary will soak it up like a sponge.”Or, “Look for a little guy in a tree. His name is Zaccheus the tax collector. Everyone despises him, but he’s looking for you so invite yourself over for dinner and I’ll do the rest”. Or, “A prostitute that you forgave and restored will join you for dinner at Simon’s. Her tears will pour down on your feet like rain, and she will dry them with her hair, then pour perfume on them. Don’t stop her. I will shock the men into seeing Who I Am.”

Jesus was God. But we need to remember that he laid his divinity aside to live as a real flesh and blood human under his Father’s authority. John tells us (John 5:19) that he only did what he saw the Father doing. So back to those pierced ears. Is this what it means to follow Jesus? And we are Christ followers. Servants for life, out of love for the One who first loved us. A high calling, an impossible calling, but possible as we submit to the Holy Spirit’s power in us. It’s all about listening to the Father as Jesus did and responding with those servant’s words, “Here am I”. What wonderful orders might we receive? Could be as simple as opening the door for a mom struggling with a toddler, or as profound as sharing the Gospel with a newly diagnosed cancer patient. We can listen, obey, and watch Him work His will in us. And the Kingdom of God comes to our hurting world!