10. The Ear of the Man in Jesus' Arrest Party (Luke 22:45-54)
In this story, when Jesus was approached by Judas and the rest of the arrest party, one of Jesus' followers (some accounts say Peter) cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest who was in the arrest party. Jesus scolded the man who cut off the ear and healed the man's ear though many would consider him to be Jesus' enemy. Even though this man was with those arresting Jesus and probably disagreed with Jesus' teachings and actions, Jesus still felt compelled not to support the swordsman's actions, but instead to help out his enemy.
9. Blind Bartimaeus (Luke 18:35-43)
In this story, Jesus and his followers were travelling in Jericho when blind Bartimaeus was by the roadside and heard Jesus walking by. When he called out for Jesus' help, the crowd rebuked him treating him as unworthy. Of course Jesus came over and healed the man. This story is remarkable on two accounts. First off, though Jesus' followers (you might say the early Church) rebuked the man, possibly calling him a sinner and ridiculing him for his infirmity (back then it was thought that physicial ailments were caused by sin and well deserved; see #8 below) Jesus saw fit to heal this man, having compassion on him, and did not ask any questions or ask for any commitments from the man. Secondly, the man's name being Bartimaeus (translated son of Timaeus) indicates that this man was Roman or Greek. He was therefore a Gentile who worshiped pagan gods, and yet Jesus healed him anyway, without any hesitation or question.
