Introduction In Mark 14 we see Jesus in the roles of honored guest (vv.1-11); gracious host (vv.12-26); submissive Son (vv.27-42) and now obedient prisoner (vv.43-72). In Mark s Gospel the betrayal and arrest and desertion seems to take place in the space of a few moments. In provides for us a shocking study in the fragile human character. We have Judas the traitor; we have an arresting mob; we have a misguided follower of Jesus; we have the disciples of Jesus; their will and their resolve broken. We have Jesus himself--what Barclay calls the one oasis of serenity. In the Garden Jesus chose to submit to His Father s will. Submit to a cross. He will submit to the betrayal of a friend. He submits to arrest and a mob. He submits alone. We all make choices. Submission or resistance. Cup or sword. Jesus even now wants to teach a lesson; do we conquer and control or serve and submit? The Two-Faced Betrayer (vv.43-45) Mark 14:43 49 (NKJV) 43And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Why does Judas bring a great multitude? It could be that the religious leaders expected Jesus and his disciples to put up a fight. Or that Jesus would perform some kind of miracle in order to engineer his escape. Later Jesus says (v.49) You had plenty of opportunities to arrest me; why now? We know from John s Gospel (18:3) Judas then, having received a band of men and officers...cometh thither --the word translated band in John s gospel was Speiran--and means the tenth part of a legion--that means 600 soldiers! This was a military operation! This was no casual arrest by local law enforcement. Couple the soldiers with chief priests, scribes and elders--we have an entourage of soldiers and civilians that could have swelled to a rather large crowd! Jesus calmly awaits their arrival. What would have happened if Jesus chose to resist? Jesus could have killed the whole lot. But he didn t come to kill people. He came to save people. The enemies of Jesus come with swords and clubs. John mentions lanterns. It was probably a full moon; since Passover takes place when the moon is full. No weapon ancient or modern, foreign or domestic can eliminate Jesus. Today s enemies of Jesus bring equally foolish weapons. Instead of lamps they bring human reason, human understanding and call it progress. Other candidates include scholarship, education, science, psychology. As valuable as these weapons are they cannot do what Jesus can do. Just a little note: Do any of these weapons pose a threat for you to do God s will? In Luke and here in Mark we realize Temple Guards and Roman Soldiers along with Jewish religious leaders 1
all join forces to capture Jesus. What a picture of our world where human forces join together in an attempt to bring Jesus in! 44Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely. The word translated signal or token (KJV) is the Greek word syssemon (Only here in the Greek NT). We might translate this had arranged a signal with them (NIV). Rengstorf comments: What Mt. 26:48 simply calls a semeion (sign) is thus interpreted as something which Judas had carefully arranged beforehand (TDNT, 7:269). I kiss the verb phileo--in all three Synoptic Gospels it is used in connection with the betrayal of Jesus (see Matt. 26:48; Luke 22:47); elsewere in the NT (22 times) it is always translated love ; thus when translated kiss the idea is of love and affection; in verse 45 (see next verse); kissed is the compound word kataphileo (also in Matt. 26:49); which means to kiss fervently, kiss affectionately--which makes the deed all the more dastardly. We might think of the kiss or the signal in verse 44 as the customary kiss of respect but the kisses in verse 45 as the kind of gushing--effusive kissing...you might expect from grandma or grandpa. Seize Him and lead Him away safely. In effect Judas is saying; stay close to me; make no mistakes; once I identify your man, seize him, make sure he doesn t escape. Don t underestimate his powers; he might try to escape; hold on tight, guard him well. Why did Judas betray Jesus? Was he disappointed that Jesus had not actually plotted to overthrow the government and establish an independent rule? Was it pride or the thirst for power? Was he overcome by greed? Did he figure there was no way he would be named Secretary of the Treasury in the Jesus administration? How could Judas trade his soul for the Savior? Judas would lose all his friends and companions in Christ. They would hate him and feel contaminated by his presence. My dad would say; Sheep say baa and dogs say bow-wow and cats say meow. But what is the sound a rat makes? Betrayal--no matter what form it takes is repugnant. But there is something really repugnant when the means of betrayal is the method usually intended to communicate affection and loyalty. In ancient days a slave would kiss the master s feet; a defeated enemy would kiss his conqueror as a sign of respect and submission. A servant would kiss the back of the hand a favored servant the palm of the hand. A pupil could kiss his teacher only if the teacher initiated such an action. When Judas betrays Jesus he is a man without a home, friends, peace, or future. 2
45As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, Rabbi, Rabbi! and kissed Him. Rabbi is a Hebrew word carried over into the Greek language. We might translate this verse; master, master, and kissed Him fervently. There are any number of ways that Judas might have betrayed Jesus. In Matthew s Gospel the response Jesus gives to Judas is Friend, why have you come? (Matt.26:50). In calling Judas friend he continues to reach out to him. Do you think you entitled to hatred and bitterness because someone has betrayed you? Think again. Jesus submits to his Father. Jesus does the will of the Father. Jesus reaches out to the betrayer. So can we. The kiss is a sacred symbol in many cultures. To use it to set in motion the death of Jesus has made a permanent impression on the world. Even the unbeliever understands a Judas kiss. Judas is a hypocrite. He is playing a role. The role Judas plays is a faithful affectionate disciple. The night is dark. But the inky black darkness of Judas soul is darker still. In a few hours the sun will come up. In John s Gospel it says he went out, and it was night (John 13:30). For Judas it will remain forever night! The Men Who Lay Their Hands On Jesus (v.46) 46Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him. Matthew 26:50; Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. Jesus is in control. The only reason they are able to arrest Him is because He allows it. This move to arrest Jesus was more than Peter could bare. It was at that point that Peter went for his sword and aiming for the servant s head--cut off his ear! The Courageous But Misguided Disciple (v.47) 47And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. One of the disciples took a sword and took matters into his own hands. Which one? Peter prefers anonymity in Mark s Gospel. We all know that it was Peter who drew his sword. We also know the name of the servant of the high priest, Malchus (John 18:10). What Peter did was courageous but foolish. Why? We don t fight spiritual battles with physical weapons (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). 3
Wiersbe: He used the wrong weapon, at the wrong time, for the wrong purpose, with the wrong motive. Had Jesus not healed Malchus, Peter would have been arrested as well; and there might have been four crosses on Calvary (Be Diligent; p.140). The Lord rebuked Peter and performs a miracle to heal the High Priest s Servant (see Luke 22:51). For Peter defiance was still burning in his heart. The time for resistance had come. Peter strikes a blow for freedom and the liberation of Israel. If these people are so foolish as to attack the Lord then they will have to answer to Simon! Peter is willing to take on Caesar s army! (Luke 22:51) But Jesus answered and said, Permit even this. And touched his ear and healed him. The last miracle of Jesus takes place to correct a misguided follower! When Peter attempts to save Jesus and winds up cutting off the ear of the High Priest; prompting a miracle from Jesus; to me it represents all my misguided efforts to help Jesus; apart from being filled with His Spirit, submitted to the Son; Dependent on God. In Ministry life is often a series of bleeding ears; symbols of my attempt to do what I thought was right--but it was not of the Lord. I can t begin to tell you how grateful I am for the grace and mercy of Jesus; who in spite of my wrong thinking and wrong efforts heals those who I have harmed. The Calm Christ In The Midst Of Confusion (vv.48-49) 48Then Jesus answered and said to them, Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? The word robber translated the Greek noun lestes; a common thief was called kleptes--but lestes was a word more often used for the violent criminal; Josephus uses the word lestes for the Jews who were revolutionaries against the Roman government. The NIV translates this am I leading a rebellion? Why do you come with weapons of war? Are you afraid of me? Are we a threat to your safety? In John s Gospel (18:5-8); When Judas shows up with the detachment of troops; Jesus steps forward and asks the question; Whom are you seeking? They answered Jesus of Nazareth. and Jesus said to them, I am He or I am--and Judas, who betrayed him, also stood with them. (v.6) Now when he said to them, I AM (he), they drew back and fell to the ground. (7) Then he asked them again, Whom are you seeking? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. (8) Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he. Therefore if you seek Me, let these go their way. What in the world happened? Some power--some indescribable glory emanated from His being--and knocked the soldiers on their backs to the ground. In a moment of blinding confusion 4
they were swept off their feet! Did Jesus pronounce the name of God? Is this the same name God spoke to Moses in the burning bush? I see verse 8 not as a plea from a desperate master; I see it as a warning, a solemn warning; not a threat a promise. If I were the Roman soldier; I would be terrified to arrest Jesus. Incredible as it seems--i think it was at this point that Judas began to kiss Jesus profusely! 49I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled. In effect Jesus is saying; What s changed? I was with you in broad daylight. I was teaching in the Temple--why didn t you arrest me then? Were you afraid the people might protest? Were you afraid that the people might resist? Were you afraid of the unpleasant publicity? The operation has a much better chance of success if all my friends are in bed and asleep! William McDonald Mark p.106: The Scripture must be fulfilled which prophesied that He would be betrayed (Psalm 41:9), arrested (Isaiah 53:7), manhandled (Psalm 22:12) and forsaken (Zechariah 13:7). This is no accident. Jesus is not taken off guard. Jesus is not the victim of circumstances. The steps of Jesus as he prays in the garden of Gethsemane and will now walk to Calvary was planned before the foundation of the world and recorded in the Scriptures. Psalm 22 and 41; the book of Isaiah--chapter 53--literally fulfilled. J.C.Ryle; The wrath of his enemies, His rejection by His own people, His being dealt with as a malefactor, His being condemned by the assembly of the wicked--all had been foreknown, and all foretold. Ryle writes that this outworking was a part of God s great plan to provide atonement for the sin of the world. He encouraged his readers that we can take great comfort that God s plans and God s order and God s wisdom is in control. The course of this world may often be contrary to our wishes. The position of the Church may often be very unlike what we desire. The wickedness of worldly men, and the inconsistencies of believers, may often afflict or sensibilites. But there is a hand above us, moving the vast expanse of the universe, and making all things work together for our good, and for His glory. Yes people used to talk like that! The Crack In The Disciples Resolve (v.50) 50Then they all forsook Him and fled. All those you would have expected to stand with Jesus are gone. Their nerve cracked. They could not face it. They were afraid that they too would share the fate of Jesus; and so they fled (Barclay p. 346). 5
How is it possible that all that friendship, all that confidence, all that boast, could suddenly disappear? The disciples believed Jesus was the Messiah. Then in a moment they don t. What were the disciples thinking? Why won t Jesus defend himself? The fact that Jesus won t defend Himself is the same as saying I am not the Messiah! Now its everyman for himself. Jesus surrendered on the terms that the others be allowed to go free. The promise to live for Jesus and die for Jesus is easy when death is a million miles away or a million years from now. But what happens when the threat is now? If you really want to know who your friends are make a mistake. Everyone took a step, but no one took a stand. The Cloth From A Terror-Stricken Youth (vv.51-52) 51Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, Who is this young man? Why is he there? Why does he have a linen cloth wrapped around his naked body? Again the word translated linen cloth is sindon; and again was used to describe the kind of simple cloth used to bury the dead (and is used that way in Matt.27:59; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53). More likely a tunic or a shirt--we might even say--night shirt. Some Bible teachers suggest it may be John Mark the author of our Gospel. Like Stan Lee will write a cameo appearance for his Marvel Comic Book adventures maybe John Mark has written himself a bit part. But what does it mean? The simple meaning might be I was there. If the scenes of the upper room took place in the home of the parents of John Mark (Acts 12:12)--perhaps he got up and put on a sheet and followed the disciples into the garden of Gethsemane. Is it possible that the young John Mark just a boy--was in that Upper Room? Did he follow Jesus and the others into the Garden? That would explain some of the scenes. After all if Peter James and John all were sleeping--how did they know about the struggles of Jesus in the Garden? Was Mark in the shadows--watching and listening? Another plausible idea is that Judas returned to the upper room--and John Mark grabbed the night shirt and went to the Garden in order to warn Jesus and the others that Judas and an entourage of soldiers and religious leaders were headed their way. 52and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked. 6
Perhaps the young man was also confronted and threatened with arrest. Jesus is now abandoned, deserted, alone. But not really alone; (John 16:32) and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me ; but soon even the Father turns His Face away. Conclusion The journey to the cross begins with betrayal. There is a frantic fight and a final miracle. In the Garden Jesus made the decision to do things God s way. Have you made that decision? Few of us will chose the way of the Cross because that way leads to death. If sin is our most persist problem; than self is sin s most precious ally. Self-centeredness is the belief that I am number 1. I read an interesting story. In Illinois several thousand people every year petition the Motor Vehicle Department to receive the license plate #1. Paul Powell the Secretary of State said, It was a real problem. I m not about to assign it to someone and make thousands of people feel hurt. His solution? He assigned it to himself! What are the lessons for us? Jesus accepted God s will. He agreed to to do God s will God s way. The way of the cross. Jesus received the terrible kiss of betrayal and responded with love. Jesus submitted to the arrest of the mob. He refused to exercise natural or supernatural strength to avoid capture. He depended solely on the Father and His Angels. Jesus exercised supernatural power to protect His disciples, even when they did not cooperate with Jesus. Jesus continues to demonstrate love, grace, mercy. Jesus submits to God s will. Even though He has do it alone (v.50). The betrayal was Judas idea. But Jesus will submit to the will of God. Jesus refuses to allow an angry mob to keep Him from His Father s will. Jesus demonstrates love grace and mercy. To his enemies healing; to His friends...love and a supernatural provision for a terrible mistake. Jesus will sometimes fix our mistakes! He doesn t have to--but sometimes he does. Jesus goes alone. But we have no such charge. The Christian may be abandoned by family and friends; but we never have to go it alone. Jesus said; I will never leave you or forsake you. I counted dollars while God counted crosses. I counted gains while He counted losses. I counted my worth by the things gained in store. But He sized me up by the scars that I bore. I coveted honors and sought for degrees; But He wept as He counted the hours on my knees. And I never knew till one day at a grave How vain are these things that we spend life to save. 7