Who would I be in the Story

Mark 14:43-51

As we stated before, Mark is all about how quick things happen and is taken with the word immediately.  Picking up Mark’s account in verses 43-47;  ^“And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. ⁴⁴ Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” ⁴⁵ And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. ⁴⁶ And they laid hands on him and seized him. ⁴⁷ But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant ^[b] of the high priest and cut off his ear.” 

I’ve heard a man say in adult Bible Study that he was mad at God for allowing evil to happen to little children and good people.  I have no doubt he put himself with the good people, as did Judas, and those from the office of the chief priests and the scribes and elders.  This is the same God who loves you and me so much that He asked His Son, His only Son to become lower than the angels and take on human form and die for the sin of all people.  Evil people like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and the worst of the group Mao Zedong.  Jesus paid the price for all sin, and these three and all of mankind are included in that list.  The Father took His full wrath out on His Son; the Scripture tells us He paid our price in full.  It is a foolish person who would be angry with one who bought them out of a death sentence to eternal Hellfire.

This is the fantastic thing, Judas and the crowd with clubs and swords believed they were in charge.  Let us wonder for a moment about what Michael the Ark angel was doing as he watched Jesus taken.  I can only imagine, but this may be close to it, with sword drawn he is saying Father may I destroy those evil people.  You see they were not in charge, nor are you when you rebel against God’s authority, just because you want your will.

Now we hear from Jesus in Mark 14:48-49,  ^“And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me?  Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.”   Peter steps-up with a sword and missed the servant of the high priest’s head but got an ear, what happened next was amazing he turned tail and ran with the others.  Was it because Jesus picked up the ear and put it back in place, or was it fear, all we know is they ran?  But one young man in a linen cloth that is like our undergarment was still following when they seized him.  We're told he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

Ask this question to the person in the mirror, which one would be me Judas, no way, what about the crowd, the young man, or maybe the disciples?  We all would have been in one of these rolls.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

PS.  One wonders if the lawyer that spoke up in class so angry at God for all the wrong done to people and children would have put God on trial for allowing His Son, His only Son to die for his sins?  I do not believe he was that foolish.