Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

 

 

Mark 14:43-50

 

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

“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.   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.”   And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him.   And they laid hands on him and seized him.  But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.  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.”   And they all left him and fled.”

 

Mark seems to be in a hurry to give us the facts, for I am sure you noticed the uses of the word immediately, Marks favorite word.  When Mark tells us, “And they all left him and fled.” He is referring to the disciples.

The same story in all of the gospels, but each recalling something a little different.  Beginning with John’s account in chapter 18:1-11, only John gives this insight; that Judas came with a company of soldiers and some temple police and identified Peter as the one who cut off the high priest servants ear, and only John recalls the servant's name but calls him a slave, his name was Malchus.  John also shares the point that Jesus was in total control with this report; John 18:4-8, “Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”   They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.”  Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.  When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.   So, he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”   Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”

 

Dr. Luke is the only one that shares Jesus addressing Judas that night; it is found in Luke 22:63, “but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”  One would expect the doctor to recall Jesus touching the servant of the high priest ear that had been cut off by Peter and healed him.

 

Looking at all the gospels Matthew gives us, the most ink on the subject is Matthew 26:47-56.  Only Matthew gives us this insight; in Matthew 26:52-54.  “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.   Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?   But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

 

That is why we are instructed to study the whole word of God so that we will be workers that need not to be ashamed.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice