Mark 14:43-50 (NKJV) Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane
(Matt. 26:47–56; Luke 22:47–53; John 18:1–11)
43 And 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. 44 Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.”
45 As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
46 Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him. 47 And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
48 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”
50 Then they all forsook Him and fled.
V43 “And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.”
Why so many coming to arrest Jesus? The priests were skeptical that the disciples wouldn’t resort to violence. They expected a war. Jesus, having known all things, made sure His flock would run away. Jesus is fighting a spiritual war. The physical war happens in the Tribulation, especially at the end (Zechariah 14:1-4 and Revelation 19:11-21).
V44 “Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.”
What an evil signal—pretending to be loving and loyal while harboring murderous intents. See Psalm 36:3, Psalm 55:21, and Proverbs 26:24-26. He willingly suppressed truth (Matthew 26:21 and Romans 1:18).
V45 “As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.”
Based on the past efforts to arrest Jesus, it was noted that when threatened, Jesus went through their midst, because the time was not right. He walked out of the threat. Compare Luke 4:29-30. This is the kiss of hate. He thought Jesus wouldn’t know, but what foolishness. Jesus had already prophesied His arrest, death, and resurrection three times (Matthew 16:21-23, Matthew 17:22-23, and Matthew 20:17-19). It is hard to believe that Judas, one of the world’s greatest, if not greatest, betrayers, kissed the cheek of God.
V46 “Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him.”
They arrested Jesus and traveled in haste to prevent anyone from seeing Jesus and possibly stirring up trouble.
V47 “And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.”
Peter (John 18:10-11) drew his sword. How is it that Peter thought he would defend Jesus? The attitude is right, but if Peter had remembered Jesus’s prophesies of His death, Peter would not have done this. Being unskilled with a sword, Peter managed only to cut off the ear of the High Priest’s servant. Jesus then told Peter to put up the sword, then He healed this man. I wonder if the man was thankful to Jesus? Wouldn’t this have been a sign that Jesus is the Messiah? Compare Psalm 41:9 (quoted by Jesus in John 13:18).
V48 “Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?”
A good question. Jesus never showed any aggression and war-like tendencies in His many, many public teachings and healings. He could have (Matthew 26:53), but He did not, for He came to die for our sins. See Matthew 12:20 which is a quote from Isaiah 42:3.
V49 “I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”
The Temple is where He could have been led away and questioned.
Matthew Henry writes: “I am hardly used, but I submit, for the scriptures must be fulfilled, Mark 14:49. 1. See here what a regard Christ had to the scriptures; he would bear anything rather than that the least jot or tittle of the word of God should fall to the ground; and as he had an eye to them in his sufferings, so he has in his glory; for what is Christ doing in the government of the world, but fulfilling the scriptures? 2. See what use we are to make of the Old Testament; we must search for Christ, the true treasure hid in that field: as the history of the New Testament expounds the prophecies of Old, so the prophecies of the Old Testament illustrate the history of the New.”
V50 “Then they all forsook Him and fled.”
This is prophesied in Zechariah 13:7. They had wonderful attitudes and dedication, but our flesh is weak at times because of fear. After Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit empowered all the apostles. With His assisting grace, they bravely went forth, even though they were afraid. Compare Acts 4:13, Acts 4:31, and 1 Thessalonians 2:2.
We learn:
- The knowledge of Jesus.
- The deceptive betrayal of Jesus.
- Using the sword isn’t always wise.
Questions:
- Would we flee?
- Would you betray Jesus today?
- Is it always wise to flee from danger?