MARK 14:43-5243And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. 45And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him. 46And they laid their hands on him, and took him. 47And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? 49I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled. 50And they all forsook him, and fled. 51And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: 52And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. (Mark 14:43‑52)
JUDAS, into whose heart Satan had entered when he left the supper table, had made his contact with the chief priests, scribes and elders. Even as the Lord was in the garden with His disciples, praying, a motley throng, with Judas in the lead, was gathering, intent on taking Jesus that they might put Him to death.
“And immediately, while He yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. And he that betrayed Him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He; take Him and lead Him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to Him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed Him. And they laid their hands on Him, and took Him.” vv. 43-46.
The betrayer’s kiss identifies Him whose life they seek. Thus assured, they lay irreverent hands on Him and secure Him. Peter, ready enough to fight though not to pray, and acting in his unguarded fleshly way, takes a sword and strikes off an ear of the high priest’s servant. It was an act that showed a spirit far roved from the calmness of the Lord, who suffers and bows to all shame. The time was not yet for the Lord to display His power and He permits the crowd’s advances without defending Himself. It was the hour when the wicked one was allowed to have power and not a time for taking the sword. Peter, not waiting for the Lord to show him the way, is again found in impulsive error and the Lord rebukes him accordingly.
We learn from another gospel that Jesus healed the ear of the wounded man, but we do not read that this act of grace had any effect on those who were committed to taking and killing the Lord.
Jesus reminds the crowd that had come to take Him that He had been daily with them in the temple, teaching. They had not laid hands on Him then, though they wished to do so, because His hour had not yet come. But now the time is come for the scriptures to be fulfilled, and the Lord submits.
“And they all forsook Him, and fled. And there followed Him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: and he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.” vv. 50-52.
Perhaps the Scriptures record this unusual incident to emphasize how the Lord was entirely forsaken by all at this time. The disciples had walked a long time with the Lord but this did not hold them, and they prove their own powerlessness in the face of death. Now another follower, a young man in all the energy of youth, presents the other extreme. Fearful of death, he too turns and flees away naked. If one assays to follow the Lord in his own strength, it will only be to his shame. But now Christ has died and has taken away the sting of death. This is the only reason why believers now can face death without fear; they can even welcome and rejoice in it.
What lessons are here for all of us —young and old! Truly we can say, “In me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Romans 7:1818For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (Romans 7:18). It is only when our confidence is entirely away from self, and relying on the power and grace of God, that we can say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:1313I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13).
ML-04/19/1964