loudandclear

Mark 14:43-52

 ⁴³ And immediately, even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders. ⁴⁴ The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss. Then you can take him away under guard.” ⁴⁵ As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. “Rabbi!” he exclaimed, and gave him the kiss.

 ⁴⁶ Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. ⁴⁷ But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.

 ⁴⁸ Jesus asked them, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? ⁴⁹ Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there among you teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me.”

 ⁵⁰ Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away. ⁵¹ One young man following behind was clothed only in a long linen shirt. When the mob tried to grab him, ⁵² he slipped out of his shirt and ran away naked.

(((This is one of the darkest places in the whole Bible’s story.  Jesus, the Messiah who was sent to rescue God’s people on the earth, was betrayed by one of His own followers named Judas.  Many scholars argue over the reason that Judas betrayed Jesus and most agree that he was a zealot.  A zealot was a Jew who was clearly looking for the Messiah to lead a violent revolution and take over Roman Empire to free the Jews.  Judas was probably angry that Jesus said that He would not lead a revolution but instead suffer and die.)))

(((Jesus explains to his disciples that he is not a dangerous revolutionary there to overthrow the government. They do not have to fight to free Him, because this is fulfilling the Scriptures.  Jesus knew His mission and the ending of His mission…He faces it boldly.)))

(((All of Jesus’ disciples were confused and scared.  They ran for their lives when their leader was taken under arrest.  Ladies and Gentlemen verses 51-52 are some of the most bizaar in the whole of Scripture.  Only Mark records this story and many scholars believe that the young man in 51-52 was Mark himself and out of modesty he left out his name.)))