Rachel Workman: 43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared.
With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests,
the teachers of the law, and the elders.
44 Now
the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man;
arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to
Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized
Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew
his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
48 “Am I
leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs
to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the
temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be
fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.
51 A
young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they
seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
Not sure why I don't recall reading this before. I suppose that's the beauty of
reading the bible small pieces at a time.
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John Burnett:
43 Just
as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a
crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of
the law, and the elders.
44 Now
the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man;
arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas
said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The
men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then
one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high
priest, cutting off his ear.
48 “Am
I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with
swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every
day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest
me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and
fled.
51 A
young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they
seized him, 52 he
fled naked, leaving his garment behind. Verse 50 reminded me of this story
in the link.
He will never
leave us even though we leave Him all the time.
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Allen Michaels: 3 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him
was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the
teachers of the law, and the elders.
44 Now the betrayer
had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and
lead him away under guard.” Do you know the pain of rejection from someone close to
you? The greatest pain and injury comes not from our enemies but from
those closest to us. Psalm 55 foretells the suffering of rejection which
God's anointed King and Messiah would endure for our sake:
"12
It is not an enemy who taunts me—
I could bear that.
It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—
I could have hidden from them.
13 Instead, it is you—my equal,
my companion and close friend.
14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed
as we walked together to the house of God.” (Psalm 55:12-14 NLT)
I could bear that.
It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—
I could have hidden from them.
13 Instead, it is you—my equal,
my companion and close friend.
14 What good fellowship we once enjoyed
as we walked together to the house of God.” (Psalm 55:12-14 NLT)
45 Going at once to
Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. Judas'
betrayal with a kiss shows the hypocrisy of his love and trust. This is
literally a "kiss of death" not only because it leads to Jesus' death
but is also a sign of the death of one who lost all hope and abandoned God. In
betraying Jesus, Judas rejected the one and only hope for freedom from sin and
condemnation and the hope of reconciliation and restoration to friendship with
God. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then
one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high
priest, cutting off his ear.
48 “Am I leading a
rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to
capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple
courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then
everyone deserted him and fled. Jesus met his
betrayal and arrest with serenity and with confident trust in his Father.
He knew that this was Satan's hour of darkness but God's light and truth would
prevail in the end. How did the other apostles meet this trial?
They were unprepared even though Jesus has warned them about his
betrayal. And they had forgotten God for the moment. Their will was to resist
force with force rather than peaceably submit to God's will. Jesus never
failed to show mercy and compassion even to his enemies. Luke tells us “But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the
man’s ear and healed him.” (Luke 22:51) When adversity strikes how do we respond; with
fear and panic or with confident hope and trust in God?
51 A young man,
wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him,
52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
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Tomorrow's reading for Mark 14:53-62
53 They
took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the
teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a
distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the
guards and warmed himself at the fire.
55 The
chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus
so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many
testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then
some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We
heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three
days will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even
then their testimony did not agree.
60 Then the
high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer?
What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But
Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again
the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 “I
am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of
the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
63 The
high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You
have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They
all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to
spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said,
“Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.