43 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. 44 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. 45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him. 46 And they laid their hands on him, and took him. 47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled. 50 And they all forsook him, and fled. (Mark 14:43-50 KJV)
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
We have here the seizing of our Lord Jesus by the officers of the chief priests. This is what his enemies had long aimed at; they had often sent to arrest him, but he had escaped their hands because his hour had not yet come. Nor could they now have taken him unless he had willingly surrendered himself. He first suffered in his soul and later in his body, to atone for sin, which begins in the heart and then uses the body as an instrument of unrighteousness.
A band of men, a great multitude with swords and clubs, was sent to arrest Jesus. At their head was Judas, one of the twelve disciples who had prophesied and cast out demons in Jesus’ name, and yet betrayed him. It is no new thing for a profession of faith to end in a shameful fall. Even religious leaders—chief priests, scribes, and elders—who claimed to await the Messiah, opposed Jesus because he did not flatter their pride or support their worldly ambitions. They rejected him because he preached repentance, holiness, and a heavenly kingdom, rather than promoting their earthly status.
Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, abusing the custom Jesus allowed his disciples of greeting him with a kiss. He called him “Master” and kissed him, pretending greater respect than ever. He told the officers to seize him and lead him away safely. Some think he said this ironically, believing Jesus would escape as before and both would be unharmed. But since Satan had entered into him, it’s more likely his intentions were entirely malicious. Judas had heard Jesus say he would be betrayed and crucified and had no reason to think otherwise.
They arrested Jesus and took him into custody with rough and violent hands (Mark 14:46), likely proud of succeeding where others had failed. Peter, in defense of Jesus, drew his sword and struck a servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear (Mark 14:47). Though Peter was ready to fight, true followers of Christ overcome not by taking others’ lives but by laying down their own (Revelation 12:11).
Jesus challenged their actions, pointing out their inconsistency. They came to arrest him as if he were a criminal, though he had taught openly in the temple, where they could have questioned him. He had not hidden his teachings; he had spoken publicly every day. Their secrecy in arresting him at night showed cowardice. Coming with swords and clubs suggested they viewed him as a rebel, which he was not. They came armed, fearing the people and hoping to paint Jesus as a dangerous man, inciting the crowd later to cry, “Crucify him.”
Jesus submitted to all this abuse, referring it to the fulfillment of Scripture (Mark 14:49). He valued the Scriptures so much that he endured all things to see them fulfilled. As he fulfilled Scripture in his suffering, he does so also in his reign. We, in turn, must search the Old Testament for Christ, for the New Testament clarifies its prophecies, just as the Old illuminates the New.
All Jesus’ disciples then deserted him and fled (Mark 14:50). Though they had vowed loyalty, they failed under pressure. Even good men do not know how they will act until tested. It must have deeply grieved Jesus that they abandoned him in his greatest hour of need, when they might have defended or testified for him. Those who suffer for Christ should not be surprised if they are abandoned too, as Paul experienced (2 Timothy 4:16).