Mark 14:43

Mark 14:43 says, 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. After His anguished prayer in the garden, Jesus returned to Peter, James and John and told them to arise, that the time of His betrayal was at hand. I don't believe they as yet understood what was about to happen.  If we like the three disciples have been sleeping spiritually today, we need to arise, because Jesus is being betrayed continually today.  Though the other disciples might have been sleeping, Judas was already awake and ready to betray Jesus. Sometimes, it seems that those who are up to no good are able to stay awake more easily than those who are doing God's work today.   There was a great multitude with Judas, armed with staves and swords, along with the chief priests, scribes and elders.  These were some of the same people who shortly before had been laying down palm branches to welcome Jesus, the religious leaders of the country, and even one disciple.  It was bad enough that Jesus was being betrayed, but even worse that those who should have been who identified as His people were doing so.  We need to make sure that the church, the born-again believers in the world today, is not guilty of betraying Jesus. Verse forty-four adds, 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. Judas chose a kiss, a sign of affection, to betray Jesus. Maybe he thought no one would know that he was the one who betrayed Jesus if he did so in this way, but no matter how we try to disguise it, if we betray Jesus today, someday everyone will know.  We cannot simply pretend to follow Jesus without one day realizing, as Judas soon did how wrong we have been.  Verse forty-five states, And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.  As soon as Judas got to Jesus, he wasted n time in betraying Him. Verse forty-six adds, And they laid their hands on him, and took him. The religious leaders wasted no time in arresting Jesus either.  They had been trying to do this for a long time. Verse forty-seven continues, And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  Though not named here, we know that it was Peter who cut off the ear of the priest’s servant.  Peter might not have been able to stay awake and pray with Jesus, but he was now ready to fight for Him.  We know also that Jesus told Peter to put away his sword, so if we believe that Jesus was crucified because He wasn't armed well enough, we have indeed missed the point of His life.  Jesus asked the crowd why they were so well armed, when He was going to go willingly anyway.  Verse forty-eight says, And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? When the chief priests and scribes came to arrest Jesus, He asked them why they came against Him as if He were a thief, armed with swords and staves.  What they needed to realize, as do people today, is that there is no armament that can stand against God, and people really don't have to search for Jesus, since He is already calling them to Him if they will only answer His call.  Verse forty-nine adds, I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled. Jesus reminded them that He had been in the Temple, teaching God's word, and they could have easily found Him, but that their coming this way fulfilled the Scripture.  Of course, we can never view the life of Christ as Him just playing a role, acting out the script which was already written.  If there was no free will on the part of Jesus or the people, then neither should be glorified nor condemned.  Jesus simply knew the Scripture and knew it was being fulfilled.  We also need to know the Scripture, and if we are looking for its final fulfillment, we need to simply leave it in God's hands.  Verse fifty continues, And they all forsook him, and fled. Then, we are told they all forsook Jesus.  Things were not going the way people, especially the disciples, wanted them to go, and they were afraid to be near Jesus. Verse fifty-ones states, 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:  Verse fifty-two adds, And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. There was even a certain young man dressed only in a linen cloth that left the cloth and fled naked.  We need to pray that if the time ever comes when it is dangerous to follow Jesus that we don't flee from Him.  We cannot make bold statements as Peter did based on our own strength but must really put all our faith in Jesus and His power.  Verse fifty-three continues, And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. The chief priests, scribes, and the crowd then took Jesus to the high priest.  These were the religious leaders who were leading the arrest of Jesus.  Being religious does not help us, if we don't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.