The Pain of Betrayal Mark 14:43-52

I’ve only ever been pulled over a handful of times in my driving career.

Mark 14:43–52 ESV

And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” And they all left him and fled. And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

The betrayal and arrest of Christ flows immediately out of Christ’s time in prayer. He fully submits himself to the will of the Father and as he speaks with the disciples about their slumber while he prayer, the moment has arrived for the Christ to be delivered into the hands of sinners.

For our time together today, I’d like to focus out attention on the major players in the storyline. I’d like us to first consider Judas and those with him, then the disciples, then Jesus, and consider what we can learn from each.

First there is Judas.

There are several details in this text that are designed to really press home the treacherous nature of this betrayal. First, it say Judas, one of the twelve. By saying “one of the twelve” this draws our attention closer to who Judas was.

We already knew that Judas was the one to betray Christ. All the way back in Mark 3:19, when Jesus was selecting his disciples, Mark already was making note that Judas would betray him.

Then again earlier in this chapter we saw Judas go to the chief priests to find out how much he could make from turning him over. Mark 14:10

By stating “one of the twelve” Mark makes use of a literary device called “over specification”. We already know who Judas is. Why does he keep reminding us “one of the twelve”? Over specification is device use when something is to be emphasized. And here, Mark wants to emphasize just how awful this moment was.

Judas. This was one of the twelve! One of the ones who knew Jesus the most, had seen more of Jesus, what he taught, and what he did than anyone else except probably Peter, James, and John. And this one was betraying the Christ.

Other gospels make note of the connection between David’s dealings with Ahithophel, who was one of David’s trusted counselors, who chose to back Absalom and David laments in Psalm 41:9

Psalm 41:9 ESV

Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

Not only that, but he promises the armed guard that he will do so with a kiss. vs 44. The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” and when he came he went up to him at once and said “Rabbi” and he kissed him.

The greeting of a kiss was a cultural greeting between close individuals. Sometimes it was on the cheek, other times on the hand. In Judas’ case, it seems likely that it would have been on the hand rather than the cheek, partly because of the master-disciple relationship. Jesus wasn’t his peer, but his teacher.

Nevertheless, the kiss was a sign of affection. Judas used one of the more appropriately intimate of actions that could have been done in that culture as a sign of who to arrest! He betrayed him....and he did so with a kiss!

Finally, he also called him Rabbi. Judas’ duplicity is on full display. Rabbi is a word used of respected teachers. How much can Judas respect him if he is betraying him and doing so with a kiss.

This is the height of treachery.

Judas is not acting alone here. He brings with him a “crowd” with swords and clubs. This indicates that there were Roman soldier present here. This wasn’t just a ragtag mob with pitchforks and torches. These are the soldier charged with keeping the peace in Jerusalem during the festivals.

They are commissioned by the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. We have seen the animosity build between Jesus and the religious leaders, and finally they have their day when Jesus is arrested.

Look down with me for a moment at vs 48 where Jesus challenges them on their methods.

Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in temple teaching, and you did not seize me.”

The word for robber can mean that, a bandit, or highwayman. But the Romans began to use this word to speak of insurrectionists and revolutionaries, and that’s more of how the Romans would consider him and why they would arrest him.

But if we was really that dangerous to the Romans, why would they not arrest him when he was out in the open? Why did they need a secret arrest in the middle of the night? They fear the people and know that what they do is wrong, so they seek the concealment of night.

There will always be those who reject Jesus Christ and seek to work against Him and His purposes in the world.

Christ has said “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it”

But that doesn’t stop some from doing everything they can to tear it down.

Some are like the religious leaders. They hated him from day one. Ever since Jesus came on the scene proclaiming authority, they were offended at him and by chapter three we saw that they began plotting. I think of other world religions and hate-filled atheists who work to oppose truth at every turn. They hate Jesus and they hate his word.

Some are like the Romans. Not particularly invested in the religous debate, but zealous to maintain their political power and opportunistic for their own purposes. Governments have done different things throughout history in an attempt to preserve their power. Some governments have found the Christian faith to be so dangerous to their cling to power that they have actively sought to irradiate it. Various Roman Emperors took that approach. Nero. Diocletian. The Soviet Union.

Other governments have sought to co-opt Christianity and diluted it so much it was beyond recognition. It’s more complicated than this, but often when a government has adopted a state church, it does it does so for political expedience, not conviction. As a result, the church and the church’s message is watered down or completely altered so as to serve the purposes of the government rather than King Jesus.

Though there is a surface-level embracing of Christ, this is actually rejection of Him and His Gospel.

And then some a like Judas. Perhaps he was initially taken in by Jesus words and power. Perhaps he thought Jesus would offer something different, perhaps he thought Jesus would overthrow Roman rule, or perhaps he was more like the early crowds who appeared more interested in what Jesus could do rather than who he was.

For whatever reason, he initially followed Jesus. He was one of the twelve! He was one of the most trusted individuals. He was the treasurer and kept the money bags!

Whether he became disillusioned when he saw that Christ had no intent to lead a revolution, or perhaps he was simply overcome by his greed and personal enrichment and he could see the handwriting on the wall, in any case, this man, once one of the twelve, apostatizes from his commitment to follow Christ. Instead of following and leading other to Christ, he actively works against and seek to destroy him.

Like the parable of the sower and the seed, some fell on rocky or thorny soil. The plant springs up quickly but the word is eventually choked out on account of hardship or the desires of this world and the person falls away.

It’s tragic.

But how often have we seen people who depart the faith even in our modern day who then zealously oppose the truth? They apostatize or as some call it “deconstruct” but it’s not enough for them to simply walk away, they do everything they can to influence others away from the faith as well. I could give examples of this both of people I knew personally and then also high-profile pastors or other leaders.

It’s a sad thing. It’s heartbreaking. It’s a lamentable thing. Especially when it’s people you know and love and hold dear. They walk away and actively work against what they once claimed to believe.

Such is the case with Judas. Once one of the twelve. Now the son of perdition himself.

As tragic as this is, and we should feel the weight of it, it is good for us to remember that none of it takes our Lord by surprise. He prophesied concerning this. He anticipated it. And even though man meant it for evil, the Lord meant it for good to bring about the salvation of many, as Joseph says in Gen 50:20.

Even the betrayal of the king if kings is not irredeemable. Even that has a purpose in God’s grand plan of the salvation of sinners.

Betrayal is Not Irredeemable

Jesus says in vs 49 “but let the Scriptures be fulfilled”.

God had spoken of this day though the holy prophets. Jesus himself testified of what awaited him. And now God continues to work in and through these wicked actions.

Let’s turn out attention to the other group of characters, the rest of the disciples.

First, this scene unfolds in the shadows of prayer for Christ, but sleep for the disciples.

Jesus specifically charged Peter James and John to stay alert and pray that they would not enter into temptation.

As the crucial moment arrives, they have not spent that time in prayer. This is not a surprise to the Lord, of course, but from a purely human perspective we cannot help but wonder what things would have looked like had they invested that time in prayer.

I mean, just before they went to the garden, Jesus prophesied about Peter’s denial and Peter’s response was “If I must die with you, I will not deny you” and then what does the end of verse 31 say??

Mark 14:31 ESV

But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

They all said the same thing. They all insisted that they would die with Christ.

But they spent their time asleep rather than in prayer, and we see the results in vs 47.

Mark 14:47 “But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.”

Mark doesn’t identify who this was. Mark also doesn’t record the rebuke that Jesus gives to his disciples nor the healing of the ear as other Gospels do. Mark simple tells that it happened with any additional commentary or development. The point appears to be in the contrast between the actions of this one individual and Jesus’ words in verse 48-49. Why did you come with an army? I don’t plan to resist.

Filled with initial zeal and perhaps even acting in self defence in the commotion, the ear of the servant is cut off, but Jesus quickly puts an end to that, and in the end the disciples abandon their Lord.

Vs 50. They all left him and fled. That word for fled carries the idea of escape. To disappear rapidly. to vanish. There’s the saying “make yourself scarce” They didn’t want to be arrested along with Christ, so they ran a way in fear.

And then there is the awkward scenario of vs 51-52.

A young man was following the party as they left the garden, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

Many have read that puzzled over it. What in the world do we do with this??

There have been many suggestions made about how to interpret this, some that are fanciful at best, and others on the sane side.

Here’s what I think is the best way to understand what Mark is doing here.

I think this man is most likely Mark himself. 1) how else would he know about? who is going to volunteer that information? 2) its hard to imagine Mark including that level of embarrassing detail about someone else without a point.

But let’s remember who Mark is.

Mark is known as John Mark in the book of acts. It seems that one local church assembly met in his mother’s house, and he traveled with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. While on that journey, Mark returned home. We aren’t told why, but we do know that Paul did not appreciate it and when it came time for Paul and Barnabas’ second journey, Paul flat out refused to take Mark because, as Paul says “he abandoned us”. To Paul goes one way, and Barnabas take Mark and goes another.

Eventually Mark is able to establish a track record of faithfulness. Peter seems to have had a significant impact in his salvation and discipleship and maturity as a believer, and Paul, at the very end of his life, requests timothy to send Mark to him because

2 Timothy 4:11 ESV

Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

Eventually Mark seems to have collected the memoirs of Peter and has compiled them into this Gospel to encourage a persecuted and suffering church.

All that is significant for us as we try to understand this young man who fled. If that is indeed Mark, then its as one commentator suggests that Mark is essentially saying “Even I ran away! I too deserted Christ! When the going got tough, I bailed! But that wasn’t the end of the story. Not for Jesus. Not for for the rest of the disciples. Not even for me.”

Abandonment is Not Irredeemable

What was a massive discipleship failure was not the end for them. We are reading the Gospel of according to Mark, a man who once fled naked for fear of the authorities, now stands as one who seeks to encourage and embolden the persecuted church.

So we see two polar opposite response by the disciples in this section. First, at least one of theme is keen to fight. Chopping off ears. Jesus puts an end to that. Second, they all run away. No happy medium between those options for the disciples.

Thees actions are not fitting for disciples.

There are many throughout history and even today who may be so zealous for Christ, but they are pursuing what they think is right through improper means. Many have sought to advance the church through use of the sword, but it always leads to a distortion of the Gospel.

Sadly there are many today who advocate for Christians seizing political power where they can in order to advance the kingdom. There are books where authors call for what they call a “Christian Prince” who will rule with an iron fist but biblically, of course.

Listen to this excerpt from a recent book calling for this

“The [Christian] prince can adorn himself and his residence with Christian symbols…as crosses were once painted on royal armor. His military or militia, which defends a Christian people and their church, can be designated ‘soldiers of Christ‘“ [Wolfe, the case for Christian Nationalism 296-297)

That’s from the book “A Case for Christian Nationalism” by Stephen Wolfe.

Brothers and sisters, I am in no way against Christians seeking political office for the sake of benefiting our land. I am in no way against Christians getting involved in politics and the government and calling our leaders to govern biblically. I am in no way against an elected official seeking to govern according to a biblical worldview. I want that!

But the second we take up arms in the name of Christ, call ourselves literal soldiers of Christ, not spiritually, but literally and physically, and second we think we can use the sword to advance God’s kingdom purposes in this life…we’ve lost the plot. We’re missing so much of what the Bible says about how we engage in the spiritual battle.

It’s not here in mark, but Jesus’ words to the disciples in the garden was “those who live by the sword die by the sword”

Paul says in Eph 6:12

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Our battle is not to be a physical one. It’s spiritual. People who do things like bomb abortion clinics or commit other acts of vigilante are not acting in accordance with the Word of God.

I’m not a pacifist when it comes to self-defense. I affirm the rightful use of the sword by the state to punish evil and promote good as Paul says in Rom 13. What we must not succumb to is the idea that we can build the church through the sword, that we can win victory for Christ’s kingdom by use of the sword.

The second action not fitting of disciples is fearful flight.

We have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control. 2 Tim 1:7.

And yet, as I said earlier, even if we do have those moments of fear and flight, we can be comforted to know that that doesn’t have to be the end of our story. It wasn’t for the disciples. It wasn’t for Mark. It doesn’t have to be for us. Abandonment is not Irredeemable.

The final major character in this story is Jesus himself.

A bit of a minor theme that begin with Jesus prediction of his death in chapter eight, reiterated in chapters 9 and 10, and really focused in on here in chapter 14 is Jesus’ knowledge, acceptance, and divine control over the events that unfold.

Jesus prays in the garden, not my will but yours be done. He submits himself to His fate. He surrenders to the pathway that lies in front of him, and he goes, not kicking and screaming, but willingly.

The only words of Jesus in this passage are rebuking the approach of the soldier. Coming with swords and clubs. Its as if he says “what did you think I was going to do? I’m not going to fight you on this” and then he says at the end of verse 49 “but let the Scriptures be fulfilled”

He has surrendered to this. He surrenders to the soldier, but only because he first surrendered to the will of the Father.

Betrayal is not irredeemable. Abandonment is not irrdeemable. That is only true because the redeemer stayed the course. The redeemer went willingly.

The Redeemer Goes Willingly

The disciples story doesn’t have to end here because of Christ would do. Our story doesn’t have to end here because of what Christ has done.

Three primary characters or groups of characters. Three very different directions.

Judas. The disciples. Jesus Christ.

We learn much about discipleship from the negative examples.

But we also learn much from Christ and can rejoice in Him that the negative examples don’t have to be the end. And it’s because of what Christ will do. Even in the pain of betrayal, Christ redeems.

He is worthy of all our worship.