The Arrest

Good morning and welcome to NHCC. Please open Bibles to Mark 14.

Where we left off- cliffhanger in the garden.

“Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Read Mark 14:43-52- 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.

Pray.

Picture the scene.

Mark keeps it bare. Matthew 26, Luke 22, John 18.

Later, we will add in a few details from other gospel accounts.

According to Mark:

Judas approaches with a group of men, possibly even hundreds with weapons, to arrest Jesus.

Judas points out Jesus, as would be necessary in the darkness of night.

When the crowd seizes Jesus, a disciple attacks. Notice, to this point, the disciples have not fled.

Other gospel accounts, it is Peter, and he is rebuked.

Jesus asks why He is just now to be arrested. Plenty of opportunity to be arrested in broad daylight.

1. Judas was mistaken.

I want to slow us down here. Movies- time slows down a little, music swells, we are meant to pick up on the emotion of the scene.

When we last saw Judas, he was scheming.

Mark gives nothing more between the two, but he goes to religious leaders to figure out financial opportunity.

Tells of a sign, one that would be customary.

KIss- customary greeting. Disciples would not be alerted.

Different Greek word used. kataphileo- an affectionate kiss.

Luke 15:20- Return of the prodigal son to the embrace of the waiting father.

Likely embraced Jesus, so that there would be no mistaking Him.

Gave the most loving and affectionate of embraces with a dark and hidden meaning of betraying his teacher and handing him over to death.

How would we expect Jesus respond, knowing what Judas has come to do?

George Alexander Chadwick- “Before His eyes is the catastrophe which His death is confronted to avert- the death of a soul, a chosen and richly dowered soul forever lost- in spite of so many warnings...he is lost: one of the twelve…Even toward Judas, no unworthy bitterness could pollute that sacred heart, the fountain of unfathomable compassions, but what speechless grief must have been there, what inconceivable horror.”

Can we imagine the emotions of Jesus as He sees Judas approach?

Anger, frustration, wrath…how do any of us react when we feel betrayed?

But Jesus taught Matthew 5:43-45- “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.

What sort of Son of God would Jesus be to ignore His own teaching here?

So how does He respond?

Matthew 26:50- Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.

What is the takeaway here?

Look at Judas through the eyes of the other apostles.

Embracing the rabbi, giving a customary kiss of greeting, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this picture.

Judas even gives the title, a right title, as Jesus is indeed their teacher, giving them glimpses of God’s Kingdom.

But this is the entire point of Judas’ interaction with Jesus- He is mistaken. He may say that Jesus is his rabbi, but we know this to not be true.

Reminds me of the sermon on the mount.

Matthew 7:21-23- “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

It is possible to know of Jesus and yet not be known by Jesus.

To truly understand grace- I know Jesus, or Jesus knows me?

Has Jesus truly been received into your life?

Judas is gone from the gospel account. No words given to his remorse, his giving back of the money, his suicide. Judas has done his part and is now released from Mark’s memory. For all we know, according to Mark alone, nothing ever became of him.

What will be the remainder of our lives?

2. Jesus was selfless.

Here we must turn our attention to John’s gospel.

If you knew when you would die, how would you spend your final time in this physical existence?

Consider the final days and hours of Jesus.

Within the last week of Jesus, He washes the feet of His disciples (including Judas) in John 13.

In John 14, He comforts His grieving disciples with words of the life found in Him and the promises of the coming HS.

In John 15, He warns the disciples of what is to come for them after His death so that they would not be taken by surprise.

In John 17 He prays, not for Himself, but for His disciples and for you and me, His coming, future church.

And finally, here is what is found in John’s account of the arrest from John 18:7-8- So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”

This is not meant to be a small, overlooked detail. Jesus has been concerned the most with His disciples and what would become of them.

When He is staring down an unjust arrest and a coming crucifixion, His concern is for those around Him. It is unbelievable the heart that He had for those surrounding Him, whether a disciple, or a guard named Malcus having his ear cut off.

Here is the thought I’ve been having all week.

Does Jesus truly care for me in the same way?

At some point, the authors of theses gospels, two of whom were disciples, recognized this great love that Jesus had for them.

We see it clearly. But can we apply such love to ourselves? Especially without His physical presence and acts of love?

Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Distance also makes the doubt grow stronger.

Husband and wife- together, or apart for a day, or apart for a month, or apart for 10 years.

What we need is the constant reminder of the love that God has for us.

What is need is the truth of God’s Word, constantly washing over us, constantly reminding us.

Book recommendation- The Heart of Christ by Thomas Goodwin.

What the puritans did- pick a verse and wring it out.

For Goodwin, it was Hebrews 4:15.

Hebrews 4:15-16- For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

This was what Goodwin wanted his readers, his church family, his flock to know. The heart of Jesus toward the redeemed.

Original title- The Heart of Christ in Heaven towards Sinners on Earth. Or, a Treatise Demonstrating The gracious Disposition and tender Affection of Christ in his Humane Nature now in Glory, unto his Members under all sorts of Infirmities, either of Sin or Misery.

What has Goodwin set out to do? Remind his readers of Jesus’ heart for His people, even when Jesus is ascended with the Father, and even when we find ourselves to be caught in misery and sin.

Might you need reminded this morning? The same care and concern that Jesus had for His disciples that horrid night of His arrest, He feels for you now.

Though perhaps you do not feel, or sense, or hear His presence, He still bids you come to Him, talk to Him, pour out your troubles to Him, confess your sins, no matter how grievous.

And the proof is in the cross. Remember Hebrews 12:1-2- Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him. Not that the cross was a joy, but that a joy had driven Him to the cross. What was that joy? It is us. We are the delight. That is the cost that was worth being paid by Christ.

We can feel worthless in every aspect of life. But do you know this to be true? If you are in Christ, His heart toward you is one of delight. May that drive us to live differently in a difficult world.