Please take the time to read this passage and interact with the questions below.
Mark 14:43-52
Jesus Arrested
43 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.
- What background information do we have about Judas that would help us better understand his appearance this way? What might he have been planning?
- Why do you think that they all came armed?
44 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.” 45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him and seized him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” 50 And they all left him and fled.
51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.
- Why do you think that the author calls Judas something other than his name?
- Why do you think that Judas had to come up with a signal for them to take Jesus into custody?
- Why do you think that Mark gave us the details about the young man in verses 51-52?
Please take time to pray that you might be able to come to understand the depth of this passage. Consider if you had been a first-hand witness, what might you have done? Are there any questions that you might have about this passage?
By Dan Bender