Mark 14:43-52
43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts,and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.
51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
The time has come. Judas, a disciple of Christ, betrayed Jesus with a kiss. A symbol of respect and honor became a symbol of betrayal. Imagine what Jesus must have felt that moment. I could see Judas hesitate and weigh the money and the betrayal. It was too good to pass up, but he knew it was wrong.
Chaos ensued as one of the disciples, Peter, cut off the ear of one of those who arrested Jesus. Jesus in Luke’s account heals the man miraculously.
Jesus, once again, took time to tell them that the kind of revolution he was leading was not physical but spiritual. It was not what the people thought it was. He told them how they could have arrested him in the morning at the temple yet chose to do it at night when nobody was looking. You knew Jesus was going to face an unfair bias trial.
In verse 51, Mark was the man mentioned he fled the scene when they seized Jesus. We now see that in this account both Peter and Mark left Jesus at his darkest moments.
In made me contemplate my faith. Do I tend to leave Jesus when the going gets tough or when I don’t feel him? It is my prayer that I will follow Jesus even when it gets rough.