Mark 14:43-52 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Mark 14:43-52. With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage. Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage? After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Mark 14:43-46 (NIV)
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.
On verses 43-46: Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. It’s ironic how something so intimate and even Biblical (Psalm 2:12) could be used to signal something so evil. That’s what Satan loves to do: take good things that God always meant to unite, give life, set free and express love, and pervert them into tools that divide, destroy, oppress and hate.
Mark 14:47 (NIV)
47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
On verse 47: In John 18:10 we learn that the one who drew the sword and cut off Malchus’ ear was Peter. So why didn’t Mark specifically say it was Peter, especially if Mark mentions a number of Peter’s other embarrassing moments and especially if, as many scholars believe, Mark wrote his gospel based on Peter’s eyewitness testimony? Perhaps it was to avoid incriminating Peter and giving the authorities more opportunity (and written evidence) to put Peter on trial.
Mark 14:48-49 (NIV)
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.”
On verses 48-49: The chief priests, teachers of the law and elders were too cowardly to try to arrest Jesus in broad daylight while he was teaching in the temple courts. They knew the crowds would turn against them if they did. So they resorted to arresting Jesus at night when crowds were not around and with the help of an armed mob. Jesus calls them on this, drawing attention to their cowardice and connivance. He submits to them only because “the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” (v49) In other words, by letting them arrest him, Jesus was submitting to the Scriptures which prophesied about his betrayal, not so much to his arresters.
What can we learn from this? Sin loves to operate in the dark where it can’t be seen. So even in the night, we want to live as children of light. As Ephesians 5:8-14 says: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Mark 14:50 (NIV)
50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.
On verse 50: Despite declaring their undying allegiance to Jesus just hours before (Mark 14:31), all of his disciples deserted him. Just as Jesus had predicted, the disciples all fell away (Mark 14:27).
Mark 14:51-52 (NIV)
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.
On verses 51-52: In the past many scholars believed that the young man described here is Mark the author of this gospel. They see this strange detail as Mark’s indirect way of identifying himself. It is possible, though we don’t know for sure.
Holy Spirit, thank You for showing us some of the ways sin likes to operate: how sin likes to take something good and twist it into something evil, how sin loves to operate in the dark where it is less easily seen. No matter what time in the day, may we live as children of light. Jesus shine on us and through us today. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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