Mark 14:43-52

⁴³ And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

⁴⁴ Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.”

⁴⁵ As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

⁴⁶ Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him.

⁴⁷ And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

⁴⁸ Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?

⁴⁹ I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

⁵⁰ Then they all forsook Him and fled.

⁵¹ Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him,

⁵² and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

Also found in Matthew 26:47-56, Luke 22:47-53, and John 18:2-12.

great multitude (v.43) — These were not the Temple crowds, but some who came from the Sanhedrin, members of the Temple police, and some of the regular Roman soldiers. There were also some personal servants of the High Priest, and members of the Sanhedrin. — Wuest, page 268.

as soon as he [Judas] had come (v.45) — Judas walked immediately to Jesus and gave Him a kiss to indicate to the mob which one they were to arrest. A kiss was a common form of greeting among friends, so Judas’ choice of that as a signal was hypocritical. He called Jesus “Rabbi” (teacher) rather than Lord.

kissed (v.45) — An emphatic form of the verb (kissed him much) is used, as though to suggest more than usual fervor and affection. — Guthrie, page 882.

one of those who stood by (v.47) — Peter (John 18:10)

servant of the high priest (v.47) — Malchus (John 18:10)

Peter’s intent was not to cut off the servant’s ear but to split his head open (v.47).

Jesus did not protest the fact of His arrest, but the manner (v.48). They were treating Him like they would a violent criminal.

Jesus had, in fact, spoke in the Temple three times that very week (v.49). They didn’t arrest Him then. But Judas’ betrayal and the secrecy of the proceedings occurred as they did to fulfill prophecy.

They all … fled (v.50) — fulfills the prophecy of Mark 14:27. “All” is emphatic in the Greek. Jesus was completely abandoned by His followers.

The account of the young man in vs.51-52 appears only in Mark, which means that the young man probably was Mark himself. If so, it’s the only place where Mark writes himself into the story, and it isn’t a very flattering portrait.

linen cloth (v.51) — This suggests that the youth, on hearing some sudden report, rose out of his bed and rushed out in his night-shirt, or being absolutely naked, hurriedly threw about his body, a loose cotton or linen sheet. — Wuest, page 270.

At least he probably didn’t have far to run naked.

The Bible doesn’t say why the Jews brought so many armed troops, so the reason isn’t important, but as a matter of conjecture …

• The Jews had attempted to arrest and kill Him before (Luke 4:29-30; John 10:39), and He had easily escaped. Perhaps they believed more people could handle Him.

• Perhaps they were afraid that His disciples would resist (as Peter attempted to do.

• Maybe they intended their show of force to convince Pilate that Jesus was indeed a threat.