Mark 14:43-50, Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

Judas the Betrayer

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. [The crowd is the Jewish temple guard who are at the disposal of the Sanhedrin.] 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. [Not only is Judas betraying Jesus, he is also publicly repudiating him with an uninvited kiss that no disciple would give a Rabbi without permission.] ⁴⁶ And they laid hands on him and seized him. ⁴⁷ But one of those who stood by [Peter] drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest [Malchus] 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.” [All of Jesus’ decisions are made based upon the Scriptures, the unchangeable Word of the Lord. All of this has been predicted.] ⁵⁰ And they all left him and fled. [Zechariah 13:7 is fulfilled.]