Mark 14:43-49

Passage

While Jesus was speaking with His disciples, Judas came.  He was the one who would hand Jesus over.  Judas had brought out a crowd equipped with swords and clubs.  The religious leaders were among them.  Judas had arranged a sign for them to understand who was to be arrested.  When Judas saw Jesus, he approached Jesus, kissed him, and called him “Rabbi.”  The crowd laid their hands upon Jesus to drag Him away.  One of Jesus’ disciples drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest.  Jesus calls out and asks them if they intended to capture Him as though they were catching a robber.  Jesus points out to them that day after day He was readily found in the temple teaching.  So that the scriptures might be fulfilled, Jesus submits.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Judas comes with a crowd.  It is so easy to hate Judas.  However, I think there is a clue here that tells us that Judas was in over his head.  When Judas comes to Jesus, he calls Him “Rabbi.”  This is a word that means, “my teacher.”  It is the same word that Mary Magdalene exclaims upon seeing Jesus in the garden after the resurrection.  I believe Judas still has semi-honorable intentions – albeit heavily flawed intentions.  I believe Judas still believes that by forcing confrontation, he will make Jesus become the Messiah.  Yes, Judas is guilty.  But I believe Judas is guilty of trying to make Jesus an earthly Messiah and completely missing the boat on the fact that Jesus was so much more than that.  I consider the fact that Judas still calls Jesus “Rabbi” more evidence that Judas was wrong; but not hateful or spiteful or even antagonistic against Jesus.  He was simply tragically misguided.    I don’t believe that when Judas does this act that he thinks it will actually end in the death of His Lord.

Have you ever tried to make Jesus out to be someone He’s not?  Why do we try and impose our own understanding upon Jesus instead of letting Him impose His understanding upon us?

Second Thought:

This story is a very tense moment.  The crowd is tense when they arrest Jesus.  The disciple (John tells us it was Peter) is tense when he draws his sword and attacks the servant.  But we should not be surprised at the tension.  Whenever God does something in our life, there is always tension.  There is always tension between God and the world.  There is always tension between God’s agenda and the world’s agenda.  There is always tension between obedience to God and obedience to our own free will.  When God moves handily and mightily, tension is created.

Why are God moments often so tense?  Have you ever had a God moment that was fraught with tension?  What about your encounter with what God was doing in your life made you tense?

Third Thought:

Jesus submits.  For the sake of the scriptures, He submits.  Jesus knows what has to happen.  Jesus knows that the salvation of the world is finally coming to pass.  It will come to pass only through His submission to the will of the Father.  He does submit.

How are submission and tension related?  How does Jesus show us that submission to the will of God is the easiest way to defeat tension?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 14: 50-52