Crumbs 141

 

Crumbs 141 Arrest

Scripture Mark 14:43-52 Web 43 Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came—and with him a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44 Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely.” 45 When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, “Rabbi! Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 They laid their hands on him, and seized him. 47 But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.48 Jesus answered them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me? 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. But this is so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.” 50 They all left him, and fled. 51 A certain young man followed him, having a linen cloth thrown around himself over his naked body. The young men grabbed him, 52 but he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

Crumbs
Reading this incident details grab me.

As Jesus was predicting his arrest, Judas arrived. I have heard the cross spoken of as though it was a bit of clever footwork on the part of God. That’s not the. way the Bible tells it. It was the will of God to bruise him. Our way of salvation was planned , ordained and carried out by God himself.

Then there was the kiss, the kiss of a follower to his Rabbi. It was an intense and affectionate kiss but Judas loved silver more. The kiss was a measure of the depravity of the human heart.

The account reachs a vital cross roads. The forces of the world arrive with cudgels and swords. Is the path ahead for Messiah for the enforcement of God’s will by force ? Peter tries force but is quickly closed down by our Lord quickly closed. This was a challenge for the Saviour alone

, not a disciple. Christ chose, not the way of force but of sacrifice. Sadly Christians of later generations did not. The way of sacrifice had been laid out in prophesy, in scripture and that was the path the master chose.

Our final picture is a naked frightened young man running away, a vivid picture of humanity dealing with the waywardness of the human spirit.

Having thought upon this incident again I feel I have been at the pivot of history. Love wins

1. What can get in the way of our affection for Christ ?

2. How do we look for God’s answers to our human problems ?

3. When are we confronted with the choice between force and sacrifice ?