Mark 14:46 - Printer Friendly

The irony in this verse is profound. "Seized" is from the Greek root word krateo. It means to have power over, to become master of. Despite what the Sanhedrin thinks and the disciples fear, the guards are not in control of the situation.

About four thousand years before this, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and condemned all their descendants to an eternity separated from God. God responded with appropriate curses for the snake, Eve, and Adam. But He also gave the "protoevangelium": the first message of good news. In Genesis 3:15, God tells the snake that Eve's offspring will bruise or crush Satan's head. Jesus came to earth for this specific moment and the hours that follow (1 John 3:8). God lives outside of time, as did Jesus before the incarnation. Jesus knew that He would have to die for His creation as He was creating the world. God orchestrated this moment, not the guards, Judas, or the Sanhedrin.

Jesus communicates this to Judas. When Judas kisses Him, Jesus says, "Friend, do what you came to do" (Matthew 26:50). If Judas is still possessed, Satan must be confounded by Jesus' passivity. In the trials to come, before the Sanhedrin (Mark 14:53–65), Pilate (Mark 15:1–5), and Herod Antipas (Luke 23:6–16), Jesus takes an interesting tact. He points out His judges' hypocrisy and admits to His identity; in the garden, when asked if He is Jesus of Nazareth, His admission is so powerful the guards fall to the ground (John 18:5–6). But Jesus never defends Himself against the false charges, fulfilling the prophecy of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:7).

As the guards seize Jesus and take Him to the chief priest and beat Him (Mark 14:65), as the disciples run into the night (Mark 14:50) and Peter denies Him (Mark 14:66–72), Jesus is still in control. As He says in John 10:17–18, "…I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."

Mark 14:43–50 happens about one week after Jesus rode past the garden of Gethsemane in the daylight, surrounded by people declaring His coming to reestablish David's kingdom (Mark 11:1–10). For several days, He displayed His superior understanding of God over the Jewish religious leaders (Mark 11:27–12:40). Earlier this night, He spent a meaningful Passover meal with His disciples (Mark 14:17–31). Now, He is back in Gethsemane. It is the dead of night and a group has come to take Him before a series of sham trials before He is crucified. The story of Jesus' betrayal is also recorded in Matthew 26:47–56, Luke 22:47–53, and John 18:1–11.

Jesus is anointed in a symbolic anticipation of His death. Judas decides to secretly cooperate with local religious leaders to arrest Jesus in secret. During the Passover meal, Jesus predicts His betrayal by Judas, and Peter's denial. He also institutes the Lord's Supper, also known as communion. After praying on the Mount of Olives, Jesus is captured when Judas identifies Him to a hostile mob sent by Jewish authorities. He endures a corrupt, prejudiced trial, ending in a conviction for blasphemy. Peter, fearing for his life, lies about knowing Jesus, before remembering Jesus' prediction and breaking down in sobs.

Jesus has finished His public teaching ministry and now prepares for the crucifixion. His sacrificial loyalty will provide the means by which the disciples' abandonment will be forgiven. Next, the Romans, as representatives of Gentiles throughout history, will join the Jews and kill Jesus. Jesus will be buried, but He will rise again with the promise that His sacrifice will redeem the world. Matthew 26 and Luke 22 follow Mark 14 more closely while John 13:1—18:27 records more of Jesus' teaching in the upper room.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.