Mark 14:43-65 (HCSB) The Judas Kiss 43 While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44 His betrayer had given them a signal. “The One I kiss,” he said, “He’s the One; arrest Him and take Him away under guard.” 45 So when he came, he went right up to Him and said, “Rabbi!”—and kissed Him. 46 Then they took hold of Him and arrested Him. 47 And one of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his ear. 48 But Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as though I were a criminal,[a]to capture Me? 49 Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn’t arrest Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then they all deserted Him and ran away. 51 Now a certain young man,[b] having a linen cloth wrapped around his naked body, was following Him. They caught hold of him, 52 but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked. Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin 53 They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribesconvened. 54 Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the temple police,[c] warming himself by the fire.[d] 55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none. 56 For many were giving false testimony against Him, but the testimonies did not agree. 57 Some stood up and were giving false testimony against Him, stating,58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will demolish this sanctuary made by human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’” 59 Yet their testimony did not agree even on this. 60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t You have an answer to what these men are testifying against You?” 61 But He kept silent and did not answer anything. Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and all of you[e] will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”[f] 63 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy! What is your decision?”[g] And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. 65 Then some began to spit on Him, to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, saying, “Prophesy!” The temple police also took Him and slapped Him. Footnotes: a. Mark 14:48 Lit as against a criminal d. Mark 14:54 Lit light b. Mark 14:51 Perhaps John Mark who later e. Mark 14:62 Lit and you wrote this Gospel f. Mark 14:62 Ps 110:1; Dn 7:13 c. Mark 14:54 Or the officers; lit the servants g. Mark 14:64 Lit How does it appear to you? 1 Mark 14:43-65 (NIV) Jesus Arrested 43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled. 51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him,52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind. Jesus Before the Sanhedrin 53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. 55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. 57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree. 60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him. 2 Holman Christian Standard Bible - Study Bible1 Mark 14:43-65 14:43 In fulfillment of Jesus' prediction in 8:31, the mob hailed from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders—the three parties of the Sanhedrin. This was an officially sanctioned arrest party. 14:44 Signal refers to a sign agreed on in advance. The specific signal was a kiss (probably on the cheek). While a kiss was a common greeting (Lk 7:45; Ac 20:37; Rm 16:16), this is the only time a disciple is recorded as greeting Jesus this way (cp. 2Sam 20:9-10). 14:45 Rabbi means "my great one." It was an address of honor to one's teacher. 14:47 The attack on the high priest's slave is recorded in all four Gospels (Mt 26:51-52; Lk 22:49-51; Jn 18:10-11). John identifies the attacker as Peter and the slave as Malchus (Jn 18:10). Apparently Jesus' disciples asked if they should defend Him with swords (Lk 22:49), but Peter didn't wait for a reply. On Jesus' disciples carrying swords, see note at Lk 22:35-38. Jesus restored Malchus's ear (Lk 22:51). 14:48-50 The Scriptures that must be fulfilled are not identified, but verse 50 points to Zech 13:7 as one of them. They all deserted Him refers to the fleeing disciples. 14:51-52 The young man is unidentified, but many have suggested he was John Mark, the author of this Gospel. 14:53-65 No single Gospel comprehensively records Jesus' trials, and each emphasizes different perspectives and events. It is clear, however, that both Roman political authorities and Jewish religious leaders were involved in handing down Jesus' death sentence. 14:53 They refers to those who arrested Jesus (vv. 43,46). Matthew said the high priest was Caiaphas, who served from A.D. 18-36 (Mt 26:57). That all three parties convened indicates this was a meeting of the Sanhedrin (vv. 43,55). 14:54 Peter followed the arrest party and ended up warming himself (cp. Jn 18:18) in the high priest's courtyard. 14:55-56 The entire Sanhedrin, especially the chief priests, had already decided to put Jesus to death, so they went looking for evidence to justify their plan. Many witnesses gave false testimony that did not agree under cross-examination. The OT required the agreement of two witnesses in a capital case (Num 35:30; Dt 17:6; 19:15). 14:57-58 Some who gave false testimony claimed firsthand experience. Apparently they distorted Jesus' remark in 13:2 where the same word for demolish was used. 14:59 Only Mark noted that the accusers did not agree even on this (cp. Mt 26:60). The Jews took threats against the temple seriously (cp. Jer 26:7-24). This charge was issued against Jesus again while He hung on the cross (Mk 15:29). 1 Jeremy Royal Howard, ed., HCSB Study Bible, (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2010), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Mark 14". 3 14:60 Frustrated with the ineptitude of the proceedings, Caiaphas stood up and questioned Jesus himself. 14:61-62 Throughout Mark's Gospel Jesus had shied away from the title Messiah to avoid misunderstanding, but here He embraced it. I am (cp. Mt 26:64; Lk 22:67) echoes the divine name (Ex 3:14).