Jesus was prepared to give up himself to his enemies. He had already spoken to his Father about this hour, and received the power to bear the sufferings and tortures without complaint or dislike. His prayer had released him from the coming distress, and given him power to overcome the temptation with his love and meekness.
Jesus’ heart was full of sorrow when Judas Iscariot came, and the signal of betrayal was kissing him, for the traitor had made the signal of love as a symbol of cheating. The spirit of Satan is able to bring the most repulsive abominations out of the apostate’s heart. However, Jesus did not curse the apostate traitor, but reproached him with kind words, trying for the last time to lead him into repentance.
In spite of that, he was prepared to die as the meek Lamb of God to redeem the ignorant humans. The disciples did not understand his behavior, for they had expected the revelation of interference of multitudes of angels. They believed in Christ’s triumph and the revelation of God’s power.
There Jesus appeared weak and imprisoned. He did not perform a miracle to save himself and justify his followers who were with him under persecution for a long time, for the charge of being spies. They found no meaning in his arrest, and no way for themselves to flee at that night of despair and pessimism.
The unknown young man who followed Jesus from afar, as mentioned in this event, was probably Mark, the writer of this gospel. He is most probably the son of the man who made the Lord’s Supper for Christ in his house. Maybe this young man heard all the words of Jesus in this divine banquet, and was impressed with the making of the new covenant, and accordingly he followed Jesus’ procession from afar.
Yet, at the moment of his arrest, he also fled. He preferred to run at night without clothes than to suffer in Jesus’ fellowship. By mentioning this event, Mark wanted to confess the truth of himself, being unworthy to write the gospel of Christ, having fled as all the disciples did. Nevertheless, Christ remained faithful.
Dear brother, are you firm in Christ, or do you love fame and riches? Seek to choose humility, contentedness, and meekness as Christ led the life of littleness; otherwise you are opposed to the danger of betraying your Lord and leaving his company. Repent in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, deny yourself, and overcome your lusts so long as it is called To-day.
When Jesus gave himself up to the hands of men, he awakened Peter who sprang from his sleep, and in his violent anger drew his sword and struck at the high priest’s slave, cutting off his ear. Peter wanted to keep his promise, for he had not yet understood the way of God. He was asleep at the critical juncture shortly before the battle, and did not enter into the temptation.
With his stroke, he prevented the poor slave from the ability of hearing the gospel. But Jesus in his love healed his enemy, and fulfilled the constitution of his kingdom by loving the enemies. Jesus wanted this slave to hear his gospel with his own ears, also to be changed to his kindness.
The chained Jesus spoke with the soldiers in the midst of the noise. He manifested himself, and proved to them who had arrested him that no fault or sin was found with him, and that the soldiers had no right to bind him as a thief, for he was innocent; but for the accomplishment of the prophecies Jesus agreed to give himself up to his enemies in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, though millions of angels, with all the hosts of heaven were at his disposal. He forgave our sins by his death on the cross, and qualified us with his Spirit to testify the triumph of his salvation.