Imagine the headlines if Jesus’ arrest happened today. “Radical Rabbi Arrested,” “Miracle-Worker Caught in Raid,” “Garden Fight Leads to Arrest,” And, more probably, dead silence since the nighttime arrest and trial were to avoid stirring the crowd.
Mark records, “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. 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.” So when he came, immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. They took hold of him and arrested him. One of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear. Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture me? Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” Then they all deserted him and ran away. Now a certain young man, wearing nothing but a linen cloth, was following him. They caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked.” (Mark 14:43–52, CSB)
The other Gospels fill in some detail. Jesus doesn’t run away or avoid the arrest, even though he could have. In John’s Gospel, “Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Who is it that you’re seeking?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “I am he,” Jesus told them. Judas, who betrayed him, was also standing with them. When Jesus told them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.” (John 18:4–6, CSB)
We also know that Peter swung the sword at the High Priest’s servant and cut off Malchus’s ear. (also in John 18). Luke 22:51 reports that Jesus healed the ear and put a stop to any further violence.
Mark, give us one snippet not found in other accounts. A young man was following them, wearing nothing but a linen wrap. The mob caught him by the cloth, which he let go, and ran away naked. That’s an odd thing to add, except most scholars think the young man was Mark himself.
The critical part in all of this is the powerful observation that Jesus didn’t run away. He could have avoided the crowd. He could have just walked away as he did in Galilee (Luke 4:29-30). He said He could call down legions of angels to protect Him (Matthew 26:53), but He didn’t. Like a Good Shepherd, Jesus willingly gave himself. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, CSB)
Jesus didn’t run away then, and He doesn’t run away now. No matter the problem, difficulty, or pain, Jesus is with us.
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