As Against a Thief - Mark 14:48

Mark wrote how there, “came Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he went straightway to him, and said, Master, master; and kissed him. And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear”, and in chapter fourteen and verse forty-eight of his book, Mark shared how Jesus asked his assailants, “are you come out, as against a thief?”, where we read:

And Jesus answered and said unto them,

Are you come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?

The verse reads, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, ...”. Mark began with the word, “and Jesus” which means “and the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “answered” or “responded and began to speak” “and said unto them” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to those who came to arrest him”. Mark shared how Jesus began to speak to those who came to “seize” Him.

The verse goes on to say, “... Are you come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?” Mark continued with the words, “are you come out” which means “are the assailants of Jesus coming forth and emanating”, “as against a thief” or “like a position of one in opposition to a robber, plunderer, freebooter and brigand”, “with sword” which means “with large knives, small curved swords for a cutting stroke or straight swords for thrusting” “and with staves” or “and with beams, logs or timber with holes in which the feet, hands and neck of prisoners were inserted and fastened with thongs” “to take me” which means “to seize, catch, clasp and arrest Jesus”? Mark shared how Jesus questioned whether those coming to arrest Him were approaching His like He was a “robber or plunderer” because they were carrying “swords” and “staves” with them when they came.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus responded to His captors with a question concerning whether they were coming like He was a “thief”. This assailing crowd was armed with “swords and staves” like they were going to have to battle to “seize” Jesus, and because they were so equipped, Jesus questioned them. God's desire is to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and He allowed Jesus to go through these things so people could be saved from their sins. Those who are wise will submit their lives to Jesus who endured this “crowd with weapons” so they might be saved.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus says, “I was daily with you in the temple teaching”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".