Mark 14:43–50 (ESV)
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
43 And immediately,
while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him
and lead him away under guard.” 45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him and seized him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the
high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.”
50 And they all left him and fled.
In today’s reading, Judas has setup Jesus to be captured at night with the sign of a kiss. Jesus points out that I have been in your temple where you could
easily capture him. They do not realize that Jesus is not going to run, because he knows he has to die and he is there to die. He willingly goes to the cross for you and for me.
I pray: O
Lord, you knew before you even came to Earth that you would die on the cross. We would have never seen it coming, we would be just like the disciples. Lord, you took my sins to the cross, sins I should have died for. I give thanks for all
you have done for me. Amen.