Way back in 2014 and over a thousand posts ago, we started working our way, scene by scene and verse by verse, through St. Mark's Gospel. We are now towards the end in Chapter 14. Bernard van Orely's (1492 ~ 1591) painting Christ in Gethsemane helps us to see and understand.
32 When they reached a place called Gethsemane, he said to his disciples, 'Sit here while I pray.' 33 And he took Peter and James and John with him. 34 Horror and dismay came over him, and he said to them, 'My heart is ready to break with grief; stop here, and stay awake.' 35 Then he went forward a little, threw himself on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, this hour might pass him by. 36 'Abba, Father,' he said, 'all things are possible to thee; take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what thou wilt.'
37 He came back and found them asleep; and he said to Peter, 'Asleep, Simon? Were you not able to keep awake for one hour? 38 Stay awake, all of you; and pray that you may be spared the test: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.' 39 Once more he went away and prayed. 40 On his return he found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know how to answer him.
41 The third time he came and said to them, 'Still sleeping? Still taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed to sinful men. 42 Up, let us go forward! My betrayer is upon us.'
43 Suddenly, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared, and with him was a crowd armed with swords and cudgels, sent by the chief priests lawyers, and elders. 44 Now the traitor had agreed with them upon a signal: 'The one I kiss is your man; seize him and get him safely away.' 45 When he reached the spot, he stepped forward at once and said, to Jesus, 'Rabbi', and kissed him. 46 Then they seized him and held him fast.
47 One of the party drew is sword, and struck at the High Priest's servant, cutting off his ear. 48 Then Jesus spoke: 'Do you take me for a bandit, that you have come out with swords and cudgels to arrest me? 49 Day after day I was within your reach as I taught in the temple, and you did not lay hands on me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled. 50 Then the disciples all deserted him and ran away.
51 Among those following was a young man with nothing on but a linen cloth. 52 They tried to seize him; but he slipped out of the linen cloth and ran away naked.' (Mark 14:32-52)
Verse 34: We are told that Jesus is overcome with horror and dismay. What depth of human depravity and sin was revealed to him then? What did Jesus see? Our killing, our lies, our criminality, our cruelty and hatred, our greed, our explosive and burning destruction...
Verse 35: Jesus has thrown himself down on the ground. The word Gethsemane means olive press. Jesus is pressed or crushed by the inner knowledge of his approaching death and the why of his suffering.
Verse 33: Peter, James and John have gone with Jesus because he has invited them, but they have fallen asleep.
Verse 37-42: The apostles are not only sleeping but they are sound asleep. Five verses to describe their sleep and the frustration of Jesus! Maybe too much wine. But it is much more than physical sleep. St. Thomas More said of England, "England would have slept through the Sermon on the Mount." And our country?
Verse 43: The word suddenly seems to be important - we are being shaken awake. It is a ridiculous scene, an armed crowd coming after Jesus with swords and clubs. Who do they think they are coming to arrest that they need weapons? Talk about ignorance! And notice the men from religious headquarters (chief priests, lawyers and elders) have not come in person, but have sent a posse to do their dirty work. I wonder how much money crossed the table.
Verse 44-46: The kiss. The expression of deepest affection and love has been twisted into a sign of betrayal and death. And why did they need a signal in the first place? Maybe just because it was dark. But I might suggest because they have never even seen Jesus before, let alone listened to him. They grab hold of Jesus and don't let go of him. Little do they know Jesus would not run away.
Verse 44-46: The kiss. The expression of deepest affection and love has been twisted into a sign of betrayal and death. And why did they need a signal in the first place? Maybe just because it was dark. But I might suggest because they have never even seen Jesus before, let alone listened to him. They grab hold of Jesus and don't let go of him. Little do they know Jesus would not run away.
Verse 47: The scene turns bloody and violent. We have such an inclination to violence. Even a soccer game can become violent and injurious. We don't understand that violence solves nothing. We even make it our entertainment. Violence is our go-to solution. Jesus won't have it; he heals the ear. He heals our hearing. We haven't heard - we refuse to hear and accept the teaching of Jesus which forbids blood-letting violence.
Verses 48-49: Jesus knows what's up. In so many words he says to them: With all your weapons, you're treating me like a bandit." And we're supposed to remember when Jesus drove out of the temple all those who made money selling animals for sacrifice. He called them bandits. And he drew the contrast: You were in the temple to make money; I was there to teach people about God.
Verse 49: We're not told which scripture verse is being fulfilled, but it is enough for us to know that what is happening in this scene, and the subsequent trial and suffering, is willed by God.
Verse 50: The disciples deserted Jesus and ran away. It is a sad scene. It happens still, of course. A whole nation can run away from Jesus.
Verses 51-52: Finally, there is this mysterious guy who is wrapped in a linen cloth. Scholars have lots to say about who he is. I have my own idea. I think he is a symbol of any of us who have been baptized, and who fearfully run away into the darkness naked, having dropped or slipped out of our baptismal clothing.
