Mark 14:42-52
On our travels down the crossroads, we have seen Jesus traveling with his disciples. Whether it was a trip from Galilee to Judea, Bethany to Jerusalem, or the upper room to Gethsemane, Jesus was surrounded by people who loved him and pledged their allegiance to him. Tonight, all that changes. Tonight we see them leave. We see Jesus walk a crossroad without a companion. As he walks alone, he’s bound. At first glance, it appears to be a scene of helplessness and weakness. But upon further study, we’ll see it as a scene of strength and determination.
The crossroad Jesus walks tonight begins in Gethsemane—where Jesus often went to pray. While agonizing over the weight on his shoulders, Jesus hears the enemy approaching and so he tells his drowsy disciples, “Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” That statement, in and of itself, leads us to marvel at our Savior. Instead of running away when he hears the enemy, he goes and meets them, voluntarily putting himself on another crossroad—a crossroad that will lead from Gethsemane to the Jewish high court, which is also called the Sanhedrin.
I. Jesus Was Bound
The journey begins with a kiss, as Judas the betrayer greets Jesus according to the custom of the day. But this kiss is not one of respect. It is Judas’ signal to the club holders and sword bearers that Jesus is the target. Thus “the men seized Jesus and arrested him,” and Jesus begins the walk down this crossroad as a prisoner. He is bound.
Why do his enemies treat him like a malicious, dangerous criminal that needs to be bound? He had never lifted a finger against them—or against anybody. Why arrest him with such force? Thus Jesus asks, “Am I leading a rebellion that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?” Perhaps it wasn’t Jesus that the enemies were worried about. From earlier accounts, we know that Jesus’ enemies had been worried about resistance from his followers (Mk 12:12). And the way in which Peter quickly drew his sword to fight solidified their thinking. Therefore, they were hoping to show a strong force, perhaps a couple hundred strong, to squelch any resistance. You might say that they used the “shock and awe” strategy.
But the truth of the matter is, no matter how many armed soldiers flexed their muscles before Jesus, he didn’t have to be captured. He wasn’t forced to be bound on this crossroad. He allowed it to happen. Remember what was said earlier: What did Jesus do when he heard the encroaching enemy? He said, “Let us go.” He went to meet them instead of ducking behind the olive trees. When he met them, he asked, “Who is it you want?” When he identified himself as the target, they all fell back. Doesn’t that show his power over them? And when Peter drew his sword, Jesus chastised him, reminding Peter that if he had wanted to put up a fight, he could have called up an angelic army that far outnumbered this enemy band.
When we consider Jesus bound on this crossroad, we realize it was not the leather straps or chains around his wrists that bound him. What bound him was his love. His love for sinners compelled him, his love for you and me forced him to be bound by measly chains. His love for God’s eternal rescue plan led him to be bound. Jesus says, “The Scriptures must be fulfilled.” That’s why we see Jesus bound on this crossroad. He was bound and determined to carry out the purpose for which he came. And the purpose for which he came—to save the world from sin—could only be accomplished by him. This perhaps explains something else we see on this crossroad. Not only was Jesus bound, he also was alone.
II. Jesus Was Alone
For three years, Jesus had a close following of 12 men. Wherever he went, they seemed to go—or at least a portion of them. And it wasn’t only the disciples that followed Jesus. Whether it was his miracles or his message, Jesus and crowds went together. People were attracted to him—but not tonight. Oh, Judas, one of the Twelve, is there—but he’s not with Jesus. He’s not following Jesus. He’s against him. For some time already, he had been plotting to hand Jesus over to the chief priests. Oh, Peter is there—and at first glance it looks like he’ll stand by Jesus’ side as he promised. He’s willing to fight. He cuts off a servant’s ear. He’s not going to let Jesus go alone. But in reality, Peter is not walking with Jesus either. By his actions, Peter shows he’s going in a completely different direction than Jesus wants to go, which is why Jesus orders him to put away his sword. Oh, then there’s the young man who followed Jesus, whom some believe to be Mark, the inspired author of our lesson. But when the arresting crowd attempted to seize him, “he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.” Very sadly, as our lesson reports, “Everyone deserted him and fled.” Everyone. Jesus was alone.
What a sad picture! What a weak, frail picture of Jesus. Bound. Alone. Walking this crossroad surrounded only by enemies. Yet it’s anything but weakness on the part of Jesus. This is a picture of strength—strength that only Jesus had. Let’s not bemoan the fact that Jesus had to walk this crossroad and future crossroads by himself. Let’s rejoice. Rejoice that he could do and did do it by himself. When we stop and consider Jesus’ traveling solo from this point on, we can see God’s wisdom as well. For if even one of the disciples had stuck with him and had suffered martyrdom, sooner or later someone would have credited that disciple for contributing to our redemption. And nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus, Jesus, only Jesus could win heaven for us. Therefore, Jesus walked this crossroad alone.
Now let’s take a moment and consider the impact of Jesus’ walking this crossroad bound and alone. Without Jesus, we too are bound. Not with chains. And certainly not with the love that Jesus had. Rather, by nature we are bound by our sins. We are handcuffed. By nature we are slaves to sin—unable to get away from it and its impact on our lives. But because Jesus was bound on this crossroad, the shackles of sin drop from our wrists. Because Jesus allowed himself to be bound, we are free. Isn’t that a neat contrast?
Or consider the concept of being alone. By nature we are alone with our sins, alone to face judgment. Individually, we each have to give an account for what we’ve done in light of God’s law. That’s a frightening position to be in—to be standing alone, facing our sins. But with Jesus in the picture, things change. Because Jesus walked this crossroad alone, we don’t have to face our sins alone. Rather, Jesus is there. He is there with his righteousness, with his perfection wrapped completely around us. And not only is he there in regard to our sins but he’s there for all our needs. When we’re down, he kneels beside us and promises, “Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mt 28:20). Because Jesus walked alone, we will never walk alone.
Finally, let’s consider just one more thing about this crossroad from Gethsemane to the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court, would eventually meet Jesus this night in the high priest’s mansion. There would be a court session that would predetermine that the one who stood before them would be found guilty. We too are walking a path that will lead us to stand at the mansion of a judge who demands perfection. In our case, the verdict is also predetermined. Not because of anything we’ve done but because Jesus walked the crossroads, we will stand before our judge in the mansions of heaven and hear the word innocent. What a day that will be! The day we’ll be with our God. The day we’ll be free from sin and its consequences. The day we’ll enjoy because Jesus walked this crossroad bound and alone.
Amen.
–Rev. Jonathan Rockhoff