Mark 14:47

‘And a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword and smote the high priest's bondservant and struck off his ear.'

Mark's account is deliberately brief and anonymous (compare Mark 14:51). His concentration is on the Betrayer (Mark 14:43) and on the unreasonableness of the method of arrest (Mark 14:48). He wanted his readers to know that this was not genuine Roman justice in action. But he also wanted his readers to know that there were those there who did care, even though they were really helpless to do anything. And so he describes this token resistance and later the presence of the young man (Mark 14:51).

There is, however, one aspect which is significant. ‘The bondservant of the High Priest' was probably a high official acting on behalf of his master. This not only brings out the High Priest's involvement in what has happened, but probably also in Mark's eyes demonstrates God's judgment on the High Priest by proxy. The cutting off of the ear symbolises the fact that the High Priest is no longer seen as fitted for office, for such a blemish in the High Priest would in fact have barred him from office. (Mark does not describe its healing). In God's eyes the High Priest is disfigured for ever.

A further significance of this action is that it is one last final effort made on behalf of the disciples (perhaps that is why in Mark it is anonymous), and it is revealed to be as futile as it was ineffective. The disciples have no part in what is to happen from now on. Jesus must face it alone.

Note the carefully put together narrative.

'b7 Judas betrayal presented in depth (Mark 14:43).

· A brief statement of arrest (Mark 14:46).

· An anonymous token gesture with a sword (Mark 14:47).

· Jesus reply to His arrest presented in depth (Mark 14:48).

· A brief statement of desertion (Mark 14:50).

· An anonymous token gesture which results in flight (Mark 14:51).

Mark's work demonstrates careful use of the material at his disposal. He wanted especially to stress the betrayal and the words of Jesus. But this simple pattern also hides a more complicated structure, for the ‘certain young man' also both faces arrest and flees, while the ‘certain one of them' put up a defence before joining the flight. Both were loyal but effectively irrelevant. It was now Jesus versus the Jewish establishment.

(We know that the swordsman was Peter (John 18:10), but it may be that when Mark wrote it was not good to mention names in Rome where Roman justice might be seen as involved, or even to link the incident with the disciples. Or it may be that Peter did not want to take any credit for what he had done (it was at least an attempt) when he had so dreadfully betrayed Jesus shortly afterwards. Or the anonymity might have been intended to bring out that this was the last effort on His behalf of the disciples as a whole (only two of them carried swords - Luke 22:38, and it was typical that Peter should be one of them). However it was an act typical of Peter, spontaneous and brave, yet out of order and as a result forbidden by Jesus. And inept as well, although it may be that the blow was diverted, or indeed that his aim might have been disfigurement of someone clearly important in the High Priest's household. Peter's aim might have been to divert attention to himself giving Jesus an opportunity to slip away. Certainly at least it proved that he was ready to die for Jesus as he had said. However, Jesus had to point out to him that if he had been aware of what He had prayed he would have realised that he must not interfere (John 18:11), and that had he only thought about it the whole of heaven was standing by to act to bring about His deliverance (Matthew 26:53). But it was not to be).