Bible Study Lessons

Jesus Arrested – A Fresh Look

Introduction

During the fearful years of the Boxer Rebellion in China, the rebel forces came to a certain mission school. The Boxers hated Christians and wanted everyone to denounce the faith. So, the Boxers blocked all but one of the gates and then set a cross in front of the open gate. After that, they announced that if anyone would trample on the cross, that person could go free. Anyone who stepped around the cross would be immediately killed. The first seven students hesitated and then walked on the cross. But the eighth knelt before the cross and then carefully walked around it. All the rest of the hundred students followed her example choosing to lose their lives rather than denounce Christ. Times of intense pressure and trial reveal the true character of a person. And when one person chooses to do right despite the consequences, it emboldens others to do the same. In today’s passage, Jesus is going through one of the hardest situations a person can face. A friend is betraying Him, the religious rulers arresting Him violently in secret, His closest friends forsake Him, and He knows He’s facing a brutal death. Study Mark 14:43-52 to let these trials pull back the curtains and give you a glimpse of Jesus’ true character so you can know and love Him more and follow His example.

Observation

Pray

Ask the Lord to help you look at this passage with fresh eyes so that you can get to know the Lord Jesus better and follow His example.

Read Focus Verses

Read Mark 14:43-52 as if you were reading it for the first time - let it surprise you.

Context

The verses right before today's passage - Mark 14:32-42 - fill you in on what has just happened and who the "He" is in verse 43.

Just Before

What has just happened before the events in today's passage?

He

Who is the "He" in verse 43?

Who?

Who showed up in verse 43?

How?

What did they bring with them?

The Signal

How did Judas say he would tell the mob which one Jesus was?

Arrest

What happened in verse 46?

Side Light

What does verse 47 tell us about?

Question

What does Jesus say in verses 48-49?

The Disciples

According to verse 50, what did the disciples do?

A Young Man

What do verses 51-52 tell us about?

In Your Own Words

How would you retell the events of Mark 14:43-52 in your own words? What is happening?

Keyword - Jesus

Marking the references to Jesus helps Him stand out as the main Character - the One to watch and learn from the most.

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Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ

Mark each time Jesus is named and referenced in Mark 14:43-52.

Interpretation

What Would You Expect?

If you were reading about the life of Jesus for the first time in the Gospel of Mark, think about how you might expect today's passage to go. Jesus has been doing wonderful miracles - even raising the dead. Now one of His best friends has brought a mob to arrest Him. What would you expect?

How Is That Different?

How is that expectation different from what really happened?

Who Is This?

What can you learn about Jesus' character when you see that He allowed Himself to be arrested despite His miraculous power shown all through the Gospel of Mark?

An Explanation

Isaiah 53 talks about Jesus going willingly without resisting and explains why. It only takes 2 minutes to listen to this short, moving chapter.

The Reason

If you prefer, you can read Isaiah 53:1-12. Focus especially on the last two verses.

To Bear Our Sin

Why did Jesus go willingly with those who were arresting Him?

Betrayed by a Friend

Have you ever been betrayed by a friend before? How did you respond?

Jesus' Response

Matthew 26:48-50 gives us a little more insight into Jesus' response to a friend betraying Him.

Extending an Offer of Friendship

How would you describe Jesus' response to Judas even while Judas was betraying Him?

The Difference

How is that different from the way you have responded to being betrayed by friends?

Character

What does Jesus' response to one of the most painful things a person could ever experience teach us about His character and what He's like?

Names

In John 18:10 God gives us the names of the disciple who tried to defend Jesus and the man who had his ear cut off.

The Disciple

Which disciple got out his sword?

The Servant

What was the name of the man whose ear was cut off?

A Miracle

Luke 22:50-51 gives us another amazing detail about what happened.

Healing

What did Jesus do for the man whose ear was cut off?

If You Were There

If you were one of the people sent to arrest Jesus and saw Him heal a man's ear like that, what do you think you might have done?

Our Hearts

What does it teach us about the hardness and unbelief of the natural heart that these people went ahead and arrested Jesus after that?

Unbelievable

Think for a minute about the stress Jesus was under at this moment. He knew He was facing a horrible death. His three closest friends kept falling asleep when He most needed their support. One of His twelve disciples was betraying Him. What does it reveal about Jesus that in the middle of all of this He healed the ear of a man who was unjustly arresting Him?

Jesus' Question

Look again at Jesus' question in Mark 14:48-49 and consider why Jesus said this.

Another Warning

Why do you think Jesus pointed out the inconsistency and unjustness of what they were doing?

His Father's Will

Reading John 6:38 gives a fuller perspective on Jesus' willingness to go with those who were arresting Him.

Jesus' Purpose

What does Jesus say about His purpose in life in John 6:38?

Remembering the Plan

Put John 6:38 together with Jesus' explanation in Mark 14:49 that the prophecies in Scripture needed to be fulfilled. When it came to the hard part of going through the trial, what did Jesus think about that helped Him get through it?

Jesus Understands

Consider what Hebrews 4:14-16 says about how we should respond to Jesus' difficult experiences.

Ask for Comfort and Help

If you ever feel abandoned, how will knowing that Jesus too was abandoned (Mark 14:50) help you?

Fear

What does it tell us about the atmosphere of the situation that not only the twelve disciples but even a young man who tried to follow ran away?

A Settled Mind

What do we learn about Jesus when we contrast His responses to the fear of the others around Him?

The Same Mind

2 Timothy 1:7 says that God has given this same mindset to Christians.

Description

How does 2 Timothy 1:7 describe this kind of mindset that doesn't give in to fear but does what is right even in difficult circumstances?

Bound Like a Criminal

In John 18:12 we learn another detail about Jesus' arrest.

Another Detail

What does John 18:12 add to our understanding of Jesus' arrest?

What Happened?

You can learn what happened in the next study plan called, "Falsely Accused and Condemned."

Once More

Read Mark 14:43-52 once more in light of what you've studied and pay attention to what it reveals about the Lord Jesus.

About Jesus

In your own words, what do these verses reveal about who Jesus is and what He's like?

Application

Like Jesus

What is one of those traits of Jesus that you saw in today's passage that you would most like to be like Jesus in? How will that change the way you respond in specific circumstances in your daily life?

Already Committed

By the time He got to this moment, Jesus had already committed to obey God's Word and do His will. He knew that it was the plan for Him to be arrested and for Him to die for our sins. You saw how that commitment helped Him get through one of the toughest hours of His life. Have you committed to always do what is right? If you have, think about how it has helped you get through tough times and recommit that to the Lord now. If you haven't, commit it to Him today.

For You

At the beginning of this study, you saw that Jesus allowed them to arrest Him so that He could die for your sins. Take a minute and thank Him for going through all this for you so that you could have forgiveness and eternal life through Him.

Wrapup

Closing

We hope this study plan has helped you get to know Jesus better and has challenged you to love Him more and become more like Him.

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