43 And straightway, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he; take him, and lead him away safely. 45 And when he was come, straightway he came to him, and saith, Rabbi; and kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him, and took him. 47 But a certain one of them that stood by drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear. 48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a robber, with swords and staves to seize me? 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but this is done that the scriptures might be fulfilled. 50 And they all left him, and fled. 51 And a certain young man followed with him, having a linen cloth cast about him, over his naked body: and they lay hold on him; 52 but he left the linen cloth, and fled naked.
Now the action comes, it comes apace. One disciples lashes out – the story is not completed here: it is left as a futile and inappropriate gesture. Then they all flee – with the tantalising reference to the young man, which we usually read of course as Mark’s own story, told in a way against himself. If Mark was writing up Peter’s memories I can almost imagine Peter (having bared his own soul of betrayal) making sure that Mark did not forget his own moment… All that is speculation, but it opens the door perhaps to a scene which can well be used for an Ignatian meditation, putting ourselves in the picture, wondering what we would have said and done.
