Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 14:50
And they all forsook him, and fled.
50. they all forsook him, and fled ] Even the impetuous Peter who had made so many promises; even the disciple whom He loved.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Mar 14:50
And they all forsook Him and fled.
The deserters
We may take three views of the desertion of our Lord on this occasion; that event may be considered with reference to the deserters, to the deserted, and to ourselves.
I. The desertion of our Lord may be considered with reference to the apostles. In this view it affords an affecting instance of the inconstancy of man. The desertion of our Lord by the apostles affords also a proof of the melancholy consequences of the adoption of false notions. Men are sometimes found, it is true, both better and worse than their respective creeds; but it is undeniable that, whatever sentiment we really embrace, whatever we truly believe, is sure to influence our spirit and conduct. The apostles, in common with the Jews generally, had fully adopted the notion of a personal reign of the Messiah, of a temporal and worldly kingdom. Hence, ambition, of a kind (in their circumstances) the most absurd and unnatural, took full possession of their minds. They expected to be the chief ministers and counsellors of state of the largest, and, in every respect, the greatest empire in the world, an empire which was destined to absorb all others, and to become universal. Think of such a notion as this, for a few illiterate fishermen of one of the obscurest provinces of the civilized world! I do not say that it would have been otherwise-that they would steadfastly have adhered to their Lord, and have gone with Him to prison and to death, if they had been entirely quit of their false notions, and had had right views of the spiritual nature of His kingdom; for temptation, danger, fear, may overcome the strongest convictions; but it is easy to perceive that their false notions contributed to render them an easy prey to the enemy, while more correct views would have tended to prepare their minds for the trial, and to fortify them against it. We may learn from this how important it is that we should take heed what we believe. Let us prove all things, and hold fast that which is good.
II. The desertion of Christ by the apostles may be considered with reference to our Lord Himself; and here it may be viewed in two aspects: as an aggravation of His sufferings, and as a proof of His love.
1. As an aggravation of His sufferings. It should not be forgotten that our Lord was made in all points like unto His brethren. He had all the affections, passions, feelings, of human nature just as we have; the great difference being that, in us they are constantly liable to perversion and abuse, while in Him their exercise was always healthful and legitimate. In the language of prophecy, also, He complains of the desertion of His friends: I looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. Of the people there was none with Me. As bone of our bone, as subject to all the sympathies of our common humanity, He felt it deeply, and on many accounts, when Judas came, heading a band of ruffians, and betrayed Him with the very token of affection. He felt it deeply when Peter denied Him in His very presence with oaths and curses. He felt it deeply when they all forsook Him and fled.
2. This melancholy event may be considered further as a proof of the greatness of the Saviours love. He met with everything calculated not only to test His love, to prove its sincerity and its strength; but also to chill, and to extinguish it. But as it was self-moved, it was self-sustained. Many waters could net quench it. All the ingratitude of man could not destroy it; all the powers of darkness could not damp its ardour. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. Perhaps the unfaithfulness of the apostles was permitted, that Jesus might taste of every ingredient of bitterness which is mingled in mans cup of woe; that, being tempted in all points like unto His brethren, He might be able to sympathize with, and to succour them in their temptations. It may have been permitted also, in order to show that there was nothing to deserve His favour in the objects of His love. Say not that your sins are too great to be forgiven, or your heart too depraved to be renewed. Only trust Him: His grace is sufficient for you. And let this encourage the unhappy backslider, notwithstanding his frequent desertion of his Lord, to return to Him. Jesus did not disown the apostles, though they deserted Him in His distress; but after His resurrection He sent to them, by the faithful women, messages of tenderness and love: Go, said He to Mary Magdalene, go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father and your Father; to My God, and your God. And to the other women, Go, tell My brethren that I go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.
III. We proceed to consider this melancholy event with reference to ourselves. We may learn not a little from it. We may use it as a mirror in which to see ourselves. Some may see in it, perhaps, the likeness of their own conduct to their fellow men. When you thought they did well for themselves, then you blessed them. When you knew they did not need you, you followed them, and were at their service. When all praised them, you also joined in the laudation. But circumstances changed with them; and you changed too. The time came when you might really have served them, but then you withdrew yourself. Others may see in the desertion of the apostles, the likeness of their own conduct to the Saviour. Oh! how many desert Him in His poor, calumniated, persecuted brethren? How many desert Him in His injured, oppressed interest! Many will befriend and applaud a mission, a religious institution, a Christian church, a ministry, while it receives general commendation and support; but let the great frown upon it, let the foul breath of calumny pass over it and dim its lustre, let the bleak winds of adversity blow upon it, and blast it; and where are they then? They are scattered, and gone everyone to his own. We may learn from this event to solace ourselves under some of the severest trials which can befall us in the present world. Surely there are few things more bitter than this-to be deserted, when we most need their assistance, by those on whose friendly offices we are entitled to rely. But we may learn from this event not to wonder at it; it is no strange thing. We must not wonder, then, if when we are most deeply interested in any great undertaking, if when our labours and sacrifices for the good of our fellow creatures are most abundant, or when our afflictions and sufferings are most severe, that is to say, if when we most need the sympathy and support of our friends, we should be left most entirely to ourselves. Let us solace ourselves in God. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. Let us live more in communion with Him. Let us look less to creatures, and more to the Creator. Let us depend less on outward things, and more on God. Finally, let us learn to anticipate the hour in which our most faithful friends must leave us. Oh! to have the great and good Shepherd with us then! Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. (J. J. Davies.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
And they all forsook him and fled. That is, his disciples, as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read; and who seem to have transcribed it from Matthew, and lest it should be thought, that the multitude whom Christ addressed, were intended.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “And they all forsook Him,” (kai aphentes auton) “And leaving (forsaking or deserting) Him, though they, the disciples, had all vowed that they would not, Mar 14:31. Paul asserts that he too endured a similar experience, at his first trial, before his foes, in his defense at Rome, 2Ti 4:16; Job 19:13.
2) “And fled.” (epugon pantes) “They all fled.” All the disciples and remaining apostles of our Lord present in Gethsemane that nefarious night, fled, panic-stricken, Mat 26:56. They fled to protect themselves, to provide for their own safety, for which Jesus had made provisions, Joh 18:8-9.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
‘And they all left him and fled.’
This contrasts with Mar 14:46, and leads on from Mar 14:47. His enemies laid hands on Him and arrested Him. And once an initial blow had been struck His friends all left Him and fled. This too was in accordance with the Scriptures (Zec 13:7). It also contrasts with the words ‘comes Judas, one of the twelve’, helping to emphasise his betrayal. He alone could remain. for no one would seek to arrest him.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mar 14:50 . , etc., and deserting Him fled all ( last, vide above): the nine with the three, the three not less than the nine all alike panic-stricken.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
forsook Him, and fled = leaving Him, fled.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mar 14:27, Job 19:13, Job 19:14, Psa 38:11, Psa 88:7, Psa 88:8, Psa 88:18, Isa 63:3, Joh 16:32, Joh 18:8, 2Ti 4:16
Reciprocal: 2Sa 23:9 – the men Psa 69:20 – I looked Zec 13:7 – the sheep Mat 26:56 – Then Mar 16:7 – tell
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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They all means the apostles. Seeing Jesus was being taken without any resistance, they concluded that all was lost and in their fright they fled.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
THE FULFILLMENT
50 And they all forsook him, and fled. 51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: 52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. 53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
All forsook Him in His worst hour of trial. Imagine pouring three years of your life into training these men and at the sign of big trouble they all flee. Now, this might be providential in that some of the eleven might well have been arrested, but still the eleven showed little courage in the face of trouble.
One, a young man evidently was on the way out of the situation when he is caught by the little clothes he had on and the cloth was ripped from him. I’d guess we have all had those dreams when all of a sudden we are naked and there are all sorts of people around. This is no dream for the young man, he is naked and there are a ton of folks around.
There is speculation as to who the young man was, and many suggest Mark himself. The thinking is that he is the only gospel writer that mentions the incident thus it must have been personal. Personally, if it had been me I would not have recorded the fact. I would have refrained first of all due to the embarrassment, but second because of the possible ramifications with the Jews having identified myself as having been there.
Barnes suggests it was the owner of the garden. “A certain young man – Who this was we have no means of determining, but it seems not improbable that he may have been the owner of the garden, and that he may have had an understanding with Jesus that he should visit it for retirement when he withdrew from the city. That he was not one of the apostles is clear. It is probable that be was roused from sleep by the noise made by the rabble, and came to render any aid in his power in quelling the disturbance. It is not known why this circumstance is recorded by Mark. It is omitted by all the other evangelists. It may have been recorded to show that the conspirators had instructions to take the “apostles” as well as Jesus, and supposing him to be one of them, they laid hold of him to take him before the high priest; or it “may” have been recorded in order to place his conduct in strong and honorable contrast with the timidity and fear of the disciples, who had all fled.”
People’s New Testament notes and Robertson both suggest Mark as a possible identification, but all point out that identification of the man is pure conjecture. The Net Bible also suggests Mark.
“The statement he ran off naked is probably a reference to Mark himself, traditionally assumed to be the author of this Gospel. Why he was wearing only an outer garment and not the customary tunic as well is not mentioned. W. L. Lane, Mark (NICNT), 527-28, says that Mark probably mentioned this episode so as to make it clear that “all fled, leaving Jesus alone in the custody of the police.””The point being in recording of the incident is that the mob that arrested the Lord was out for others as well as the Lord. They were taking aim at all that were with him. The man seems to be distinct from the apostles in the text. As to why Mark recorded his nakedness is not stated. It may well have been to clearly identify him and the lengths that he took to remove himself from the situation.
As to identification, one day my wife and I were working in our office when a woman began screaming obscenities just outside our house. We looked out the window and saw a black woman walking down the middle of the street naked. I called 911 and told them there was a naked black woman walking down the street screaming. The 911 operator asked, “Can you describe her?” I replied that I thought if they sent an officer that he would probably recognize her. Nakedness is quite an identifier.
In the final portion of the text we see that Jesus is taken before the Jewish leadership. Not only was the chief priest there but all that had been plotting His death. These men were bent on His demise and wanted to be sure that it came to pass.
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
14:50 And they {l} all forsook him, and fled.
(l) All his disciples.