The Arrest (Mark 14:43-52)

In Mark's story of the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas acts like a Sicarii, with whom his surname (Iscariot) is associated, The characteristic act of the Sicarii was to approach, in apparent friendship, a Jewish supporter of the Roman-imposed government and assassinate him with a curved dagger called a “sicarius.”

Treachery and assassination of those who favored reconciliation with Rome was a frequent event during the Jewish-Roman war. This war took place around the time Mark was being composed. The implication of the story of Jesus' arrest is that Judas was disappointed by Jesus’ failure to act in the tradition of the messiahs of Israel and lead a revolt against Rome. Judas was willing to betray his teacher out of commitment to the cause of Jewish independence.

New Testament scholar Tom Boomershine tells and comments on Mark 14:43-52.