It was time for the sheep to be scattered. The betrayer, Judas, arrived with a crowd of armed men. As prearranged, he betrayed Jesus with the treacherous kiss of a false friend (Mark 14:44–45). The armed men “seized Jesus and arrested him” (v. 46). Imagine the scene. How would Jesus respond?

Peter drew his sword and sliced off the ear of the high priest’s servant (v. 47; see John 18:10). John records the victim’s name—Malchus. This being both a traumatic and transforming incident for him, Malchus could have been converted later and joined the church, and this may be the reason why his name is mentioned.

Peter, the impulsive fisherman, had become a “swordsman”. To his credit, he had acted courageously, living up to his recent boast. He may still have harboured the idea that Jesus would turn the tables and establish His strong political kingdom, and thought that swords would be necessary. Surely the Lord who multiplied two fish could multiply the swords to gain an astounding victory! Earlier, when Jesus asked the disciples to sell their cloaks to buy swords, they misunderstood and told Him they already had two swords. And He said, “That’s enough” (Luke 22:36–38).

It is easy to see how Peter could have misunderstood Jesus and thought of using his sword to defend Him. The battle for the kingdom had begun. But one sword was hardly a match for an army of swords. There was, however, another sword—not physical but spiritual—that was up to the task: the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), which Peter would later find had the power to cut open stubborn and sinful hearts (Acts 2:37).

Although this is not recorded in Mark’s gospel, Luke 22:51 tells us that Jesus then healed the high priest’s servant’s ear. It was an act of compassion and a rejection of any idea that Jesus was leading an armed rebellion (Mark 14:48). Jesus was making it clear that the Scriptures must be fulfilled, and that He was prepared to go to the cross (v. 49; see Isaiah 53:7–12). Then “everyone deserted him and fled” (Mark 14:50). Peter had the courage to carry a sword but not a cross.

The young man who “fled naked” (vv. 51–52), mentioned only in Mark, is believed to be Mark himself, who humbly noted that he too lost courage and joined the fleeing disciples.