Notice that the Jews and the Roman soldiers are linked together in the arrest of Jesus. Matthew Henry observes that “Both Jews and Gentiles seized him, and so both Jews and Gentiles tried and condemned him, for he died for the sins of both.” The reason Jesus was bound was probably a matter of standard practice although the soldiers may have been striking back at Him because of their earlier fear.

The disciples all desert Jesus and flee. One onlooker, probably Mark, who followed the soldiers from his house where they must have first tried to find Jesus, is noticed by the evildoers and they attempt to apprehend him, with no success, only grabbing his garment and causing him to flee naked into the night (Mark 14:50-52).

Mark 14:50-52  Then everyone deserted him and fled.  A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him,  he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

It seems incredible that in the light of the miraculous healing of Malchus, the group would still be so intent upon the arrest of Jesus. Anselm eloquently says, “Cursed rage, which the grandeur of the miracle could not appease, nor the tenderness of the favour conciliate.” In spite of what Jesus has said and done, the evil in men’s hearts still today says “crucify him.”

They take Jesus in fulfillment of scripture (Psa 22:12, Lam 4:20). They bind Him to cause Him pain and disgrace (2 Sam 3:33-34) but at the same time they fulfill scripture (Isa 53:8). Ironically, He had already bound Himself in a manner of speaking. As Henry notes, “He was already bound to the horns of the altar with the cords of his own love to man, and duty to his Father, else their cords would not have held him.”

Psalms 22:12  Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

Lamentations 4:20  The LORD’s anointed, our very life breath, was caught in their traps. We thought that under his shadow we would live among the nations.

2 Samuel 3:33-34  The king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner have died as the lawless die?  Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. You fell as one falls before wicked men.” And all the people wept over him again.

Isaiah 53:8  By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

We were bound all of our lives to sin (Prov 5:22), but because Jesus allowed Himself to be bound for us, we have been set free (John 8:36). Praise God!

Proverbs 5:22  The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.

John 8:36  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.