Mark 15:1-5

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"1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. 2 'Are you the king of the Jews?' asked Pilate. 'You have said so,' Jesus replied.  3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, 'Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.' 5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed." ~ Mark 15:1-5

Today, we transition into Mark 15 where the Lord Jesus was right in the middle of enduring six different trials at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders and two Roman governors. All of these trials were shams, but, they were necessary. All six of the sham trials led to the death of the Lord Jesus, making Him our substitute. He died in our place, this is the heart of the gospel. It’s not just that He died, but that He died for our sin.

In v.1 of today's passage we read, "Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate."

The Lord Jesus was beaten and bound, and He did not look like the king His followers expected. And the disciples struggled to find God in all of it. Like the first disciples, we fail to see the purpose of our troubles. We fail to see that our troubles all have a design which is to cause us to entertain certain unwanted questions and to take those questions to the Lord. Our questions are designed to help us to see Him for ourselves and to know Him accordingly.

For us, every day the unwanted takes place in the midst of the unfolding of God's redemption story in our lives. We fail to see that God saw the Lord Jesus as the King for He behaved as one when He conquered sin and death on the cross. Our problem, along with the first disciples is this: we lack the worldview of God.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we must never be shocked by those moments when we are beaten up and bound by the hatred of the world. It is in these times that we are being positioned to see Him most deeply with our hearts.

In v.2-5 of today's passage we read, "2 'Are you the king of the Jews?' asked Pilate. 'You have said so,' Jesus replied.  3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, 'Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.' 5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed."

Previously, the Lord Jesus answered the religious leaders with a claim of deity. Here, in this passage, He answered the Roman governor differently. Literally, He said to Pilate's question "Are you the King of the Jews?" with, "You say." Beyond  these two words in the Greek, the Lord Jesus said nothing to the secular king. He didn’t defend Himself against the false accusations of the Jewish religious leaders. Neither did He answer the charges while standing before Pilate. In each case, both before the religious leaders and Pilate, He only spoke regarding His identity as the Christ.

As prophesied by Isaiah in Isaiah 53, the Lord Jesus went to the cross as the Christ. His silence was that of a confident king. His identity as the Servant of the Lord motivated and sustained Him. He illustrated the best posture of any son of God: the heart of the servant was sustained by God's identity of Him. Out of this identity, the Lord Jesus spoke but not with His lips. No! He spoke most loudly through and with His yielded life.

This is the goal of all of God's children: to be defined by Him. In the 1980's DC TALK sang a song called Jesus Freak. That song is full of deep meaningful concepts pertaining to our relationship with the Lord. In that song we hear these words: "Been apprehended by a spiritual force and a grace that replaced all the me I've divorced." This is where we must want to be continually. To not only be apprehended by the Lord but to be defined consistently by this One who loves us so much that He sent His Son to pay a debt that we could never pay.

The Roman Governor, Pilate, wasn’t accustomed to the silence of a prisoner. Before him, defendants either professed their innocence or defiantly asserted the righteousness of their cause. The Lord Jesus offered neither of these responses. Pilate didn't define Him. As a result we are told Pilate was amazed at the silence of the Lord Jesus. Literally, the lack of a defense from the Lord Jesus "blew Pilate's mind." Standing before Pilate was someone whom he knew was being falsely accused, and He did not say anything in His own defense. 

As Isaiah had told us seven hundred years in advance, "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth."

The Lord Jesus had no interest in defending Himself because He came to defend us, the helpless. His silence before those who eventually placed Him on the cross was His defense for us. He not only accepted the unrighteous judgment of men, but He accepted the righteous judgment of God on behalf of us, unrighteous sinners, in order to make us righteous before God. 

Mark 14:65-72

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"66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. 68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway. 69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” 72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept." ~ Mark 14:66-72

Today, we complete our study of Mark 14 where we are presented one of the most important lessons in our walk with the Lord. This is one of those lessons that stretches across the whole terrain of our relationship with the Lord. And, that lesson is this: Our spirituality is never about us, it is always about Him.

In v.66-68 of today's passage we read, "66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. 'You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,' she said. 68 But he denied it. 'I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,' he said, and went out into the entryway."

Today's passage has the backdrop of the Apostle Peter vowing to never ever deny knowing the Lord Jesus. In addition, while in the Garden of Gethsemane when the Lord Jesus was arrested, Peter drew his sword in an attempt to defend the Lord Jesus. But, in today's passage, Peter's determination to show himself faithful to Christ failed him greatly. 

While gathered around a fire with those who arrested the Lord Jesus, a young woman who was a servant of the high priest, recognized Peter and identified him as a follower of Christ. Immediately, Peter's defenses rose up and he hurried outside to the gateway so he would be less visible. 

In v.69-71 of today's passage we read, "69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, 'This fellow is one of them.' 70 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, 'Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.' 71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, 'I don’t know this man you’re talking about.'"

In those days Galileans had a discernibly different accent which caused those who lived in Jerusalem to immediately recognize the one speaking was Galilean. This was the case here for Peter. His accent gave him away and the people noticed. This caused Peter to employ a tactic that was not known for a disciple of Christ. He cursed and swore in his response. As the truth closed in on Peter, he disassociated himself from the Lord Jesus. I have often wondered what curse words he used. I'm sure they were the worst. As a former fisherman, Peter undoubtedly had quite an exhaustive list to choose from that evening. The Apostle Peter dropped a bomb of some sort in order to save himself.

This was a defining moment for Peter. Perhaps it was then that he gave up on the idea of earning or maintaining God's love. In Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus prayed to the Father three times, receiving strength from those prayers. In that very same Garden Peter didn’t pray and he failed. When faced by his accusers, Peter lied three times. When asked whether he was the Christ, the Lord Jesus answered truthfully: "I AM." When Peter was accused of being a follower of Jesus, he repeatedly and cowardly said, "I am not." 

Like Peter, we often believe we need to be our own saviors. This is our default mode given our fallen nature. Often, there are times when we think we are being champions for the Lord, but in those moments we are really denying His lordship in our lives. Never will we be anyone's savior, especially our own. Only the Lord Jesus is the Savior!

Peter distanced himself from the Lord Jesus because, he didn’t share His view on life. It wasn't that Peter’s courage failed; it was Peter's worldview that failed him. After Peter came to believe that the Lord Jesus to be the Christ, the Lord Jesus told Peter and the other disciples three times that He would be rejected and killed. Peter and the other disciples expected a Christ that would triumph over His enemies, not understanding that at His first coming the Lord Jesus came to destroy a much more sinister enemy, sin and death.

Peter did not understand his real enemy: sin and death. The Lord Jesus came to deal a death blow to both. Peter, in some sense, speaks the truth when he says in v.71, "I don’t know this man you’re talking about." Peter knew the Lord Jesus, but he didn’t really know Him. But, after all, it really isn't how much we know the Lord that saves us; it is that we are known by Him, that is what saves us. The key is that we are increasing in our understanding and experience with the words of John the Baptist: "More of Him and less of me."

In v.72 of today's passage we read, "Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: 'Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.' And he broke down and wept."

We are just like Peter! We do not really know the ways of God. We do not understand the way of self-giving love. When the rooster crowed a second time, a higher court rendered its verdict. Peter failed at something he had no business succeeding at: Following the Lord Jesus with a seriously flawed understanding of Him and His ways. He failed because his vision of God and reality failed.

Since the Lord Jesus had previously predicted Peter would deny Him, He knew Peter would do this. God is never surprised by our failure. He expects more failure out of us than we do ourselves. But, the beauty of all of this is this: Peter's darkest night was eclipsed by Peter's brightest day when the Lord Jesus raised from the grave. You see, it was after the resurrection that the Lord Jesus met Peter on that Galilean beach. And, it was on that Galilean beach that Peter began to truly love the Lord Jesus. Peter's failure was integral to the success that he experienced thereafter.

Mark 14:60-65

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60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”  They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!" And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands." ~ Mark 14:60-65

Today, we return to our study of Mark 14 where the Lord Jesus was on trial before the religious leaders of Israel. In fact, the Lord Jesus endured six separate trials before He went to His death on the cross. The first three trials were held by the religious leaders of Israel which were all illegal because they happened in the cloak of darkness. The last three trials were before the Roman governor Pilate and Herod Antipas, the governor who beheaded John the Baptist. 

The first trial the Lord Jesus endured was before Annas the high priest. The second was before Caiaphas the son-in-law of Annas, the acting high priest in that year. The third was early the next morning before all the religious leaders of Israel. It was then they passed the verdict that the Lord Jesus should be put to death for blasphemy. But, they had a problem; the religious leaders of Israel didn't have the right to put the Lord Jesus to death. The right of capital punishment was the exclusive right of the Romans. 

So, the religious leaders of Israel got Pilate involved. Pilate tried his best to wash his hands clean of the Lord Jesus. In fact, he tried to give it to Herod Antipas, but Herod didn't want to have anything to do with the Lord Jesus also. So, Herod sent the Lord Jesus back to Pilate. In the end, Pilate finally gave in to the will of the religious leaders to have the Lord Jesus put to death. 

The stage for all of this had been earlier set in the garden of Gethsemane when the Lord Jesus sought the face of His Heavenly Father. As a result, the Lord Jesus agreed to be the Savior of all who would believe in Him. Most think the will of God is an itinerary we must discover, including where God wants us to go, and what He wants us to do. Not so, the will of God is for us to know Him. Once we know Him, everything else falls into its place. When it comes to spirituality, it is best realized through raising our sails rather than rowing our boats.

In v.60-61 of today's passage we read, 60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

Among the over three hundred prophecies the Lord Jesus fulfilled, one is found in Isaiah 53:7, which reads "As a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth." The silence of the Lord Jesus invited the will of God which led Him to pursue His awaiting death on the cross. 

In v.62 of today's passage we read, “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

In this verse the Lord Jesus claimed to be God by saying "I AM" which was the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew YHWH. Twenty-three times in the gospel of John the Lord Jesus said, "I AM." And, He knew this response to the religious leaders would definitely lead Him to His death.

In v.62 of today's passage, the Lord Jesus quoted Psalm 110 & Daniel 7 when He said to the religious leaders, "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

There are those critics who insist that at no time did the Lord Jesus ever claim to be the Messiah or the Son of God. They tell us that these claims were made about Him by His disciples. If you ever hear anyone say that, just turn to this passage where it is made clear that He said He was the Messiah and the Son of God.

In v.63 of today's passage we read, "The high priest tore his clothes. 'Why do we need any more witnesses?' he asked."

According to Leviticus 21, a High Priest would tear his clothes only if God was blasphemed. Of course, the Lord Jesus could not blaspheme God for He was God.

In v.64 of today's passage we read, "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”  They all condemned him as worthy of death."

The high priest declared the Lord Jesus to be worthy of death. By saying those words, Caiaphas had no idea what he was truly saying. The Lord Jesus was the only One who could be declared worthy of the death that He died because no one could ever pay the penalty that was created by mankind's deliberate rebellion against God except God Himself. 

In v.65 of today's passage we read, "Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, 'Prophesy!' And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands."

After the passing of the verdict, the forces of restraint that had been upon these religious leaders seemed to be lifted, and they committed another illegal act. They began to vent their hatred upon the Lord Jesus by spitting on Him which was the ultimate form of insult. In addition, they beat Him and they covered His face with a garment, and while His face was hidden, they hit Him, and they demanded that He tell them who hit Him. Thus they mocked, scorned, and, insulted Him. 

Seven hundred and fifty years before this, Isaiah had prophesied of this moment when he wrote: "I gave my back to the smiter and my cheeks to those who plucked out the hair. I hid not my face from shame and spitting."

Mark 14:53-59

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53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. 55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. 57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree. ~ Mark 14:53-59

Today, we return to our study of Mark 14 where the stage has been set for the Lord Jesus to be put on trial. This sham trial will have six different parts: three in from of the Jewish religious leaders and three in from of the Roman political leaders.

In v.53 of today's passage we read, "They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together."

The leaders of Israel gathered, not to God, they gathered in opposition to the Son of God. Perhaps the worst place one can be is where these "leaders" were: thinking that they were in the light, they were in the darkness. In Matthew 7:23 is recorded the most horrifying words that will ever be heard, "Depart from me for I never knew you." And, sadly those who resist the wooing of the Holy Spirit to believe on the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of sin will hear those words.

The Lord Jesus did not say, "Depart from me for you never knew me." No, He said, "Depart from me for I never knew you." 

That which makes it possible for anyone to know that our sin is forgiven us is by simply believing in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin. And inviting Him into our lives. This is what starts the relationship which will grow with time. This is what enables us to be known by God, having a personal relationship with Him through His Son.

In v.54 of today's passage we read, "Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire."

Earlier, Peter, who said he would rather die than deny that He knew the Lord Jesus, abandoned the Lord. Peter not only abandoned the Lord, he continued to follow Him at a distance. This led Peter to deny that He knew the Lord three separate times, something the Lord had predicted. When we follow Jesus from a distance, we will deny Him every time.

During that cold night of betrayal and confusion, the heat of the fire was Peter’s friend, but the light of the fire was his enemy. The heat temporarily warmed Peter, but the light that night revealed his identity. And Peter didn't want to be found out. Underscored in all of this were the words of the Lord Jesus: "Depart from me for I never knew you." It will never be our performance that garners God's acceptance of us. It is always His performance on our behalf that puts us in the right place with Him.

In v.55 of today's passage we read, "The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any."

The religious leaders of Israel were determined to prove that the Lord Jesus was a false prophet who was leading Israel astray. They searched feverishly for this evidence that did not exist. This is why they turned to Pilate, the Roman governor of the region of Judea to have Him put to death. 

In v.56 of today's passage we read, "Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree."

There could not be found two people who could corroborate the accusation that the Lord Jesus deserved death. Deuteronomy 19:15 states: "A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established." The testimony needed to be given individually and needed to agree in order to be valid. 

The Mosaic law includes certain crimes that may be punished by execution, but known of them could be hung on the Lord Jesus. This was part of the terrible irony of the Lord Jesus' sham trials. While witnesses against Him committed the last of these crimes, the Lord Jesus could not have even been accused of breaking even the Sabbath. Every time He worked on the Sabbath, He only violated manmade traditions that defined "work." He didn't break the commandment as written or as intended by God. 

In v.57-58 of today's passage we read, "57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 'We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'"

Instead of seeking God and finding Him, these so called "leaders" were literally “seeking” evidence against the Son of God. The best the witnesses before the Ruling Council could do was to report that the Lord Jesus predicted that He would destroy the temple and three days later build another one apart from human effort. Of course, in that prophecy He spoke of His body not the Temple.

In v.59 of today's passage we read, "Yet even then their testimony did not agree."

Ironically, in a court of law, an accusation is thrown out when it does not hold up to scrutiny. The Lord Jesus was convicted by an inconsistent accusation. Thus, it was unjust. But, according to 2 Corinthians 5:21, it had to be unjust. For there we read, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Mark 14:47-52

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47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled. 51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind. ~ Mark 14:47-52

Today, we return to Mark 14 where the Lord Jesus is with His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, a place they were known to go often to pray. In the darkness of that night, in a place with a name which means "oil press," the Lord Jesus was being squeezed like an olive in a press. And then, a large crowd came to apprehend Him as if He were guilty of some crime.

In v.47 of today's passage we read, "Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear."

In John's Gospel, we learn that Peter cut off the ear of the servant of the High Priest. Peter did this because he was trying to prove something to the Lord Jesus. It was he who said, "Even if all of these flakes forsake you, not me. You can count on me. I'll never do that." 

In Luke's gospel, we are told the Lord Jesus healed this servant of the High Priest. His name was Malchus which means "king." After his ear was chopped off, Malchus wasn’t looking to be healed. Even if he thought his ear could be surgically re-attached, he most definitely would not have turned to the Lord Jesus for help. Yet, out of love, the Lord Jesus reached out to him and did the impossible in an instant, bringing healing and restoration. This was the last healing the Lord Jesus would perform before going to His cross. After this miraculous moment Malchus is never again mentioned in Scripture.

In v.48-49 of today's passage we read, 48 "Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled."

The Lord Jesus came not to lead a rebellion, He came to provide forgiveness of sin. His mission was not to condemn but to save by being the truth and speaking the truth and doing the truth. And those who are not of the truth refuse to welcome Him as Savior. His ministry inevitably reveals blindness and unbelief that condemns.

At the end of v.49 we read, "But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." 

This is why the Lord Jesus was betrayed with a kiss of a friend. This is why the religious leaders had the Lord Jesus arrested after the kiss of the betrayer, so that the Scriptures which prophesied of it would happen. This, of course, does not mean that God made Judas betray the Lord Jesus. No, this means God knew that Judas would choose to betray the Lord Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

In v.50-52 of today's text we read, "50 Then everyone deserted him and fled. 51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind."

The young man spoken of here was none other than John Mark who is the writer of this Gospel. He is the same John Mark who abandoned Paul and Barnabas while they were on their first missionary journey. Perhaps the reason he included himself in this account was to say that even he knew the abandoning nature that was in those first disciples.

Everyone abandoned the Lord because He is the only One who could withstand the onslaught of evil in all of its forms. No mere human could withstand such pressure. It was necessary that He was abandoned for He alone solved our sin and our death problem. The ear of God was closed to the Lord Jesus for a short time so that it might be open to us forever. 

The Lord Jesus took on all the sins of the world so He could be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. Although we know He was the innocent Lamb of God, the ugly sins of the world, past, present and future were all placed upon Him at the same time.

We also know that God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, have always been one and in constant fellowship with one another. But, when the Lord Jesus took on even one sin much less all sin, God the Father could no longer be in fellowship with Him while He bore that sin. God is pure and holy, and therefore, He could not allow Himself to be violated by remaining in contact with His beloved Son while He hung on that tree. He had to forsake Him, until the Lord Jesus died and paid the total bill created by our sin.

Mark 14:43-46

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43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him.  ~ Mark 14:43-46

We return to our study of Mark 14 where the Lord Jesus had just noticed a large crowd coming up the Mount of Olives toward Him. The large crowd was led by someone familiar with the nightly habits of the Lord Jesus. Knowing that His hour to be arrested, falsely accused, illegally put on trial, sentenced, and crucified, the Lord Jesus braced Himself and His disciples for the one who had decided to betray Him for 30 pieces of silver.

In v.43 of today's passage we read, "Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders."

While the Lord Jesus was speaking with His disciples, Judas led a large crowd up the hill toward the Lord Jesus. Included in the crowd were those sent from the religious leaders of Israel who all wanted the Lord Jesus dead. They were so jealous of His power to heal the sick and to raise the dead and to give sight to the blind that they wanted Him eliminated. 

According to John's Gospel, "a detachment of troops" were also with Judas to assist in the arrest of the Lord Jesus. A detachment included 200 soldiers. In all of this, it is obvious even though Judas had spent three years with the Lord Jesus, watching His miracles and hearing His teachings, he really didn't know the Lord Jesus for himself. Judas' story teaches us that even the the best example, the most compelling evidence, and the finest teaching, the ultimate environment for incubating faith cannot, in and of themselves, change the human heart. We must have an encounter that brings us to the end of self and to an eternity with the Lord.

In v.44 of today's passage we read, "Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: 'The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.'" 

We read in Proverbs 27, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." 

Ironically, the name Judas means "praise."

In Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus told His disciples to watch and to pray. The design of these two commands was to get His followers to look for hope. I have found that this hope often appears in my life in the form of an intrusion or an anomaly, something that looks as if it doesn’t belong. I have found that those moments of greatest pain and anxiety have served me best in coming to know the heart of my Savior. In fact, when I was seventeen years old my earthly father died, and, through that horrific experience I became a believer in the Lord Jesus. When trained in the culture of the Lord, we begin to see that many of these intrusions into our lives are signs of hope from the LORD. We must be formed by His word, so that when these intruders come, we view them through the lens of His Word.

The challenge to our faith is to believe this promise when we find ourselves in a place where darkness closes in. Perhaps, at times, we need something that reassures us that the story doesn’t end in a place like Golgotha. At such times, if we need the subtle sign, God gives it to us: a glimmer of hope in the darkness. The world needs glimmers of hope and people with eyes to see them. If we do not see Him in the midst of our darkest times, we will never be in the position to help others in their darkest times.

In v.45-46 of today's passage we read, "45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, 'Rabbi!' and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him."

It was with a kiss along with a strong embrace that Judas betrayed the Lord Jesus. Slaves kiss feet. Inferiors kiss hands. Equals kiss cheeks. Judas saw himself as an equal to the Lord Jesus and that is what makes his betrayal of the Lord  most repulsive. And, Judas did not hesitate to do his dirty work.

Judas was included in the group of disciples, yet, he was not a believer. Proximity to the teachings and miracles of the Lord Jesus did not change Judas’ heart or secure his salvation, nor did his occasional good works. The offer of grace had been extended to Judas for over three years. Sadly, the opportunity for Judas to inherit the kingdom of heaven and walk with the Lord Jesus in eternity he rejected. Rather than embracing the Lord Jesus from the inside out, Judas feigned love on the outside. Judas did this for three years, sealing his fate with a final kiss.

There are those who blame God for Judas' actions, but, God cannot be held accountable for the choice Judas made. It is not that God told us that He determined that Judas would do such an evil deed. No, God knew in advance that Judas would make that choice in advance, and then, He told us he would do it. The point is this: we all have the choice to believe in the Lord Jesus or not. And, that was the choice Judas had and he chose to not believe.

Mark 14:37-42

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37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” ~ Mark 14:37-42

Today, we return to our study of Mark 14 where the Lord Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane praying. The Lord Jesus had told the disciples to sit where they were while He went away from them a little further to pray. He just wanted the disciples to be with Him. He didn't want them to do anything for Him; He just wanted them to be with Him while He sought the face of His Father.

In v.37-38 of today's passage we read, "37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. 'Simon,' he said to Peter, 'are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.'"

A few months before this the Lord Jesus had changed Peter's name from Simon to Peter, but, there were times when He would call Peter by his old name which means weakness. The Lord Jesus always called Peter by his old name when Peter acted like his old self. The Lord was reminding Peter that he still had his old nature, and he needed to be careful of feeding the flesh(the sinful desires that are still in us). 

The Lord Jesus asked Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour?" Peter and James and John had fallen asleep, and, the Lord Jesus returned to discover them asleep. Previously, these three were determined  to be strong but they were weak because they lacked the strength of prayer. Prayer strengthens us. When we lay our hearts before the Lord, we are tuned to His activity in our lives, which in turn, strengthens our faith. We find that we look for Him more, and we discover that He is the only One who is our Savior.

Prayer is the yearning of the awakened soul. But, it is the nature of the flesh to be weak. And, the flesh is our default mode even though we are born again. In the hour of testing, if we are not given to prayer, we will discover self-confidence always fails. Prayer makes His strength apprehensible to us. This is the major lesson that bursts forth in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

In v.39-40 of today's passage we read, "39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him."

Like the disciples, the Lord Jesus knows our frame and our hearts. Like to the disciples, He says to you and me, "I know you love me. Your spirit is perfectly willing because you have been made alive to me through my Spirit. But, when you rely upon our flesh, it gets the best of you."

The disciples did not know what to say to the Lord Jesus on the heels of their failure. Our human sense of independence, the confidence we have in ourselves, is always weak in the hour of testing. It will never stand the test. In our hour of testing, the house built upon the sand will collapse. It cannot stand the test. When we are confident in self, we will definitely fail. The flesh will always fail us.

Our success comes out of our resolve to pray which is the expression of our weakness. His strength is realized through our weakness. The transformation that we desire is realized on the heels of prayer or dependence upon the Lord. And, human words do not do it justice when we try to explain what has happened.

In v.41-42 of today's passage we read, "41 Returning the third time, he said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

The Lord could see the flames of the torches of the soldiers and the religious leaders who advanced on the slope of the Mount of Olives. It is said that there could have been a thousand people coming up that hill that night with torches. 

The word translated "enough" refers to the final prayer of the Lord Jesus and the inability of the disciples to remain awake and pray. It was that combination that made it possible for the final payment to be made. After returning the third time, the Lord Jesus recognized that He had to go through with the crucifixion. In light of the disciples spiritual inabilities His resolve was enough. The inability of the disciples mandated it. After returning for the third time, the Lord Jesus heard the Father's response to His prayer: that mankind would be without all hope if He did not take on and defeat sin and death. And so, the Lord Jesus gave Himself to the one who betrayed Him. 

God controlled by a man. Sound ridiculous because it is. The Lord Jesus wasn't controlled by any man, He was yielded to the will of the Father. And, it was the will of the Father that we be saved. The Lord Jesus felt "forsaken" by the Father. He felt the desolation of the feeling of a temporarily broken fellowship with His Father. God forsaken of God! Yet, the Son of God was never more pleasing to the Father than at this hour of obedience in His voluntarily laying down His life for the salvation of lost mankind. This is the love of God which has been offered to us as a free gift for the receiving. The question is: Have you received it?

Mark 14:32-36

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32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” ~ Mark 14:32-36

Today, we return to Mark 14 where the Lord Jesus has just told His disciples that after His crucifixion, they will all run for their lives. In doing so, they will deny their association with the Lord Jesus. In response, all of the disciples pled that they would never abandon the Lord. Of course, the Lord already knew their hearts, and this is why we love the Lord so much. He knows us better than we do ourselves, and yet, He is still committed to us.

In v.32-34 of today's passage we read,"32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, 'Sit here while I pray.' 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,' he said to them. 'Stay here and keep watch.'"

"Gethsemane" comes from two Hebrew words meaning "the olive press." In those days, olive oil was made by taking two stones, an upper stone which would revolve around the lower stone. And anything between the two stones was crushed. When the olives were crushed, the oil that came forth was gathered and collected and sold.

The real value of the olive comes when it's crushed. You can eat the olives, but the real value is discovered in the crushing of the olives. This is yet again another picture of the economy of God. The Lord Jesus came to this earth to be crushed for the forgiveness of our sin. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we read, "God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might be the righteousness of God in him." 

The Lord Jesus took Peter, James, and John along with Him while He prayed. He left the other eight at the entrance of the garden, but He took Peter, James, and John deeper into the garden because they were the leaders. 

Interestingly, there were two other occasions when this inner circle joined the Lord Jesus exclusively: The first was at the house of Jairus when the Lord raised the daughter of Jarius from the dead. The second time was on the Mount of Transfiguration when the Lord Jesus was transfigured before Moses and Elijah and the three disciples. There the Lord Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah about His departure.

All three of these instances have something in common, and, it is death. And, here in today's passage, the Lord Jesus presented Himself to the Father for death. I also find it interesting that the very first Christian martyr was James. And, the last to die was John. The middle one was Peter who would be crucified upside down in Rome. 

According to v.33, the Lord Jesus was "deeply distressed and troubled." The word "distressed" is a compound form of the verb "to be amazed." Even though He was omniscient, death was an experience that He had never had, and He was about to have it. He was amazed because death was totally alien to everything He had ever experienced and had ever known.

And, death caused Him to be troubled meaning to be astonished. The Lord Jesus was deeply amazed and astonished in His anguish. He possessed something we have never known with reference to sin: He had a perfect hatred for sin. Everything in His being was repulsed by the thought of it. His plea to avoid it was absolutely consistent with His nature as God.

As indicated in v.34, the Lord Jesus was "overwhelmed with sorrow" which literally means to be surrounded by sorrow. He was engulfed in this grief to the point of death. He had never said "yes" to alienation from His Father. He had never said "yes" to guilt. He had never said "yes" to sin-bearing. He had never said "yes" to punishment. His anguish was caused by the cup of God's wrath which He knew awaited Him on the cross, and He struggled with the idea. It bothered Him so much that He asked the Father for a way out of it. 

In v.35-36 of today's passage we read, "35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

Peter, James and John went deeper with the Lord Jesus so that they would be taught how to pray amid weakness. James and John were the ones who were so confident they thought they ought to sit on the right hand and the left hand of the Lord Jesus in His kingdom. And, Peter thought of himself to be the most elevated and exalted of all. Given their strengths, they needed to be reminded of the place of weakness in effective leadership. We are at our strongest when we are most convinced that we need God. We are at our strongest when we are dependent upon the Lord.

The Lord Jesus referred to the Father as "Abba" which is a very intimate word meaning "daddy." No Jew would ever even consider calling God Father, let alone call Him Abba. But, our Lord calls on the affectionate, intimate, personal name of God as if pleading for that intimate love to rescue Him. And, notice the way the Lord Jesus prayed was to request of His Daddy and then rest in His response. This is the way we should prayer, to request and rest. The Lord Jesus submitted to the will of His Daddy. In His human nature the Lord Jesus felt anxiety, but, in the end He said,  "Yet not what I will, but what you will." The Lord Jesus submitted Himself to whatever the Father wanted because He knew the character and nature of his Daddy, that He could be completely trusted with the outcome, even though He struggled with it.

Mark 14:27-31

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27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.'
29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” 30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same. ~ Mark 14:27-31

Today, we return to our study of Mark 14 where the Lord Jesus has just enjoyed His last Passover meal with His disciples in the upper room. At this point in the narrative, the Lord Jesus and His disciples have left the upper room and walked to the Mount of Olives. They are now in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Human history began in a garden, in the Garden of Eden. Human sin and failure began in that garden. And, in a wonderful twist, human history will culminate in the garden of the New Jerusalem. In the garden of Eden, Adam was overcome by sin while in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus Christ, overcame sin. In the Garden of Eden, Adam ran from God while in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus embraced the Father's will to present Himself to the Father on the behalf of sinful mankind.

In v.27-28 of today's passage we read, "27 You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.'"

During the Passover meal, the Lord Jesus told His disciples one of them would betray Him. Then, after the meal while on the Mount of Olives, He told the remaining eleven that all of them would fall away and abandon Him. They didn't understand it at the time, but, the disciples were being introduced to the only success that endures, the success of the Lord Jesus on their behalf.

In Zechariah 13:7 we read about this prophesied event. Zechariah prophesied the Lord Jesus would be struck and the disciples would be scattered. The Lord Jesus knew the disciples had not grasped this fact. Their failure was central to the formation of their walk with Him, though. We should never be surprised that God strategically uses our weaknesses in the formation of our spiritual development. God does not delight in our sufferings, He delights in using them to bring us to the place that we fully trust Him. 

In v.29 of today's passage we read, "Peter declared, 'Even if all fall away, I will not.'"

Peter, the spokesperson for all of the disciples, always listed first in the list of the apostles, for the second time resisted the plan of God. I am sure he thought he was being spiritual, but he knew nothing of the strength of the flesh. Peter thought spiritual maturity was something he produced. Before, when the Lord Jesus had predicted his death and resurrection, Peter rebuked Him. Now, here in today's passage, when the Lord Jesus predicted the failure of all the disciples, Peter declared that he was different than the rest. But, as we know, Peter not only abandoned the Lord Jesus, he also disowned Him three times.

In v.30-31 of today's passage we read, '"30 Truly I tell you,' Jesus answered, 'today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.' 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, 'Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.' And all the others said the same."

Like you and me, Peter believed in the Lord Jesus as the Christ, but he didn’t understand all of what the Lord Jesus was teaching. Like Peter, despite the fact that we fail, the Lord Jesus is yet at work in our lives using all things together to bring about His design in and through our lives. God looks at failure differently than we. And, like Peter, we’ve all professed dogged allegiance to the Lord in moments of confidence in self. We forget that self is our biggest enemy. And, like sheep, we all have been known to fail miserably. In fact, God expects more failure from us than we expect from ourselves.

Through it all, the Lord Jesus refines us and teaches us that our failure isn’t final. In fact, He takes our failure and forms us by showing us that our failure is a part His healing in our lives. The healing comes on the heels of being forced to run to the Lord when we have exhausted all of our resources. Following the Lord through our failures teaches us to listen to Him and to trust and to depend upon Him more fully.

It is quite notable that in His last night with His disciples, the Lord Jesus gave the disciples a meal and an enduring object lesson to impress upon them the reality of what He was doing. His words that night were powerful, but if detached from the meal and the object lesson, we are not left with much. God is not the God of second chances, He is the God who is greater than all of our attempts to accomplish anything on our own. And, as John MacArthur says, "The road to spiritual maturity is paved with an ever increasing understanding of our wickedness." 

Mark 14:22-26

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22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." ~ Mark 14:22-26

Today, we return to Mark 14 where the Lord Jesus was with His disciples in the upper room in Jerusalem. It was Thursday evening and they were enjoying the final Passover meal the Lord would eat with His disciples before He would be crucified and buried.

In v.22-24 of today's passage we read, "22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take it; this is my body.' 23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,' he said to them."

At the Passover meal, the head of the family would typically explain the meal as it related to the Exodus story. On this occasion, the Lord Jesus, shockingly, explained the meal, in relation to Himself. He explained the Exodus story in light of His death on the cross and how all sacrifices point us to that momentous occasion when He took sin and death head on and rendered them null and void.

The Lord Jesus, when He offered up the bread, likened it to His sacrifice made for sin. He said, "This is my body.” The wine, He said, represented His "blood." With that, the Lord Jesus referenced the covenant God made with His people after the Exodus. On that night, the Lord Jesus pulled back the curtain revealing the point and the culmination of all of those Passover lambs down through the centuries: they all pointed to Him and the work that He was about to accomplish on His cross. 

In 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 the Apostle Paul tells us when we eat the bread and drink the wine, we remember the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross to pay the penalty created by our sin. The Apostle Paul also said that when we do this, we proclaim the death of the Lord Jesus until He returns to take us home to be with Him in heaven.

The Passover was a meal that centered around four glasses of wine. The first glass was the opening glass. It was the cup of blessing where the host blessed the Lord and welcomed the people who had been invited. The second cup was called the cup of judgment. It spoke about the plagues that God brought upon Egypt and delivering His people out of Egypt. It was, at that point, that the Lord Jesus dipped His finger in the wine and sprinkle the cloth and the meal in front of Him to speak about the sprinkling of the blood of the sacrifice.

The unleavened bread was broken and then dipped into bitter herbs. Holding up the bread, the Lord Jesus said, "Blessed art thou, Lord God, King of the universe." Then, He passed to His disciples the dipped bread. After that, they enjoyed the meal together. After the meal there were two other glasses of wine. The third glass of wine was the cup of redemption. With it, the Lord Jesus spoke of the death of the firstborn and the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt. Before He gave the cup to the disciples, He said, "Blessed art thou, Lord God, King of the universe, who gives us the fruit of the vine."

The fourth and final cup was a cup of praise. and with that cup the Lord Jesus said, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many." 

This is why the Lord Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, which is designed to be led by His Spirit who focuses us on His death, burial and resurrection. He knows well the tendency of the human heart to drift from the reminder of His intense love for us. It is His undying love that keeps our hearts close to Him. During the Lord's Supper, believers enjoy interaction with the Lord in our hearts and through His word, while focusing on His work on the cross.

In Revelation 3:20 we read, "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." This was a verse written to believers, to those who had trusted in the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross.

The word "sup" is used four times in the New Testament. In that culture, this word referred to the main meal of the day. And, in Middle Eastern fashion, it was a significant occasion for having intimate fellowship with the closest of friends. The Lord Supper is meant to be such: to sup or to experience intimate fellowship with our closest friend. 

In v.25-26 of today's passage we read, "25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives."

After the Lord shared the fourth cup with the disciples, He said these words indicating this was the last Passover He would share with them on this earth. And, with these words, the Lord Jesus promised we will celebrate the Passover with Him during the Millennium. At that time, we will celebrate like we never have before because we will understand it all most clearly. 

Mark 14:17-21

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"17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” 19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?” 20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” ~ Mark 14:17-21

Today, we return to our study of Mark 14. The setting was Thursday night in the upper room where the Lord Jesus was celebrating the last Passover with His disciples. It was the day before He was to be crucified. In that day, when they ate a meal with others, they reclined on one elbow and laid on their side at a table that had three sides. They laid diagonal from the center of the table with their feet toward the side and the back. For 1,500 years, since the Exodus, the Passover had been celebrated at that time of year, by the Jews, without a break. This would be the last Passover, because the Lord Jesus would fulfill all the righteous requirements of the Law. This final Passover marked the end of the Old Covenant and the beginning of the New. 

In v.17-18 of today's passage we read, "17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, 'Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.'"

Somewhere in the middle of the Passover meal, the Lord Jesus made this prediction. As predicted in Psalm 55, the Lord Jesus was about to be betrayed by one of His own disciples who was at the table with Him in the upper room. 

In v.19 of today's passage we read, "They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, 'Surely you don’t mean me?'"

Saddened at the idea, each disciple asked the Lord the obvious question. The word translated "saddened" means to be distressed, sorrowful, profoundly pained. One by one, each of them agonized. They knew their hearts. They knew they were capable of doing such a thing. 

Knowing that His betrayer was Judas, the Lord Jesus allowed each of the disciples to wrestle with the possibility because it could have been any of them. It is in all of our hearts to betray the Lord. He was probing their hearts for their benefit. In so doing, the Lord Jesus made them aware of their total depravity apart from His involvement in their lives.

This reminds me of the song, In the Light, written by Charlie Peacock and performed by DC Talk. They sang, "This disease of self runs through my blood, it's a cancer fatal to my soul. Every attempt on my behalf has failed to bring this sickness under control." We all are fully aware that we are potential Judas'.

In v.20-21 of today's passage we read, 20 "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

I find it very instructive when I consider the responses of the twelve disciples. A study of Matthew 26 enables us to see this. Every one of the disciples responded with, "Is it I?" The 11 responded with, "Is it I, Lord?," whereas Judas responded with, "Is it I, Rabbi?" It is never recorded in the Gospels that Judas ever one time referred to the Lord Jesus as "Lord." For the 11, they existed for the Lord. For Judas, the Lord existed for him.

Judas, like anyone who rejects God's free gift of salvation, made his own choice that night. It appears that he acted on greed, but he received so little, 30 pieces of silver, about $200 in today's currency. Everything Judas did that night fit into God’s plan. And, Judas played a crucial role in the death of Christ, but, God is not to be blamed. 

The word translated "woe" in v.21 means cursed and damned to hell. Sadly, Judas, hanged himself, the rope broke, and his bowels were exploded on the rocks below, and he was thrown into the dump, the trash heap outside Jerusalem, and worse, into the eternal lake of fire.

There is no stronger statement in Scripture on human responsibility than this statement the Lord made concerning Judas: "It would be better for him if he had not been born." That is the strongest statement in Scripture on human responsibility. Better never born than damned forever. The most severe punishment of hell is for those who knew the most about Christ and yet rejected Him.

But, it does not have to be that way. 

In John 3:16-21 we read, "16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."

 

Mark 14:12-16

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12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. ~ Mark 14:12-16

Today, we continue our study of Mark 14 where a clear contrast 

has been established between those who are defined by the God of truth and those who are not. With that in the background, the scene shifts to Thursday of the final week of the Lord Jesus on this earth. It was the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread.

In v.12 of today's passage we read, "On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, 'Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?'"

On Passover, the Hebrews gathered to share a meal which celebrated the Exodus, the nations deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The time of Israel's slavery in Egypt was so hard, yet it was the will of God for them. As with all things, good or bad, there is always to be found the purposes of God for our lives and the lives of those whom we love. Sometimes, we find it difficult to imagine that God causes or allows certain things in our lives. But, we can be assured that His will is the best for us and it will come to meaningful fruition. 

For the Jews in Egypt so many years ago, it was during that 400 year period that God grew their nation from one family to up to 2 million people. God clearly uses the trials that come into our lives to tune our hearts and souls to be able to recognize and follow Him. Without tests, there are no testimonies. 

In his first epistle, the Apostle Peter wrote, "These (trials) have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith, of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire, may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Within the celebration of Unleavened Bread and the Passover is seen the beauty of this mysterious principle. During the tenth plague in Egypt, those who trusted the LORD applied the blood of the sacrificial lamb to the doorposts of their home. As a result, the death angel passed over their house and their firstborns were spared from death.

When we are going through the intensity of a trial, we struggle to see that each trial has meaning and purpose. And, that purpose is primarily that we would know the LORD and His culture. We must rest in this fact: God is sovereign, He is good, and He has our best interest in mind. But we have difficulty seeing this because we lack the experience with Him to see these most awesome truths.

Max Lucado puts it this way, "God views our lives the way we view a movie after we’ve read the book. When something bad happens, we feel the air sucked out of the theater. Everyone else gasps at the crisis on the screen. Not us. Why? We’ve read the book. We know how the good guy gets out of the tight spot. God views our lives with the same confidence. He’s not only read our story…he wrote it. His perspective is different, and his purpose is clear."

In v.13-15 of today's passage we read, "13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.'"

In the culture of that day, men generally carried water in animal skins, while women carried it in jars. These skins retained water naturally and therefore were useful for carrying water. A man carrying a pitcher of water was unusual in those days and would have been an obvious signal to the disciples. And, of course, that was what the Lord Jesus told the disciples to look for when they went into Jerusalem.

There is another feast of the Jews which centers around the carrying of a jar of water by a man. It is referred to in John 7 where the Lord Jesus said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.'" 

We do not know what the next moment of our lives will bring. But, we have come to know the One who has invited us to follow Him through the ebbs and flows of life. As we follow Him through prayer and scripture reading primarily, we learn to see Him with our hearts and our souls. This is not an easy habit to form. It takes time. But, He has promised that if we do that, out of our hearts will flow rivers of living water.

In v.16 of today's passage we read, "The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover."

It all happened as the Lord Jesus had told the disciples. When they arrived in Jerusalem, the sent disciples immediately saw a man carrying a jar of water. The disciples, therefore, followed the instructions of the Lord Jesus and made preparations in a large upper room in a man's house in Jerusalem.

The Lord Jesus very subtly illustrated the beauty of His will and His culture. He gave the disciples reassurance by showing them His omniscience, for He knew in advance that there would be a room and an accommodating owner of the room. The disciples, as a result, obeyed the Lord Jesus, and, as a result of their obedience, they enjoyed the omniscience and omnipotence of the God of the Bible. This all aided the deepening of their relationship with Him. The more they saw Him in control, the more they trusted Him. This is the way it works. Such is the process of knowing God, His power, and realizing His will in and through our lives daily.

Mark 14:10-11

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10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. ~ Mark 14:10-11

Today, we continue our study of Mark 14 where we have been studying lessons about worship from Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Martha. True worship is defined by that which  defines us most. The type of worship that Mary displayed at Simon's house was the result of a heart transformed by entering into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. 

In v.10 of today's passage we read, "Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them."

In just one verse the scene makes a dramatic shift from an incredible display of adoration and worship back to the religious leaders and Judas who were plotting to kill the Lord Jesus. Unbeknown to the religious leaders, they were playing right into a plan that was devised by the Godhead before this world was created. 

We are told in Revelation 13:8 that it was from the foundation of the world that it was determined that the Lord Jesus would pay the penalty for man's sin. God is omniscient which means He knows everything. That does not mean He makes all things happen as they do. He allowed man to sin. Could He have prevented it? Absolutely, but if He had, we would all be robots with no will of our own. And, without a will, there is no choice. And, without choice, there is no love.

Before God laid the foundations of the world, He already knew that man would rebel against Him and inaugurate sin. Sin is the suspicion that God is not good. As a result man was condemned in his sinfulness. There was no hope to be found. God had to do something. So, He prepared a plan of salvation, a way for us to be reconciled back to Him through someone in His inner circle.

Shockingly, someone from another inner circle offered his services to betray the Lord Jesus. In context, Mark contrasts Mary’s devotion with the desire of Judas to make a little money. This was prophesied in Zechariah 11:12-13. It was not determined that Judas would do it, but we were told that the Lord Jesus would be betrayed for the amount of a common slave. 

What a contrast. Mary used her money to honor the Lord Jesus while Judas used the Lord Jesus to get some money. Mary anointed the Lord Jesus for His burial while the religious leaders and Judas arranged for His burial. The Lord Jesus recognized Mary for favoring Him over the poor while Judas seemed to favor the poor over the anointing of the Lord Jesus. Again, what a contrast.

In v.11 of today's passage we read, "They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over."

The religious leaders were delighted to learn of that which motivated Judas to betray God: greed. Interestingly, the name "Judas" is a form of Judah which means "thank you." He didn't live up to His name did he? Judas' family name was Iscariot which reveals he was from the village of Kerioth, 23 miles south of Jerusalem. Judas was the only non-Galilean among the twelve apostles. 

After Judas learned that the Lord Jesus was not going to set up His Millennial kingdom on earth, he was quick to look for the best way to hand over the Lamb of God to the religious leaders for money. According to Matthew 26:15, Judas agreed to betray the Lord for 30 pieces of silver. According to Exodus 21:32, 30 pieces of silver was the price of a slave. 

I find it interesting that Judas Iscariot is always mentioned last whenever there's a listing of the twelve disciples in the New Testament. When Judas bargained with the leaders of Israel for the betrayal of the Lord Jesus, they considered the cost of the death of the Lord Jesus to be that of a slave. The Lord Jesus became the slave of God in order to free slaves from sin.

When considering the real price that was placed on the Lord Jesus, it is helpful to consider Philippians 2:5-11 which reads, "Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The Lord Jesus took on the form of a slave. The Greek word “doulos” was utilized by the Apostle Paul and it literally means "slave." The significance of the 30 pieces of silver not only ties the Old Testament to the New Testament but also reveals how the Lord Jesus was willing to humble Himself and offer Himself up upon the cross, to purchase what we could never afford. He was the only who could pay the worthy price for our forgiveness in the eyes of God. For that we worship Him.