Opening Question
Why do we sometimes distrust the court system to act justly?
Introduction
Chapter 14 of Mark begins with Jewish leaders plotting to take Jesus out, and ends with Him in handcuffs and facing a court charade. But these scenes also set up the fulfillment of Jesus’ words to Peter about the denials. Jesus is mistreated but is also fulfilling the 3 predictions about His death in Chs. 8-10. Even in these difficult scenes, Jesus is only further showing His power.
Mark 14:1-2
The plot to kill Jesus again shows how fearful the leaders were of losing their power, and how precarious the position was. Publicly mistreating Jesus was religio-political suicide!
Mark 14:3-9
The home of Simon the Leper also is in Bethany, where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived. Other gospels suggest that Simon is a Pharisee, and that Mary is the one anointing Jesus. Mark does not point these things out. It has been estimated that the woman anointing Jesus brings the modern equivalent of nearly a year’s worker-wages worth of perfume, breaks the vial, and pours it all on Jesus’ head. The room would be overcome with the smell. But it was the woman’s gift-offering to Christ.
What is your most valuable possession? Would you be willing to part with it as a gift to God? Has He called you to give up something important?
Mark 14:10-11
The Pharisees now have an inside man. Judas is willing to betray Jesus for money. His role here is set off in distinct contrast with the woman who gives lavishly to Jesus. Judas’ desire for wealth means that even Jesus, his friend, is not worth preserving.
Why is Judas’ role an actual “betrayal”? Can Judas’ role ever be seen in a positive light?
Mark 14:12-25
Jesus sends his disciples to find a room for their Passover meal, what will become the last for them, as Jesus is about to be taken away. The lesson, however, does not deal much with the challenge this verse has provided Bible scholars. It says it was the day of the Passover, but Jesus dies on the Passover, the next day! The most logical explanation is that it is evening on Thursday after the sun has set, the day for the Passover meal because Jews reckoned sunset to sunset as one day.
This meal includes:
- A prediction of betrayal
- The covenant meal of blood
The two accounts are again contrasting pictures: one person will give up integrity for money and betrayal of a friend, the Other will give His life for those He loves.
What are the parameters or requirements of the new covenant/relationship? How can the Lord’s Supper be eaten today in a way that shows we remember and embrace this covenant?
Mark 14:26-42
Scenes from the Garden of Gethsemane are meant to draw us to Jesus’ aloneness. Peter will deny Jesus, the sheep will be scattered, the disciples sleep instead of interceding for and with Jesus. During this time, Jesus prays that the cup will be taken from him. He has alluded to the cup of suffering in the discipleship teachings in chs. 8-10, when the brothers ask to sit on His left and right.
Jesus wanted His friends to pray with him for an hour, quietly at night, in a secluded forest spot. Are you more likely to find fault with the disciples (as Jesus does), or to understand their weakness and sleep? Or can you understand both? Why might this be?
Mark 14:43-52
The betrayal occurs as Judas hoped it would, but Jesus ends up again as the one whose prophetic word is true. Just as He had predicted the disciples scattering, now they do. Just as He predicted the betrayal, so Judas does. He even quotes the Old Testament to show how the arrest fulfills Jewish scripture.
One of the more interesting lines in the Bible, vss. 51-52 tell of a young man fleeing naked into the night. Nothing more is said about it, but some scholars believe this was John Mark himself following at a distance, perhaps he was related to one of the disciples.
Mark 15:53-72
Peter’s three-fold denial of Jesus in the courtyard outside takes concurrently with Jesus’ trial and mistreatment by the high priest and the Sanhedrin. Each is on trial: Jesus succeeds but Peter fails. False testimony is brought against Jesus, yet he does not fight it. Peter is presented with the truth, but he denies it. The contrast could not be more stark.
How would you respond if you were accused falsely? What would be your response if you faced the kind of pressure Peter faced? Can you envision a scenario where you would be embarrassed to be friends with Jesus Christ?
Closing Comments
Events leading to the crucifixion feel inevitable in Mark, and they are meant to. Jesus has predicted them, and they must occur. Yet Jesus does nothing Himself to cause them to happen; He does not accelerate their fulfillment. Even in this, His power is seen!
