Mark 14:43

Mark 14:43 says, And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. After His anguished prayer in the garden, Jesus returned to Peter, James and John and told them to arise, that the time of His betrayal was at hand. I don't believe they as yet understood what was about to happen.  If we like the three disciples have been sleeping spiritually today, we need to arise, because Jesus is being betrayed continually today.  Though the other disciples might have been sleeping, Judas was already awake and ready to betray Jesus. Sometimes, it seems that those who are up to no good are able to stay awake more easily than those who are doing God's work today.   There was a great multitude with Judas, armed with staves and swords, along with the chief priests, scribes and elders.  These were some of the same people who shortly before had been laying down palm branches to welcome Jesus, the religious leaders of the country, and even one disciple.  It was bad enough that Jesus was being betrayed, but even worse that those who should have been who identified as His people were doing so.  We need to make sure that the church, the born-again believers in the world today, is not guilty of betraying Jesus. Verse forty-four adds, And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. Judas chose a kiss, a sign of affection, to betray Jesus. Maybe he thought no one would know that he was the one who betrayed Jesus if he did so in this way, but no matter how we try to disguise it, if we betray Jesus today, someday everyone will know.  We cannot simply pretend to follow Jesus without one day realizing, as Judas soon did how wrong we have been.  Verse forty-five states, And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.  As soon as Judas got to Jesus, he wasted n time in betraying Him. Verse forty-six adds, And they laid their hands on him, and took him. The religious leaders wasted no time in arresting Jesus either.  They had been trying to do this for a long time. Verse forty-seven continues, And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  Though not named here, we know that it was Peter who cut off the ear of the priest’s servant.  Peter might not have been able to stay awake and pray with Jesus, but he was now ready to fight for Him.  We know also that Jesus told Peter to put away his sword, so if we believe that Jesus was crucified because He wasn't armed well enough, we have indeed missed the point of His life.  Jesus asked the crowd why they were so well armed, when He was going to go willingly anyway.  Verse forty-eight says, And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? When the chief priests and scribes came to arrest Jesus, He asked them why they came against Him as if He were a thief, armed with swords and staves.  What they needed to realize, as do people today, is that there is no armament that can stand against God, and people really don't have to search for Jesus, since He is already calling them to Him if they will only answer His call.  Verse forty-nine adds, I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled. Jesus reminded them that He had been in the Temple, teaching God's word, and they could have easily found Him, but that their coming this way fulfilled the Scripture.  Of course, we can never view the life of Christ as Him just playing a role, acting out the script which was already written.  If there was no free will on the part of Jesus or the people, then neither should be glorified nor condemned.  Jesus simply knew the Scripture and knew it was being fulfilled.  We also need to know the Scripture, and if we are looking for its final fulfillment, we need to simply leave it in God's hands.  Verse fifty continues, And they all forsook him, and fled. Then, we are told they all forsook Jesus.  Things were not going the way people, especially the disciples, wanted them to go, and they were afraid to be near Jesus. Verse fifty-ones states, And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:  Verse fifty-two adds, And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked. There was even a certain young man dressed only in a linen cloth that left the cloth and fled naked.  We need to pray that if the time ever comes when it is dangerous to follow Jesus that we don't flee from Him.  We cannot make bold statements as Peter did based on our own strength but must really put all our faith in Jesus and His power.  Verse fifty-three continues, And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. The chief priests, scribes, and the crowd then took Jesus to the high priest.  These were the religious leaders who were leading the arrest of Jesus.  Being religious does not help us, if we don't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Mark 14:32

Mark 14:32 says, And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. After telling the disciples that He was going to be betrayed by everyone soon, and Peter's bold claim that He would never betray Him, Jesus came to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He stopped to pray.  As Christians, in our time of temptation and distress, we should never forget to stop and pray. Verse thirty-three adds, And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy. Though all the disciples were with Him, Jesus took Peter, James and John a little farther with Him. I have to wonder how the other disciples felt about this. God does not require us all to do the same thing, but He expects us to do what He calls us to do, without envying what someone else may be called to do.  Verse thirty-four continues, And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.  Jesus had said His soul was exceedingly sorrowful, because He knew what awaited Him, and that was death on the cross for the sins of all mankind for all time. Jesus did not make an overpowering demand on the three.  He simply asked them to tarry there and watch.  After Peter's bold proclamation, all Jesus asked of him was that he stay awake and watch.  We may believe that we would never deny Jesus Christ even if faced with death because of our faith, but how often do we fail to stay awake to do God's will in the simplest of things?  Verse thirty-five states, And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.  Jesus went a little farther, fell on the ground and prayed to the Heavenly Father that if there was another way to salvation, let it be known, but there wasn't.  Verse thirty-six adds, And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.  He asked that not His will, but the will of the Heavenly Father be done, and this should always be our prayer as well, especially in trying times.  Verse thirty-seven says, And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? After Jesus left Peter, James and John behind asking them to watch and pray with Him, and He returned an hour later to find them all asleep.  As Christians, we cannot afford to be asleep spiritually, but we must be alert and in prayer that the will of God will be done in the world today, and this is really what Jesus was asking them to pray about.  Jesus singled out Peter because of his bold statement that was based on self-pride and asked him if he could not stay awake and pray for even an hour.  We may make bold statements about the fact that we would never fail in our faith in Jesus Christ, but the question may be if we will stay awake to pray for even an hour.  Jesus warned the three to watch and pray lest they should fall into temptation.   Verse thirty-eight adds, Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.  He said in spirit they were willing, but the flesh was weak.  We need to continually be in prayer today, because even though in spirit we are willing to do what God asks us to do, we too often give in to the weakness of the flesh.  Of course, if we rely on the Holy Spirit to empower us, we will never be overcome by the flesh.  Verse thirty-nine continues, And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.  Jesus went away to pray again, using the same words.  The words weren’t really what were important, but the thoughts were.  They still are today. Verse forty states, And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.  Jesus came a second time and found them asleep again, and they didn't know what to say to Him.  Jesus did not give up on them, and He will not give up on us today, even if we fail Him at times.  Verse forty-one adds, And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. When Jesus returned third time, He told them to sleep on and get their rest, because the time had come for Him to be betrayed.  I believe Jesus knew that they were going to need all their strength to get through what was about to happen.  We need to rest when we can as Christians so that we have the strength to face the challenges of life.  Of course, I don't believe that if God has called us to a particular task that we should be sleeping instead of doing what He has called us to do.   Verse forty-two continues, Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.  Jesus then told them to rise up and for them to go with Him, because the one who was going to betray Him was there.  As we go about everyday life, we need to go realizing that the Holy Spirit goes with us if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.

Mark 14:27

Mark 14:27 says, And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. After going out after sharing the Passover meal, and instituting the Lord’s Supper, Jesus warned the disciples that they would be offended by Him that night.  He said this was the fulfillment of the prophesy that the Shepherd, which referred to Jesus, would be slain, which was a reference to His coming death on the cross, and that then the sheep, which was a reference to the disciples, would be scattered. Jesus then said that after He was crucified, that this was not the end.  Verse twenty-eight adds, But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.  Jesus said He would go before them to Galilee after His resurrection, where they would once again become His faithful servants.  We as Christians should never be offended by our faith in Jesus Christ, no matter how bad things may become in the world.  Still, if we do fail to remain faithful at all times, Jesus waits with open arms to welcome us back.  Verse twenty-nine continues, But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. Peter, bold as always, said that even if everyone else was offended by Jesus, he never would be.  Peter let his self-pride take over.  His faith wasn't really in Jesus, but in himself.  Self-pride can still get us in trouble as followers of Christ today, causing us to believe that we are superior to other Christians in our faithfulness.  Verse thirty declares, And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.  Jesus quickly corrected Peter's prideful statement, telling him that before the night was over that Peter would deny Him three times.  I believe the Holy Spirit will quickly correct us on statements made out of self-pride if we will only listen to Him.  Verse thirty-one adds, But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all. Peter, however, was not willing to listen, saying vehemently, or angrily, that Jesus was wrong, and the other disciples joined him in saying this.  We may not like what the Holy Spirit, our guide since the ascension of Jesus, tells us today, but we should never be so filled with self-pride that we say He is wrong.  Also, when one person begins to boast out of self-pride, it is easy for others to join in.  We need to avoid becoming that way.  Of course, until the disciples accepted Jesus Christ for Who He really is, they were simply lost sheep.  This is still true today.

Mark 14:17

Mark 14:17 says, And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.  Verse eighteen adds, And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.  After securing the room for what would be Jesus's last meal, Jesus and His twelve disciples came together that evening to celebrate.   Jesus then told them that one of those who ate with Him would also betray Him.  I believe we often look at Judas, who was the one to betray Him as we know and ask how he could have done it after spending so much time following and listening to Jesus, but we as Christians, filled with the Holy Spirit, too often betray our belief in Him.  Jesus called Judas, even knowing he could betray Him.  I say could, because I believe the choice was always his.  If Judas had no ability to not do so, then we cannot blame him, as we as Christians can never blame God if we betray Him.  Like Judas, even knowing that we will possibly betray Him at some point in our life, Jesus still calls us and accepts us.  Verse nineteen continues, And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?  The disciples began to be sorrowful and ask Jesus if he was the one. Obviously, eleven were unsure, but one didn't need to ask.  Judas already knew.  We need to pray that our faith is not so small that we question whether or not we will be unfaithful to Jesus, but not so prideful that we say it could never happen.  Verse twenty states, And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.  Jesus said that the one who dipped with Him in the dish would be the one to betray Him.  I don't believe that Judas was the only one who had done this, but that they all had.  There was no flashing neon sign over Judas telling the other disciples that Judas was the one.  If we hear today that someone who professes to be a Christian is going to betray Jesus, we should have enough faith to know if it is us or not.  We should not expect flashing neon signs to point out who is being unfaithful to their calling to follow Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-one adds, The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.  Jesus then said that He was going on His way to be betrayed, but woe to the one who betrayed Him.  Jesus is still actively calling people to follow Him today, and there will still be everlasting woe to those who do not put their faith in Him as their Savior and Lord. Verse twenty-two says, And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.  This is when Jesus instituted what we now call the Lord’s Supper.  As they were eating, Jesus broke the bread, blessed and broke it and said it was His body.  It did not somehow become His actual body, but was only symbolic of it, as is still true today.  When we observe the Lord’s Supper, we are to remember that Jesus gave his body, or more correctly His life, for our sins.  The bread does not bring any saving power when we eat it, but we are never to eat it if we have not accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord and confessed all our sins to Him and asked for forgiveness. Verse twenty-three adds, And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.  Verse twenty-four continues, And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.  Jesus said the cup was His shed blood of the new testament, which was shed for many, or the sins of all.  Jesus then took the cup, gave thanks, blessed it, and gave it to the disciples to drink, saying it was His shed blood, but again this was only symbolic, and it did not actually become his blood.  We today drink of the cup during the observance of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Jesus's shed blood, and again we are not to do so with unresolved sin in our life.  It is then up to each individual to accept Jesus's sacrifice for their sins.   Verse twenty-five states, Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Jesus then said He would no longer drink of the fruit of the vine, not His actual blood, until He did so in the new kingdom of God, which is in Heaven.  As Christians, one day we will join Jesus Christ there, and until then we are to observe the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Him.   Verse twenty-six adds, And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. They then sang a hymn and went out to the mount of Olives. Once we have observed the Lord’s Supper, we need to go out into the world ready to do what God has called us to do.