Mark 14:26-31

Passage

The Passover ended with a hymn.  Jesus led His disciples out to the Mount of Olives.  Jesus tells His disciples that they will all fall away.  They will fall because it is prophesied to happen.  Jesus will be struck, and His sheep will scatter.  Jesus also tells the disciples that He will be raised and afterward go to Galilee.  Peter refutes Jesus’ claim.  Peter says that He would not fall away.  Yet Jesus knows the truth.  Jesus tells Peter that even he will deny Jesus three times prior to the cock crowing twice.  Peter reasserted that he would die with Jesus before he would deny Him.  The rest of the disciples made the same assertion.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus will be struck.  The sheep will scatter.  It will look like the end.  It is humanity’s darkest hour.  The death blow will be given to the savior of the world.  It will feel like evil has triumphed.  That’s why the sheep will scatter.

Can you imagine how the disciples felt hearing these words?  Can you imagine hearing what seems like Jesus telling them that everything they’ve worked for in the last three years is coming to an end?  How can the phrase “it’s always darkest before the dawn” speak truth into this story?

Second Thought:

Jesus promises to rise again.  Jesus promises that the note of death will not be the end.  There shall be life after death for Him.  The darkest hour will not be the last hour.  Whether we have dark hours in our life is of little importance.  We will have them.  It is only natural.  What is important is that the darkest hour will not be the last hour.  Even in our life, for those who follow Christ our darkest hour will not be our last hour.

What will be our last hour?  How can this reality spread light and hope upon life?  Who can you tell about this truth today?  Who needs to hear this today?

Third Thought:

Oh, the arrogance of humanity.  We think we are so strong.  We think we are unshakeable.  Yet when the time comes, we are all interested in saving our own skin.  We make huge incredible promises to God regarding our faith.  Yet when we are in a pinch, we think of ourselves.  It’s just human nature.  I can only imagine how much Jesus’ heart broke that even here and now Peter and the rest of the disciples weren’t willing to humble themselves and submit to God’s truth.  They asserted their own agenda of determined faithfulness rather than submitting to God’s truth of knowing their humanity.

Why are human beings so stubborn?  Why would it be so hard for Peter and the rest of the disciples to recognize they would want to save their own necks?  When push comes to shove, why do we really struggle with submission, identity, and obedience to God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 14: 32-36