Mark 14:50-52

Passage

When Jesus was arrested, all of His disciples fled.  There was a young man who followed from a distance, wearing nothing but a linen cloth.  But when he was discovered, they tried to arrest him.  However, when they grabbed him he left his linen cloth and ran away naked.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

All of the disciples flee.  Every single one.  Nobody is left remaining.  Only a few hours ago they all confessed that they would die before leaving Jesus.  Then they couldn’t stay awake during prayer.  Now they are unprepared to make good on their promise.  They run.  They flee.  They abandon Jesus to save their own skin.  Through prayer, Jesus was ready to face His trial.  Because of the weak hearts of the disciples, they were not ready.

Why can human beings be so fickle?  Why are human beings prone to following their own desires and not being ready for the “big picture” events?

Second Thought:

Here in this passage we have “the streaker in the garden.”  While Matthew and Luke certainly used Mark’s Gospel when they wrote their own letters, neither Matthew nor Luke contain these verses.  What this means is that these two verses were likely of high importance to Mark but of little importance to Matthew or Luke.  Many have chosen to speculate that these verses are important because they speak about Mark himself.  I tend to agree with this understanding.  We know that Mark was a young boy at the time of Jesus and I believe he was fascinated with Jesus.  When Jesus and His disciples left the upper room, it is likely that Mark slipped out of his home to follow – which would explain why he was only wearing a linen sheet.

What does this story say about Jesus’ impact not only on the adults around Him but also on the next up-and-coming generation?  Why must we not overlook the teens and children in our midst? 

Third Thought:

Even Mark flees.  In fact, Mark chooses to go naked rather than be caught.  This seems like a silly discussion to have in the midst of such a powerful story, but it again shows us the human heart.  While not under pressure, few if any of us would voluntarily choose to go about in nakedness.  However, when under life-or-death pressure human beings would choose any option for escape – even if it meant nakedness.  We are a people who unless greatly prepared to choose otherwise we will always choose to think of ourselves and our own safety first.

How can we be prepared to do anything but think of ourselves first?  How can our propensity for thinking of ourselves be damaging to our witness for Christ?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 14: 53-59

Mark 14:43-49

Passage

While Jesus was speaking with His disciples, Judas came.  He was the one who would hand Jesus over.  Judas had brought out a crowd equipped with swords and clubs.  The religious leaders were among them.  Judas had arranged a sign for them to understand who was to be arrested.  When Judas saw Jesus, he approached Jesus, kissed him, and called him “Rabbi.”  The crowd laid their hands upon Jesus to drag Him away.  One of Jesus’ disciples drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest.  Jesus calls out and asks them if they intended to capture Him as though they were catching a robber.  Jesus points out to them that day after day He was readily found in the temple teaching.  So that the scriptures might be fulfilled, Jesus submits.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Judas comes with a crowd.  It is so easy to hate Judas.  However, I think there is a clue here that tells us that Judas was in over his head.  When Judas comes to Jesus, he calls Him “Rabbi.”  This is a word that means, “my teacher.”  It is the same word that Mary Magdalene exclaims upon seeing Jesus in the garden after the resurrection.  I believe Judas still has semi-honorable intentions – albeit heavily flawed intentions.  I believe Judas still believes that by forcing confrontation, he will make Jesus become the Messiah.  Yes, Judas is guilty.  But I believe Judas is guilty of trying to make Jesus an earthly Messiah and completely missing the boat on the fact that Jesus was so much more than that.  I consider the fact that Judas still calls Jesus “Rabbi” more evidence that Judas was wrong; but not hateful or spiteful or even antagonistic against Jesus.  He was simply tragically misguided.    I don’t believe that when Judas does this act that he thinks it will actually end in the death of His Lord.

Have you ever tried to make Jesus out to be someone He’s not?  Why do we try and impose our own understanding upon Jesus instead of letting Him impose His understanding upon us?

Second Thought:

This story is a very tense moment.  The crowd is tense when they arrest Jesus.  The disciple (John tells us it was Peter) is tense when he draws his sword and attacks the servant.  But we should not be surprised at the tension.  Whenever God does something in our life, there is always tension.  There is always tension between God and the world.  There is always tension between God’s agenda and the world’s agenda.  There is always tension between obedience to God and obedience to our own free will.  When God moves handily and mightily, tension is created.

Why are God moments often so tense?  Have you ever had a God moment that was fraught with tension?  What about your encounter with what God was doing in your life made you tense?

Third Thought:

Jesus submits.  For the sake of the scriptures, He submits.  Jesus knows what has to happen.  Jesus knows that the salvation of the world is finally coming to pass.  It will come to pass only through His submission to the will of the Father.  He does submit.

How are submission and tension related?  How does Jesus show us that submission to the will of God is the easiest way to defeat tension?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 14: 50-52

Mark 14:37-42

Passage

After praying, Jesus returns and finds His inner three (and probably the rest) sleeping.  Jesus wakes Peter and asks Peter if sleeping is really the best thing that he could be doing in the final hours they are with Jesus.  Jesus chastises Peter and tells Him to pray that he might not fall into temptation.  Again Jesus goes away.  Again the disciples fall asleep.  This happens a third time.  On this third time, Jesus tells them to not worry about it anymore.  The time has come for Jesus to be handed over into the hands of sinners.  The one who is to hand Jesus over has come among them.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The disciples are sleeping.  Already we can see the fragile humanity of the disciples cracking under pressure.  How many minutes prior to this event had they just swore to Jesus that they would not abandon Him?  Yet in His greatest hour of anguish, what are they doing?  They are sleeping!  Human beings – even the most spiritual of Jesus’ own disciples – can be so weak, fragile, and self-centered at time.  Myself included.

Why do you think the disciples slept?  Do you think the disciples really understood what was at stake here?  If you were in their shoes living the story instead of hearing about it, do you think you would have been asleep as well?

Second Thought:

The hour had come.  The time was at hand.  It was the moment for freedom to end and for the process of salvation to come.  The moment that Jesus was born to achieve was now.

What do you think about when you ponder that Jesus was born to die?  How does this realization change the stories we hear throughout the year – especially Christmas?  How does this realization impact how you live your life?

Third Thought:

We must note how this passage ends.  When the mob arrives to arrest Jesus, He does not run.  Why does He not run?  He doesn’t run because God has strengthened His resolve through His prayer.  Think ahead about what happens to Peter and the rest of His disciples.  They run.  They flee.  They scatter.  What does this passage clearly say that they did not do?  Pray.  They weren’t prepared for what the world was going to do to them.  So they ran.

How does this passage help you think about the meaning of prayer?  Are you guilty of not being prepared in your life?  How can prayer help you in that context?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 14: 43-50

Mark 14:32-36

Passage

Jesus leads His disciples to a place called Gethsemane.  Once there, He instructs His disciples to sit and to pray.  He then takes Peter, James, and John and goes a little further, where it becomes apparent that He is in distress.  He instructs Peter, James, and John to wait for Him while He goes to pray on His own on account of the weight of the situation and its effect on His spirit.  He goes a little further beyond the three and falls to the ground, praying that this time might pass from Him.  In prayer, Jesus then calls upon His Abba.  He prays that His cup might pass from Him.  He also prays that not His own will be done, but that God’s will should be done.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Once more we see the structure of Jesus’ companions.  Jesus leads His disciples into Gethsemane.  Then He separates out His inner circle and tells them to follow.  It isn’t that Jesus was playing favorites as much as these were the disciples who had been with Jesus the most.  These were the ones that had accompanied him to Jairus’ house.  These were the ones that had been with Him to see the transfiguration.  These were the disciple who would be first among the twelve to be martyred (James), the disciple who would lead the early church (Peter), and the disciple who would speak to those in persecution (John).  As Jesus faces the cross, He wants those spiritually closest to Him beside Him so that comfort as well as teaching may still occur.

Why do we want those to whom we are close to be near us during difficult times?  What comfort is brought about through shared spirituality?  What can the disciples learn from Jesus even in this moment?

Second Thought:

Jesus is in distress in the garden.  There can be no doubt that He felt human emotions as He faced what lay before Him.  He was God; He knew the coming result.  He was human; He knew the pain that would need to be endured.  In no greater story in scripture do I find these aspects of Jesus more visible that here.  Jesus’ divinity and humanity wrestle within Him in a perfect balance of God-made-man.  Rest assured, this final moment of freedom before the arrest, trial, and crucifixion was no easy moment for Jesus.

Have you ever thought about how Jesus must have wrestled?  Why is it easy to think about Jesus’ divinity in this part and ignore how hard this moment must have been for Jesus?  Why is it important that we do not overlook His humanity in the garden?

Third Thought:

Jesus asks that the cup be taken away from Him.  We do not know exactly to what Jesus is referring.  Some people think Jesus is asking to get out of the crucifixion entirely.  Others think that Jesus is pleading for mercy upon His disciples that they wouldn’t have to go through this moment.  I think instead of either of these there is one really good candidate for speculation.  In the Old Testament, the cup is often a sign of God’s wrath.  Jesus knows that by going to the cross He will be drinking God’s cup of wrath to the fullest.  God will “forsake” Him – a topic we’ll save for when we study it in Mark 15.  However, what we truly see in Jesus in this story is a man who submits.  He is obedient.  He is obedient because of His relationship with His Father.  That’s literally what Abba means.  Because Jesus knows who His Father is, He can also know what His identity is.  He knows He is the Messiah, who is come into the world.  Because He knows His identity, He also knows how to obey.  He submits to God so that the will of the Father might be done.

Have you ever read this passage with respect to Christ’s declaration of identity and how that helps Him submit to the Father?  Why is it important to you to not miss the declaration of submission Jesus makes in the garden?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 14: 37-42

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

Mark 14:22-25

Passage

As they were eating the Passover, Jesus took the bread, blessed it, gave it to them, and said, “Take, this is my body.”  He then took a cup, gave it to the disciples, and they drank from it.  Then Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”  Then Jesus informs the disciples that this would be the last time that He tastes wine until the day that He will drink it in the New Kingdom.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

This is one of the coolest stories that people who aren’t familiar with the Jewish tradition of Passover miss.  Let me explain the part about the bread.  During the Jewish Passover, there are three pieces of unleavened bread put in a basket.  As Passover begins, the middle piece of unleavened bread is broken and half of it is “hidden.”  In the middle of the Passover, this middle piece is sought out and “ransomed” back to the head of the family, usually for a pre-determined price.  It is assumed that it is during this time of the ransoming of the middle piece of bread – the Afikomen – that Jesus says, “This is my body.”  Christians might find it interesting that there are three pieces of bread – Father, Son, Holy Spirit.  Christians might also find it interesting that the middle piece – the “Son” – is broken and “buried.”  Finally, Christians should find it interesting that this middle piece of bread is ransomed.  For 1,500 years the Jews had been enacting out this ritual of remembering the sacrificial lamb.  Now it can be seen it in true life, in Jesus, not just as a ritual.  God’s planning over the millennia is incredible. 

Are you inspired by how God can make a ritual celebrated for 1,500 years point so directly to the events of Christ’s death?  Why does this inspire you?

Second Thought:

The cool things don’t stop there.  There is something significant in the symbology of the cups as well.  In a traditional Jewish Passover there are four cups.  There are the cups of sanctification, praise, redemption, and hope.  It is assumed that Jesus speaks the words over the wine during the third cup – the cup of redemption.  The third cup is that cup which immediately follows the afikomen.  This is the cup that focuses on the redemption of the Hebrew people through the sacrifice of the lamb and the blood that was shed upon the doorposts.  How cool is it that this ritual had already been celebrated and waiting for Christ through 1,500 years of tradition among the Hebrew people!

How does this add to the amazement from the prior point?  How does this point to God truly being at work in this world and not just some supreme deity that set the world in motion and then walked away to let it evolve as it chose?

Third Thought:

Jesus tells His disciples that He won’t taste again until the New Kingdom.  That is a sign that Jesus was planning on dying.  This is a comment on finality to His disciples.  Jesus isn’t planning on coming back.  At the same time, how neat it is that this wine and bread at the Passover is the last thing Jesus ate before dying!  Here is a meal that God set into planning 1,500 years prior and it is the last thing Jesus partakes of in life!  That’s incredibly symbolic!  What is the next meal that Jesus will participate in?  Jesus will participate in the feast of the Lamb, when judgment day is over and all the faithful are gathered together with God.  For me, this is even more proof of the wisdom, planning, and omniscience of God.

How would you have felt as a disciple hearing Jesus say that He isn’t planning on eating again in this lifetime?  Knowing the full story, how does it make you feel about the power of God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 14: 26-31

Mark 14:17-21

Passage

In the evening, Jesus came with the disciples to the upper room.  As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus informed His disciples that one of them was about to hand Him over to the religious leaders.  They began to be sorrowful and grew confused, each wondering if it was going to be him.  Jesus tells the disciples that indeed, one of those who were dipping their hands into the bowl that evening would hand Him over.  Jesus them reminds the disciples that the Son of Man will go out and do what has been written that must be done.  Woe to the person who hands Jesus over to the authorities.  Jesus says that it would be better for that person had he not been born.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus is aware of the betrayal, yet He continues to let it happen.  He continues to let Judas be among them.  He continues to seek relationship with Judas even after Judas has arranged to hand Him over.  That is love.  That is the true love of God on display.  Most of us would have pushed Judas away and barred him from entry to the Passover.  Most of us would have taken the opportunity to slander Judas’ name.  Jesus does not do this at all.  Jesus loves Judas in spite of what Judas has conceived in His heart.  In doing so, He challenges all of us to love the unlovable – even the ones we consider enemies.

How difficult is true godly love?  Where have you genuinely seen godly love in your life?  Where have you seen sacrificial love that cares even for the enemy?

Second Thought:

Jesus tells the disciples that what will happen must happen.  He tells them point blank that He is going to go out and this night He will fulfill scripture.  He does this because He knows that this is going to begin an incredibly difficult night for the disciples.  They need to be prepared as much as possible.  They need to understand as much as possible.  Even if they don’t get it all – which they don’t – they need to be told so that in the end they can remember.  Spiritual mentors do their best to prepare their students, especially when something difficult lies ahead on the road.

Have you experienced a mentor preparing you?  Have you had a moment in life when you wished you had a mentor to prepare you?  How difficult do you think it was for Jesus to have to prepare His disciples knowing what lay ahead of them all that evening?

Third Thought:

Jesus warns Judas.  Jesus also prepares Judas.  He tells Judas that the one who hands Him over will wish he was never born.  Mark doesn’t tell us the fate of Judas, but we know he commits suicide.  Matthew tells us that he does it after unsuccessfully trying to give back the money the religious leaders paid.  Judas does eventually wish that He was never born.

Have you ever crossed God?  How did that end up?  How does it make you feel when you do what God tells you is not good for you?  Knowing this, why do we still disobey?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 14: 22-25