READING

 

 

MARK 14 : 32 - 72

New International Version (NIV)

Gethsemane

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.”

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!”

Jesus Arrested

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. 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.

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

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.

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 at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.

Peter Disowns Jesus

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.

 

 

DEVOTIONAL

by

Keacha Rogers

It sounds wrong to say that these last 40 verses of Mark 14 are beautiful, but they are. Yes, they talk about Jesus’ struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, His betrayal by Judas, His arrest, ten of the disciples leaving Him, His mockery of a trial, the false witnesses that testified against Him, and finally - Peter’s scared declaration with an oath and some cussing, that he did not know Jesus. Sounds horrible, yet sometimes horrible is necessary.

Jesus had to suffer and die for us. If He hadn’t, we would be ETERNALLY separated from God with no chance at salvation. We could do good 24/7 and still not be good enough to earn what He suffered and died to give us. Sometimes, horrible is necessary, and that’s what makes it beautiful, and that’s how love is shown.

In verse 60, during the trial, the High Priest asked Jesus if He was The Messiah, the Son of the Blessed. Jesus answered, “I AM, and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of the sky” (One New Man Bible). In those few words, He declared Himself God and Savior and our coming Redeemer. The Jews saw it as blasphemy because their religious spirit would not allow them to see who Jesus really was. His answer sealed His fate, AND ours! He suffered horribly, but from that came the beautiful love story of our redemption and reconciliation with the Father. Sometimes, horrible is necessary.

Perhaps you are about to face pain and suffering, and all you need is others to pray with you, but they all appear to be asleep to your circumstances. Perhaps you are facing the end of a friendship that culminates with a kiss and a betrayal at almost the same moment. Perhaps your suffering will make others guilty by association, so instead of standing with you, they flee in every direction, even denying they know you. What do you do? Look in the mirror! In that mirror you will see the result of Jesus’s horrible times, and that should give you some hope. You! You are the result of what He suffered, and now, you are saved, whole, redeemed, reconciled, justified, blessed, filled with Holy Spirit, and seated in Heavenly places with God in Christ. Let that bring joy and peace and life to your suffering. Just like Jesus, what you go through will not only work out for your good in the end, but it will help bring other’s to freedom. Just like you were worth it for Jesus to suffer, those who you will help are worth it as well. In the end, love is the result of your horrible times. Isn’t that beautiful!

QUESTIONS:

  1. What have you had to suffer in your life so far that although horrible for you, changed the course of someone else’s life for the better?

  2. What have you seen others suffer, that allowed you to walk in love and freedom?

  3. Are you in the midst of a horrible season? Write out a declaration of victory over your circumstances, and start praying for those the Lord want’s your suffering to bless.

 

 

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