[B]ut [Peter] said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

Mark 14:26-52

[B]ut [Peter] said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same. Mark 14:31

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is per the commentary, the first division of the text from Mark 14:26-52 - vv26-31.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv26-31: (1) God in the text: God joins the disciples in worship - singing a Him (v26); God knows the disciples will fall prey to fear and upon Jesus' arrest will deny their association with Him for their own protection; Jesus shares a prophecy of not just His death, but also His resurrection - see also Luke 24:1-9 where the disciples see the fulfillment of this prophecy; (2) people in the text: the disciples worship with Jesus (v26); Peter and the disciples "emphatically" deny (v31) that they will betray Jesus - this is arrogance because it effectively means that they are without sin because all sin is a betrayal to Jesus;   (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: we should see how Jesus is faithful and all of His promises (including prophecies) will come true and we can take comfort in how He promises us eternal life in Heaven with Him.  We should avoid arrogance and not claim to be without sin (1 John 1:8).  

Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and the first (of three) division: 

• The title of this chapter of the commentary covering this text is "The King Who Suffers Alone," and the main idea for the entirety of the text (vv26-52) is "Jesus is the righteous King who endured betrayal and shame for the sake of sinners."
• "[Jesus] also will suffer at the betrayal of His friends who fail Him in His hour of need (14:37,40-41), sell Him out (vv44-45), abandon Him (v50), and deny Him (vv66-72)." 
• "The suffering of this great King is multifaceted: personal, physical, mental, and most of all, spiritual. Jesus saw His loving Father’s hand in it all. He trusted Him in His most trying hour, an hour our finite human minds can never fully comprehend." 
• The title of the first division (vv26-31) per the commentary is "The King Would Be Abandoned and Left Alone."
• See Zechariah 13:7 for how Jesus refers to the OT for how scriptures will be fulfilled in how the disciples will scatter.  
• In contrast to the disciples arrogance and claims to not betray Him, Jesus shares how He will never leave or forsake us and we are encouraged to claim this promise from Hebrews 13:5. 

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, and who will never leave or forsake me - You will be with me until the end of the age.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Mark 14:26-52

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14:38

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 14:26-52, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus knows how we all sin yet He still loves us and upon confession forgives us.  He knows about how the disciples will fall away (v27) - not in the same way that Judas fell away because Judas had apparently yet to fully surrender to Jesus - yet still loves them.  Jesus feels anguish about what is about to happen to Him and He prays the same prayer at least twice that He follow God's will...knowing that the Father's will is for Him to die on the cross.  Jesus prays alone (vv34-36, 39). He instructs Peter, James and John to "watch" (v34, 38) so that they not enter into temptation.  He willingly submits to His arrest....all to follow His Father's will and to fulfill scriptures (v49).  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: We all sin and betray God with our sin...both sins of commission and omission. We all have periods where we let our guard down and allow temptation to enter our hearts.     
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We should pray as Jesus did to follow the Father's will for our lives - both to understand God's will and to follow it.  We should watch and be alert as Peter shares (1 Peter 5:8) lest Satan capture more of our heart and attention.  "[T]o stand against the schemes of the devil," we should put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). We should see Jesus in all scripture and how Jesus fulfills all of the law (Matthew 5:17). 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your Word and how You reveal Yourself to me and how You started and continue a work in me to make me more like You.  You most importantly save me and pour out mercies every day that never cease.  Thank You.  I am not deserving as I continue to have sins both of commission and omission.  Please reveal my sin to me so that I can confess and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family,  my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Mark 14:12-25

Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Mark 14:25

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is per the commentary, the third division of the text from Mark 14:12-25 - vv22-25.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv17-21: (1) God in the text: Jesus is once again alluding to his imminent crucifixion and sharing how this is done very purposely as the once for all final atonement for all the sins of humanity for all of redemptive history - see Hebrews 10:11-18. This was God's plan since the beginning and Jesus fulfills all the law and prophecies.  The disciples do not know it yet but the practice of using bread and wine to represent Christ's body and blood has not yet been instituted as Communion or the Lord's Supper - this is the first time. Jesus is also alluding to his coming resurrection and ascension to Heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father in v25.  (2) people in the text: The disciples are unwitting participants in this first instance of Communion or the Lord's Supper.  (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: We of course know that Jesus's words pointing to his death and resurrection do come to pass as Jesus is Truth and all of His promises come true - see 2 Corinthians 1:20.  We can trust Him and rest in His promises.  

 Excerpts from the commentary for the third (of three) division: 

• The title of the third division per the commentary is "Jesus Prepared a Last Supper That Was Actually a First Supper." 
• See also the others gospels account of the Last Supper and 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 and 11:17:34. 
• The Passover meal per Tim Keller (see King's Cross) was the "proper occasion for the Lord's Supper to be instituted": "It included four points at which the presider, holding a glass of wine, got up and explained the Feast’s meaning. The four cups of wine represented the four promises made by God in Exodus 6:6-7. These promises were for rescue from Egypt, for freedom from slavery, for redemption by God’s power, and for a renewed relationship [based on New Covenant] with God. The third cup came at a point when the meal was almost completely eaten." 
• We are referred to Sam Storm's thoughts (start at 5:55 mark) on how with this ritual from the Last Supper "[w]hat Jesus requested, indeed commanded, His followers and friends to do subsequent to His death is nothing short of shocking! It’s one thing to desire that your memory be preserved by your loved ones and that they continue to honor and esteem you throughout the remainder of their lives. . . . But it is altogether something else to command that your friends, family, and followers gather together regularly at a meal not only in your name but with you as the sole and exclusive focus. . . . Jesus commanded His followers, every time they broke bread together, to make Him the central point of their celebration and to recall and re-tell His life and death. Were anyone to make this request of me prior to their death, I would probably conclude that the proximity of their demise had afflicted them with delusions of grandeur and megalomania. Yet, this is precisely what Jesus commanded that each of His followers do in memory of Him!"
• "Jesus brings things to a close by refusing to drink the fourth and final cup. It is the cup of consummation and life in the promised land of God. For that cup He will wait. First, He must drink to the last drop the cup of God’s wrath and justice. Apart from it, no cup of blessing would be possible."

Indeed Jesus knew everything that was to happen, orchestrated all of it, and he did it so that we could have life to the full now and for eternity (John 3:16). We must also understand the role of communion.  Another good resource worth checking out is Sam Storms' thoughts on the Lord's Supper and Communion/The Eucharist where he uses 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 as the basis for his commentary.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves...thank You for saving me and giving me the opportunity to fellowship with You now in Spirit and for eternity in Heaven.  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?”

Mark 14:12-25

They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” Mark 14:19

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is per the commentary, the second division of the text from Mark 14:12-25 - vv17-21.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv17-21: (1) God in the text: Just as Jesus did in vv12-16, Jesus matter of factly states what is going to happen as (a) He and the disciples prepare for the Passover celebration, (b) Jesus prepares for betrayal by Judas, His arrest and crucifixion.  Jesus also warns Judas that his fate in eternal damnation will not be a pleasant one and by implication, Jesus warns us to remain in Him, Him in us (see John 15:1-11), so that we don't fall away and fall prey to the world and to Satan's influences.  (2) people in the text: the disciples are seen reclining and at ease with Jesus; as Jesus predicts His betrayal - the disciples turn sorrowful - reflecting sorrow that someone they love and follow will face harm (although they don't know what harm He will face); the disciples also seek to understand their own sin - they want to know if what betrayal they have done to Jesus.  (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: We should not betray Jesus but instead be obedient to Him - He entrusts us with time and talents to use for His glory.  We should follow God's will for our lives just as Jesus followed the will of His Father.  We should also understand the reality of falling away - eternal condemnation.  

Excerpts from the commentary's second (of three) division (vv17-21): 

• The title of the second division per the commentary is "Jesus Was Not Caught by Surprise by His Betrayal." 
• See Psalm 41:9 where scripture shares a prophecy of how Jesus was betrayed - He knew. 
• V21 is "one of the most profound and theologically significant statements in the whole Bible. He says, 'For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!'"  
• We are encouraged to see how God forgives and how Judas could have had forgiveness.  The disciples asked the right question of themselves to understand if they betrayed Jesus - to understand their own sin: "Each one of us is a Judas because every sin against Jesus is a personal act of betrayal. Yet this is where the grace of the gospel shines so bright: even those who betray this great King and glorious Savior can experience immediate and complete forgiveness through simple repentance and confession of sin (1 John 1:9). Godly repentance will grieve over the terrible thing it has done, but then it flees to Jesus who took that sin on Himself at the cross. In grace God forgives, and He provides the strength to move forward in the “family of the forgiven.” What a great family that is! If only Judas had repented of his sin."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who is full of incredible grace - forgiving sin not just once but when asked - day after day!  Amazing grace indeed!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your grace and my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

Mark 14:12-25

And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. Mark 14:16

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is per the commentary, the first division of the text from Mark 14:12-25 - vv12-16.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv12-16: (1) God in the text: we see Jesus moving forward willingly with the Father's plan to become the sacrifice needed to atone for all of the sin for all of humanity throughout redemptive history.  Annual animal sacrifices were not ultimately what God desired as He seeks our heart and our obedience - see Hebrews 10:1-18 and Psalm 40:6–8, Isaiah 1:11–15, and Jeremiah 7:21–23. This was a plan Jesus both knew about in advance and orchestrated as He is in control - of course He could have stopped His own death but He did not; (2) people in the text: We see the disciples being obedient in following Jesus' instructions for preparation for the Passover.  We also see the disciples claiming not to betray Jesus.  While it is true that only Judas betrayed Jesus to the extent that got Jesus arrested, the disciples all scattered and sought anonymity and protection upon Jesus' arrest.  (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: we should stand our ground allowing Jesus to steel and strengthen us during times of persecution - we should not hide our faith.  If we understand God's will for our lives we should follow it - regardless of the cost.  

 Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and the first (of three) division (vv12-16): 

• The title of this chapter of the commentary covering this text is "The King Prepares for His Passion," and the main idea for the entirety of the text (vv1-11) is "Jesus is both the Suffering Servant of the Lord and the Sacrificial Lamb of God, who would die for the sins of the world according to the will of God."
• The title of the first division per the commentary is "Jesus Was in Control of the Events Leading to His Death." 
• "Little did [the disciples] know that an even greater Passover was unfolding as Jesus prepared Himself to be sacrificed as our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7)."
• "The cross did not catch Him off guard. No, it was a divine appointment scheduled, as Peter would write, “before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20)."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves - You willingly laid down Your life such that I could life now to the full and life for eternity in Heaven where You are saving a place for me. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Mark 14:12-25

Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Mark 14:25

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 14:12-25, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus was a teacher - His disciples sought direction and guidance from Him - see v12. He provided guidance and direction - see v13.  Jesus knew what was soon going to happen to Him after the Last Support: His arrest and His crucifixion.  He knew and orchestrated the plan - see vv14-16.  Even the betrayal of Jesus by Judas was orchestrated and known in advance by Jesus - vv18-20.  Jesus predicts the condemnation of Judas - v21.  He provides both a prophecy of His death and a means by which to remember and "celebrate" His death and sacrifice - vv22-24. Jesus knows He is about to die but be resurrected - v25.
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: His disciples and those who follow Jesus seek direction, guidance, and wisdom from Him.  Followers of Jesus are obedient - see v16.  His followers love Him and are saddened by any prospect of His betrayal - see v17.  
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We should not betray Jesus - this is a result of one whose commitment to Him is weak or non existent. We should be confident that all of Jesus' prophecies/promises come true (2 Corinthians 1:20) about his death resurrection - they occurred just as He said it was going to be in vv22-25. We should follow the example set by the disciples to seek His guidance and direction (via prayer) and also to be obedient. We should remember Jesus' and what He did for us via communion.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves!  You willingly went to the cross - knowing and orchestrating even Your arrest - and died for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your ultimate sacrifice - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

Mark 14:1-11

Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him. Mark 14:10-11

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 14:1-11.  Excerpts from the commentary's fourth (of four) division (vv10-11):

• The title of the fourth division per the commentary is "Extravagant Acts of Love Will Be Contrasted 
   with Acts of Betrayal." 
• "Some people find Jesus useful because of what they think they can get from Him. Others find Jesus beautiful because they get Him. This woman found Jesus beautiful and gave all she had to Him. In contrast, Judas found Jesus useful and sought to get all he could in exchange for Him." 
• "Luke (22:3) and John (13:2,27) inform us that Satan moved him to betray the Lord. Still, he made a freewill choice to do so."  
• "Verse 11 is simple and tragic all at once. The leaders of the Sanhedrin were glad to hear this and promised Judas money: 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15; cf. Zechariah 11:12-13), 'the value of a slave accidentally gored to death by an ox (Exodus 21:32).  That Jesus is lightly esteemed is reflected not only in his betrayal but in the low sum agreed on by Judas and the chief priest (Carson, “Matthew,” 593).'"
• The commentary concludes by provide a table that compares Mary's act to that of Judas - see below.

 

We are prompted to see how close Judas was to Jesus but he did not fully surrender his heart to Jesus - he was still a friend of the world - see yesterday's post and the one from the day before. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves....thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You enter my heart and remain with me as long as I remain with You.  You are the vine and I am the branches and I can only bear fruit of I abide in You. Thank You Jesus for how You feed and sustain me. I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.