Mark Reading Plan – W14D4
Week 14 | Day 4 | Mark 14:43-72
Check out all the previous readings here.
Pray
Pause and breathe for a minute. Then ask God to open your eyes and your ears to his Word.
Bible Reading (read these verses three times slowly)
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.
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
“Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” Then everyone deserted him and fled.
A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 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.
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. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
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?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
“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.”
The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 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.
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by.When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 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.”
He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
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.
Reflection & Questions
The coming of the Messiah had been long prophesied, long hoped for and prayed for. He would be God’s anointed King, come to fix this broken world. Not in a million years would anyone imagine that when he came he would be treated like Jesus is in today’s passage. We read how he was betrayed with a kiss, abandoned by his disciples, lied about, spit at, struck while blindfolded, and beaten. The one who had designed friendship was left by his friends at the time he needed them most. The one who had spoken life into being, was falsely accused with blatant lies. The one who had created hands, was beaten by them. The one who had spit in mud and healed a blind man, is blindfolded, spit at and punched.
Is this our Messiah? “I am,” said Jesus. This is our Messiah, willingly, humbly, allowing himself to be abandoned, lied about and tortured for us. No one would have expected Messiah to be treated this way, but no one realized this is how it had to be. And no one knew the incredible extent that He loves us. He is our Servant-King, willing to suffer so that we might be with him forever.
Pray
Thank Jesus for what he willingly went through for you. If you are struggling with abandonment, being lied about or treated unfairly, talk to Jesus about it – he knows what it is like.
Worship Song
You could use this song to worship Jesus today:
Bible Reading
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.
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
“Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” Then everyone deserted him and fled.
A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 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.
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. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
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?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
“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.”
The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 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.
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by.When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 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.”
He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
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.
Reflection and Questions
The coming of the Messiah, the one who God promised would come to save the world, had been long prophesied, long hoped for and prayed for. He would come to fix this broken world. Not in a million years would anyone imagine that when he came he would be treated like Jesus is in today’s passage. We read how he was betrayed with a kiss, left by his disciples, lied about, spit at, hit while blindfolded, and beaten. The one who had created friendship was left by his friends at the time he needed them most. The one who had spoken life into creation, was falsely accused with lies. The one who had created hands, was beaten by them. The one who had spit in mud and healed a blind man, is blindfolded, spit at and punched.
Is this our Messiah? Our King? “I am,” said Jesus. This is our Messiah, willingly, humbly, allowing himself to be abandoned, lied about and in pain for us. No one would have expected the Messiah to be treated this way, but no one realized this is how it had to be. And no one knew just how much that He loves us. He is our Servant-King, willing to suffer so that we can be with him forever.
Prayer
Pray and thank Jesus for loving us enough to go through the cross for us.
Bible Reading
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.
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
“Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” Then everyone deserted him and fled.
A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 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.
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. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
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?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
“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.”
The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 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.
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by.When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 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.”
He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
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.
Devo Focus
“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.” Vs. 62
Devo
When you picture what Jesus went through on his way to the cross, it’s difficult not to be emotionally moved by it. This isn’t your best friend suffering for you, this isn’t one of your parents suffering for you; if it was anyone you cared about, your heart would be devastated and broken. But this is Jesus – your Creator, your King, and He bore it all for you. The coming of the Messiah had been long prophesied, long hoped for and prayed for. He would be God’s anointed King, come to fix this broken world. Not in a million years would anyone imagine that when he came he would be treated like Jesus is in today’s passage. We read how he was betrayed with a kiss, abandoned by his disciples, lied about, spit at, struck while blindfolded, and beaten. The one who had designed friendship was left by his friends at the time he needed them most. The one who had spoken life into being, was falsely accused with blatant lies. The one who had created hands, was beaten by them. The one who had spit in mud and healed a blind man, is blindfolded, spit at and punched. Is this our Messiah? “I am,” said Jesus. This is our Messiah, willingly, humbly, allowing himself to be abandoned, lied about and tortured for us. No one would have expected Messiah to be treated this way, but no one realized this is how it had to be. And no one knew the incredible extent that He loves us. He is our Servant-King, willing to suffer so that we might be with him forever.
Prayer
Thank Jesus for what he willingly went through for you. If you are struggling with abandonment, being lied about or treated unfairly, talk to Jesus about it – he knows what it is like.
