In this chapter the chief priests and scribes wanted to put the Lord Jesus to death, but not on the Passover day. However, when John the Baptist saw the Lord Jesus, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” The Apostle Paul said that “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Man was not going to keep the Lord from being the Passover lamb.
The woman of Bethany must have really loved the Lord to use all that precious ointment on Him! She knew that the Lord was going to Jerusalem to die and wanted to anoint Him before it was too late. While able, are we willing to do something for the Lord Jesus? What she did would never be forgotten.
Judas Iscariot was a covetous man and this sin was the cause of his death. It is better to judge sin in our lives before it gets the mastery over us.
The disciples didn’t decide among themselves where would be a good place to keep the Passover. They asked the Lord where to go and prepare the Passover. If we are the Lord’s disciples, we should ask Him where we should “offer the sacrifice of praise to God” (Hebrews 13:1515By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)) and not decide for ourselves. After they kept the Passover, the Lord took bread and told them it was a picture of His body, which was given for them. Then He took the cup and said that the fruit of the vine was a picture of His blood, which was shed for many. The disciples must have been sad as they were told of His death, but before leaving, they sang a hymn. What an example for us! Do we sing when we are sad?
Today, self-confidence is being taught everywhere. Peter was self-confident. Do you think Peter ever thought he would deny his Lord? Let’s pray that we be preserved in humility and dependence, not trusting our own hearts, for God says, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool” (Proverbs 28:2626He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26)).
We kiss someone whom we love. Judas used this sign of affection to betray the Lord Jesus. He was completely under Satan’s control. Now that they had their prisoner, they needed to charge Him with a crime. This was hard to do, for the Lord Jesus was the only perfect man who ever lived. There were many false witnesses, but they couldn’t agree. When He said that “the Son of Man” would sit “on the right hand of power” and come “in the clouds of heaven,” they charged Him with blasphemy.
Poor Peter. First he was sleeping in the garden, and then he followed the Lord afar off. Next we find him warming himself at the enemy’s fire and, finally, denying the Lord thrice (three times). Peter wept, because he really loved the Lord. Don’t we feel badly when we do things that displease our Savior?
1. When Jesus was in Simon’s house, what did a woman pour on Jesus’ head? __________ Mark 14:___
2. When the Lord sent two of His disciples into the city to prepare the Passover, what was the man they were going to meet carrying? __________ Mark 14:___
3. What token had Judas Iscariot mentioned to the chief priests, scribes and elders by which he would point out the Lord Jesus to them? __________ Mark 14:___
4. The high priest asked the Lord Jesus, “Art thou the Christ, the __________ of the Blessed?” Mark 14:___
5. After the second time that Peter denied knowing Jesus, what did the cock do that reminded him of the Lord’s words? __________ Mark 14:___