Mark 14
Mark 14:25. His association with Israel is now ended, is broken by death, and now He is seated in glory on Jehovah’s throne until the Father makes His enemies His footstool. Then He will come forth rejoicing over Israel in a new way in the Kingdom of God.
Mark 14:26. “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.” Psalm 115 to 118 were sometimes used on this occasion, but we might see in their singing that redemption joy rises over present sorrow.
Mark 14:27-28. The Lord here foretells of their being offended and scattered from Him according to the Word in Zechariah 13:7. “I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered” for a time, but their association with Him will be renewed in resurrection in Galilee where He met them at the first.
Mark 14:29-31. Peter loves the Lord, and is honest in his intentions, yet does not know himself: does not know the weakness that is in him, and so much learn a lesson of humbling. A most useful one to teach him dependence on the Lord. And a lesson that brings to us the tender, compassionate love of the Savior in our times of failure. The fear of man bringeth a snare, but the Lord’s mercy is abundant toward us (Lam. 3:22).
Peter fell because he did not watch and pray that the Lord might hold him up. The Lord had said, “Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.” Peter did not believe Him vehemently asserted, “If I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee in any wise.” And so said they all. May we all take the lesson to heart.
Mark 14:32-65. They came to a place called Gethsemane. He said to His disciples, “Sit ye here, while I shall pray.” He taketh with Him Peter, James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; and saith unto them. “My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death; tarry ye here, and watch.” And He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.” What deep sorrow and anguish of soul we see here! He is not yet bearing sin, but has the anticipation of it in His soul in its depth and reality. He is in agony (Luke 22:44). His prayers and supplications are with strong crying and tears (Heb. 5:7). And what are the disciples doing? He cometh and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, “Simon, sleepest thou? Could’st not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” Again He went away and prayed the same words, and again He finds them sleeping. The third time He now says, “Sleep on now, and take your rest it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Soil of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” He is heard He has taken the cup of suffering from the Father’s hand. He will drink it on the cross.
“Himself he could not save.
Love’s stream too deeply flowed.”
Perfect servant in submission and obedience! Perfect sacrifice and Savior! Their portion now is sleep and rest, because of what He would accomplish on the cross. But now, “Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.” And immediately, while He yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Judas Iscariot betrays Him and they lay hold of Him and take Him. He does not resist, but one of them (John 18:10) drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. In another place we are told the Lord healed the wound which his failing servant had made. Here He says, “Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take Me? I was daily with you in the temple, teaching, and ye took me not: but the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” They all forsook Him, and fled. One young man followed Him, but when they laid hold of him, he left the linen cloth that was about him in their hands and fled from them naked. If in the energy of nature one follows Christ, the further he goes the more his nakedness is exposed. Jesus is led to the High Priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. They are waiting for their prey; it is a foregone conclusion that He is to be condemned to death. They try hard to get witnesses, but they can find none to agree. At last the high priest asks, “Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus confesses, “I am: and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.” Alas! they were there to condemn Him. He was there to gave His life a ransom for many. And this full unfolding of His person and glory as Son of Man, is made the occasion to carry out their diabolical intention. The high priest in mock sorrow rends his clothes, calls it blasphemy and calls on the rest who unanimously condemn Him to be guilty of death, some began to spit on Him, to cover his face and to buffet Him, and to say, “Prophesy,” and the servants did strike Him with the palms of their hands. What hearts men have – we have – against all that is of God, against God manifest in the flesh, whose goodness had been abundantly declared by His works among them – healing the sick, feeding the hungry, raising the dead, and freeing souls from sin and Satan’s power. And this is what man’s heart gives in return.
“Man’s boasting love disowns Thee;
Thine own the danger flee;
A Judas only owns Thee-
That Thou mayest captive be.
Priests that should plead for weakness
Must thine accusers be.”
Mark 14:66-72. Peter had followed Him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and sat with the servants at the fire warming himself while Jesus is being tried and is witnessing a good confession. A maid saw him and said, “Thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it, and went out into the porch and the cock crew. Again a maid saw him and told others, and again he denies it, in a little while they that stood by said, “Surely thou art one of them, for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.” But he began to curse and to swear, saying, “I know not this man of whom ye speak.” And the second time the cock crew. Just then the Lord turned and looked upon Peter (Luke 22:61). He remembered what the Lord had said, and went out and wept bitterly and much.
Poor Peter! a picture of us all, what lessons we may learn from him. When the Lord was praying, Peter was sleeping. When the Lord was yielding Himself up, Peter was fighting. When the Lord was on His trial, Peter was warming himself and then cursing and swearing that he did not know this man. Peter truly loved Him, but the flesh was weak and he had to be taught not to trust in his own strength. He would not learn it but through being allowed to fall; then the Lord’s look of love began the work of repentance and restoration in his soul.
What love and grace shine in our blessed Lord in this chapter. In the midst of His own deep exercises and suffering He feels for His disciples, sympathizing with and excusing their weakness, warning and rebuking, bearing with and rectifying Peter’s mistakes and preparing to restore him from his failure.
What encouragement for us is all this!