Year 2, Week 38, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 38, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Mark 14.

Today’s reading, like yesterday’s reading, records the beginnings of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. Today’s reading parallels yesterday’s reading from Matthew’s Gospel account, and it will also parallel tomorrow’s reading from Luke’s Gospel account. Today’s reading in Mark covers much of the same material as Luke and Matthew, but Mark’s chapter is longer and includes episodes that will be included in additional chapters from the other Gospels. Mark 14, slightly different from Matthew’s account, does not begin with Jesus’ words concerning His imminent death, but with a narration by Mark expressing the same notion: “It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people” (Mark 14:1-2). Mark 14 continues with the account of the woman anointing Jesus’ head with costly perfume, Judas’ resolve to betray Jesus, the meal that Jesus shared with His disciples, the prayer time in Gethsemane, and concludes with Jesus’ arrest as well as the start of the trials He faced: “Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy… And they all condemned him as deserving death” (Mark 14:61-64).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the false confidence that Peter possessed as Jesus referred to His imminent arrest and death: “And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times” (Mark 14:27-30). Peter may not have been sure about the level of commitment that the others possessed, but he was confident about himself. While Peter is recorded as specifically speaking up to voice his loyalty to Jesus in the face of His arrest, Peter was not alone in his verbal assurance to Jesus: “But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same” (Mark 14:31). Jesus declared that they would all soon fall away from Him, but they each declared they would remain loyal to the point of death. Throughout much of the time that the disciples followed Jesus, they never fully understood the import of His instructions pertaining to His arrest and crucifixion. Now on the eve of Jesus’ arrest, His disciples still do not really grasp the extreme tragedy and terror of the situation. They soon will.

Jesus’ explanation of being abandoned was rooted in words from the Prophet Zechariah: “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (Zechariah 13:7). The prophecy that comprised this portion of Zechariah included the promise of forgiveness and cleansing: “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness” (Zechariah 13:1). Jesus is fully aware of the immense suffering that He was about to experience in His abandoned state: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” (Psalm 22:1). Jesus knows that what He is about to face, He will face it without any support from His disciple. But Jesus is also fully confident that His suffering and death will not be the end of things; Jesus knows that in His being raised He will gather His people. Like a King, He will go before His people: “I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men. He who opens the breach goes up before them; they break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king passes on before them, the LORD at their head” (Micah 2:12-13).

Peter, as well as the other disciples, were so occupied with their own declarations, that they missed fully hearing the true estimation of their failings, but also the true affirmation of his return for them. Jesus’ prediction concerning Peter is specifically described beforehand: “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But it is also specifically narrated as it unfolded. There was a three step process to Peter’s denial, starting with the statement of a little girl: “And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it” (Mark 14:66-68a). The little girl spoke up again—this time to others: “And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But again he denied it” (Mark 14:69). Then others joined in the inquiry to Peter: “And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But again he denied it” (Mark 14:70b-71). And with his third denial, Jesus’ prediction proved true: “And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept” (Mark 14:72). Peter would later write down some true words that he knew of firsthand: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe