Journey through the Book of Mark

As a skilled politician, the High Priest Caiaphas knew how to manipulate a situation. During Jesus’ trial, he held back and remained silent. The accusations had all been heard, focusing on Jesus’ statements about the temple. Through it all, Jesus had remained in silent dignity. The High Priest now decides to dramatically intervene.

At Gethsemane, Jesus has just announced that the hour has come, and that the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. He has just told his disciples to get up, because his betrayer has arrived. And at that very moment, Judas arrives leading a large armed mob. 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...

Three times Jesus went to pray alone, and three times he returned. And every time, he found his disciples, who should have been watching and praying, instead sleeping and resting. And now, they were out of time. The hour had come. Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. R...

Jesus has just been bitterly disappointed to find his disciples sleeping instead of praying. This disappointment is both for their sakes, and for his, because he can barely deal with the anguish and temptation that he is facing. So now, Christ has gone away to continue praying for strength again. Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, bec...

Jesus has been praying in anguish of heart. But he hasn’t forgotten his disciples. He is worried for them, because he knows what will happen. And also, he hopes to be able to draw strength from then. So he goes back to see how they are doing, He is about to be bitterly disappointed. Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you...

We have just been told that in Gethsemane, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed to be somehow allowed to avoid what he was facing. We are told this that in the third person. But now, the very words that Jesus prayed are reported to us. In Gethsemane, we are standing on holy ground. Every word of God is pure, so let’s listen in on these words from the very heart of the Saviour. “Abba, Father,” he sa...

Having reached Gethsemane, Jesus asked his disciples to keep watch. Christ’s time of trial and suffering has just begun. Now, watch the next dramatic events unfold!  Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. – Mark 14:35. The distress that gripped our Lord was so extreme that he could no longer walk or stand. Standing was the usual Jewi...

In Jesus’ long prophecy just before the Passover meal, he had told his disciples that the most important thing that they had to do in the future was to keep watch. Now, Jesus and the disciples have reached a place called Gethsemane, and it’s no coincidence that he tells them to keep watch. They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Pet...

When Jesus tells his disciples that they will all fall away, his disciples can’t understand what he is talking about, and they are thrown into sadness and confusion. Why is it that Jesus has been saying these negative, and frankly shocking things all night? As usual, it’s Peter who speaks up. Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonig...

On the way to the Mount of Olives, Jesus told his disciples that they will all abandon him, because of what he is about to go through. He is preparing them for what will happen. However, he tells them that this won’t be the end. But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee. Mark 14:28

After the meal, it was the Jewish custom to sing a hymn. It was a joyful song of praise, celebrating the salvation of the Lord that the Passover represented. And that’s precisely what Jesus did with his disciples. When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. – Mark 14:26

Jesus has just reinterpreted the meaning of the bread and the wine of the Passover meal for his disciples, effectively inaugurating the first “communion meal” or “Lord’s supper.” And now, in a remarkable statement, he points to the reality that his death will not be the end. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of Go...

Jesus now takes the cup of wine and, as he did with the bread, he gives it new meaning for his followers. Step by step, he is teaching them what he is about to do, which is the basis of their salvation. Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. – Mark 14:23–24

The uniqueness of this Passover meal continues. It is in fact, along with the first one, the most important Passover Meal in all of history. Because now, step by step, Jesus begins to reinterpret the meaning of the Passover for his disciples. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” When he...

Jesus has just announced that one of the disciples there with him will betray him. One by one, they all denied that it could possibly be them. But in the face of a million denials, the Word of Jesus remains true and will always be fulfilled. So, Jesus repeats what he has told them.   20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just...

During the Passover meal with his disciples, Jesus makes an extraordinary announcement. For the disciples, to be openly in Jerusalem with Jesus meant that the fulfillment of all their dreams was at hand. Soon Jesus would announce himself as the promised Messiah-King, defeat his enemies, and then, when Jesus finally sat on the throne of David, they would all have their reward. But the announcement...