Scripture Reading: Mark 14:43-72
Key Verse: Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple and you did not arrest me. But the Scripture must be fulfilled. Then everyone deserted him and fled. (Mark 14:49,50).
Meditation: As we were noticing yesterday, others who were "good people” participated in the betrayal of Jesus:
The Religious People: These religious folks were not bad people. They tried to follow the religious laws very scrupulously. In the process, however, their beliefs hardened them into stiff, formal unbending personalities. On one hand, they endorsed the transcendence of God, but they had trouble with His imminence. They were comfortable with God at a distance, but when He got close to them, they crucified Him.
*Judas, one of the Twelve: Judas followed Jesus zealously. He wanted the Messiah to be powerful right now. His disenchantment with Jesus' methods led to his inordinate desire for money that led him to steal from the disciples’ purse and to betray Jesus to the soldiers.
**Peter, Leader of the Twelve: Assurance for the Christian is a wonderful attribute, but self-confidence can be very dangerous. Peter's actions show us that any vows we make in our own power will certainly be broken. When we push ourselves forward by pushing others backwards, we, too, will go back.
Thought for the Day: if we find ourselves depending on ourown wisdom or power we are in danger of betraying our faith, ultimately, of betraying our Best Friend, Jesus.
*Judas has often been blamed for "leading" Jesus to his death. But where would the story be without him. I have been guilty of blaming him as well. If we are willing to go to the symbolic meaning of the name of Judas we find that it is the Greek version of the name Judah. Judah sold Joseph for 30 pieces of silver (Genesis 37:26-28). just as Judas sold Jesus 1000 years later. But this whole scenario had been predicted from the foundations of the earth. It is illustrated in Zechariah 11.
The other part of this is money. What are we willing to do for financial gain? Have we as the church of God stopped spreading the Good News of Salvation and exchanged it for the Good News of financial freedom?
**Peter was also looking for a physical savior. He also betrayed Jesus. Peter's name is "a rock". The rock can refer to the Book of the Law - Torah or the Old Testament. If we refer to this understanding of the presence of Peter, just as he was on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mount 17: 1-13) then we can see this scene in new light as well. The law can not save us. We can try to quote the law in our times of temptation but there is nothing stopping us from acting against the words. We can go on and face the consequences of guilt and live another day in the guilt... just as Peter did (a few times).
Why did Peter stay outside by the fire? Why did he not sneak in like John? I have yet to hear any one notice the lack of Peter's presence inside the courtroom. But John was there.
I am not sure why my uncle did not include him in this situation. His name means grace. He understood what, who Jesus really was. Please go to John 18 to catch his view of the situation- be aware that his name is Grace. And that Jesus was there because of love and not because of law. John had connections as he knew the High Priest. Peter decided to take the comfort of the fire then the first hand knowledge of the activity of his Passover Lamb. Interesting...
While Yeshua (Jesus) was still speaking, Y’hudah (Judas)(one of the Twelve!) came, and with him a crowd carrying swords and clubs, from the head cohanim(priests), the Torah-teachers and the elders. 44 The betrayer had arranged to give them a signal: “The man I kiss is the one you want. Grab him, and take him away under guard.” 45 As he arrived, he went right up to Yeshua, said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 Then they laid hold of Yeshua and arrested him; 47 but one of the people standing nearby drew his sword and struck at the servant of the cohen hagadol(high priest), cutting off his ear.
48 Yeshua addressed them: “So you came out to take me with swords and clubs, the way you would the leader of a rebellion? 49 Every day I was with you in the Temple court, teaching, and you didn’t seize me then! But let the Tanakh (Scriptures) be fulfilled.” 50 And they all deserted him and ran away. 51 There was one young man who did try to follow him; but he was wearing only a nightshirt; and when they tried to seize him, 52 he slipped out of the nightshirt and ran away naked.
53 They led Yeshua to the cohen hagadol, with whom all the head cohanim,(priests) elders and Torah-teachers were assembling. 54 Kefa(Peter) followed him at a distance right into the courtyard of the cohen hagadol, where he sat down with the guards and warmed himself by the fire.
55 The head cohanim and the whole Sanhedrin tried to find evidence against Yeshua, so that they might have him put to death, but they couldn’t find any. 56 For many people gave false evidence against him, but their testimonies didn’t agree. 57 Some stood up and gave this false testimony: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this Temple made with hands; and in three days I will build another one, not made with hands.’” 59 Even so, their testimonies didn’t agree.
60 The cohen hagadol stood up in the front and asked Yeshua, “Have you nothing to say to the accusations these men are making?” 61 But he remained silent and made no reply. Again the cohen hagadol questioned him: “Are you the Mashiach, Ben-HaM’vorakh?”{the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One]?” 62 “I AM,” answered Yeshua. “Moreover, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of HaG’vurah(the Power) and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 63 At this, the cohen hagadol tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You heard him blaspheme! What is your decision?” And they all declared him guilty and subject to the death penalty.
65 Then some began spitting at him; and after blindfolding him, they started pounding him with their fists and saying to him, “Let’s see you prophesy!” And as the guards took him, they beat him too.
66 Meanwhile, Kefa was still in the courtyard below. One of the serving-girls of the cohen hagadol 67 saw Kefa warming himself, took a look at him, and said, “You were with the man from Natzeret, Yeshua!” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about!” He went outside into the entryway, and a rooster crowed. 69 The girl saw him there and started telling the bystanders, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it. A little later, the bystanders themselves said to Kefa, “You must be one of them, because you’re from the Galil.” 71 At this he began to invoke a curse on himself as he swore, “I do not know this man you are telling me about!” — 72 and immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Kefa remembered what Yeshua had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times.” And throwing himself down, he burst into tears.
Key Verse: Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple and you did not arrest me. But the Scripture must be fulfilled. Then everyone deserted him and fled. (Mark 14:49,50).
Meditation: As we were noticing yesterday, others who were "good people” participated in the betrayal of Jesus:
The Religious People: These religious folks were not bad people. They tried to follow the religious laws very scrupulously. In the process, however, their beliefs hardened them into stiff, formal unbending personalities. On one hand, they endorsed the transcendence of God, but they had trouble with His imminence. They were comfortable with God at a distance, but when He got close to them, they crucified Him.
*Judas, one of the Twelve: Judas followed Jesus zealously. He wanted the Messiah to be powerful right now. His disenchantment with Jesus' methods led to his inordinate desire for money that led him to steal from the disciples’ purse and to betray Jesus to the soldiers.
**Peter, Leader of the Twelve: Assurance for the Christian is a wonderful attribute, but self-confidence can be very dangerous. Peter's actions show us that any vows we make in our own power will certainly be broken. When we push ourselves forward by pushing others backwards, we, too, will go back.
Thought for the Day: if we find ourselves depending on ourown wisdom or power we are in danger of betraying our faith, ultimately, of betraying our Best Friend, Jesus.
*Judas has often been blamed for "leading" Jesus to his death. But where would the story be without him. I have been guilty of blaming him as well. If we are willing to go to the symbolic meaning of the name of Judas we find that it is the Greek version of the name Judah. Judah sold Joseph for 30 pieces of silver (Genesis 37:26-28). just as Judas sold Jesus 1000 years later. But this whole scenario had been predicted from the foundations of the earth. It is illustrated in Zechariah 11.
The other part of this is money. What are we willing to do for financial gain? Have we as the church of God stopped spreading the Good News of Salvation and exchanged it for the Good News of financial freedom?
**Peter was also looking for a physical savior. He also betrayed Jesus. Peter's name is "a rock". The rock can refer to the Book of the Law - Torah or the Old Testament. If we refer to this understanding of the presence of Peter, just as he was on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mount 17: 1-13) then we can see this scene in new light as well. The law can not save us. We can try to quote the law in our times of temptation but there is nothing stopping us from acting against the words. We can go on and face the consequences of guilt and live another day in the guilt... just as Peter did (a few times).
Why did Peter stay outside by the fire? Why did he not sneak in like John? I have yet to hear any one notice the lack of Peter's presence inside the courtroom. But John was there.
I am not sure why my uncle did not include him in this situation. His name means grace. He understood what, who Jesus really was. Please go to John 18 to catch his view of the situation- be aware that his name is Grace. And that Jesus was there because of love and not because of law. John had connections as he knew the High Priest. Peter decided to take the comfort of the fire then the first hand knowledge of the activity of his Passover Lamb. Interesting...
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