Get Ready
What is the most dangerous situation you can recall facing? What it physically dangerous, emotionally dangerous or spiritually dangerous? What the threat from another person? Or from other circumstances? How did you respond? How did the situation end?
The Word
1426 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.”
30 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the same.
Jesus prays in Gethsemane
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. 34 And said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” 35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” 37 He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? 38 Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.
40 And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. 41 He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”
The betrayal and arrest of Jesus
43 Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. 47 But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 48 Then Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.” 50 All of them deserted him and fled.
51 A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked. NRSV
Get into the Word
1. Where does Jesus head after dinner? What does he tell the disciples? Why does he say this? How does Peter react to this prophecy? What does Jesus tell Peter? How do the disciples respond?
2. What does Jesus do in the garden? Who does he take with him? What does he ask them to do? How does Jesus pray? What does he ask? What does he say? Is there a response to his prayer?
3. What are the disciples doing during the prayer? How does Jesus respond to this? What does he say? What does he do next? What happens this time? What happens next? What does Jesus do this time?
4. Who comes to the garden? What does this person call Jesus? What does he do? What do his followers do? What does one of the bystanders do in response? How does Jesus respond to the crowd? What does he say to them? What do the disciples do as a result?
5. What happens to one of the men following Jesus?
Get Personal
Have there been occasions when you have not “stayed with” Jesus? How did you feel when you realized the situation? How has God helped you to be a more consistent follower of Jesus?
Notes . . .
(Cross-references to Matthew and Luke are given in brackets)
14:26-31. Peter’s denial foretold — Matthew uses the same words for this incident, except the cock crows only once, [Matt 26:30-35]. Luke’s version starts with the disciples’ argument about who is the greatest, and Jesus’ response: The greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. “You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers,” and concludes with Jesus’s remark about Peter’s three denials, [Luke 22:24-34; check Mark 9:33-36 for a similar discussion]. Luke also includes reference to Isaiah: He was counted among the lawless, [53:12].
14:27. Deserters — Jesus quotes Zechariah 13:7 in describing the disciples’ response to his arrest. The Greek word is very similar to the current military meaning of “deserter.”
14:28. Raised up — Jesus keeps telling the disciples he will be resurrected and they keep focusing on the predicted arrest, trial and death.
14:32. Gethsemane — literally “oil press” – a garden near the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem.
14:32-42. Jesus prays in Gethsemane — Matthew’s report about Jesus’ praying is very similar to Mark’s, [Matt 26:36-46]. Luke says Jesus prayed at the Mount of Olives “as was his custom.” He does not mention the three disciples accompanying Jesus, but does report that, an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling on the ground, [Luke 22:39-46].
14:43-50. Jesus’s betrayal and arrest — Matthew also reports Jesus’s arrest similarly to Mark’s version, except he includes Jesus’s statement to Judas: Friend, do what you are here to do, and Jesus’s statement about violence: Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way? [Matt 26:47-56].
Luke’s version is similar to Matthew and Mark, except he reports Jesus saying to Judas, Is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man? Luke also reports that Jesus healed the servant’s ear, [Luke 22:47-53].
14:51. Young man — only Mark mentions this incident and the man is not identified.
Memory Verse
Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak, [Mark 14:38]
Next Lesson
Jesus’s trials and Peter’s denial — Mark 14-15
