June 21, 2016

THE BETRAYER, THE KING, THE LORD, THE ANOINTER, THE DISCIPLES, SINCERELY THE LAST SUPPER CLUB

Mark 14:1–25

Mackenzie Campbell
Tuesday's Devo

June 21, 2016

Tuesday's Devo

June 21, 2016

Central Truth

In this passage, Jesus stands up for a woman who anointed him; Judas plans to betray Jesus; and during the last supper, Jesus reveals to the disciples that someone among them will betray Him. 

Key Verse | Mark 14:9

"And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her." (Mark 14:9)

Mark 14:1–25

The Plot to Kill Jesus

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.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 1 14:3 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii 2 14:5 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

Judas to Betray Jesus

10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

The Passover with the Disciples

12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Institution of the Lord's Supper

22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the 3 14:24 Some manuscripts insert new covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Footnotes

[1] 14:3 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
[2] 14:5 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
[3] 14:24 Some manuscripts insert new

Dive Deeper | Mark 14:1–25

In this passage, the Lord has taught me there will be times when we will be shamed for our faith or looked down upon by peers for believing what we do. We're also going to be tempted to deny our faith. Even through these times, we must keep the Lord in our heart so that when we're put in a situation like this, we can know the truth and be confident that one day the Lord will reward us when we go to heaven.

After Jesus reveals to the disciples that someone will betray him, Judas ends up selling out the Lord. It just goes to show that even though we have a strong relationship with Jesus, it can be so easy to fall into temptation and take the easy way out or deny our beliefs.

But the good news is that Jesus remains faithful even when we struggle. And we can have confidence that if we abide in Him and persevere in our walk with Him, it will change our lives now and eternally.

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever been looked down upon because of your faith? How did/would you react in this situation?

2. Why do you think the woman used her ointment on Jesus instead of saving it for someone poor?      

3. How would you react if you knew one of your friends was going to betray you right before you were going to be sacrificed for them?