G No Ordinary Man Walking With the Servant Savior Mark 14:43-72 Inductive Women s Bible Fellowship Lesson 19 ethsemane. The night was clear and cold. So was the purpose of the torchcarrying band of Roman soldiers and Temple guards. Armed with swords and clubs they came led by Judas, instigated by Satan, but sovereignly allowed by God. Jesus went often to Gethsemane, an enclosed grove of olive trees nestled into the Mount of Olives. Our Lord made it a place of quiet prayer, but this night it became a place of inexpressible sorrow. In anguish no human can fully comprehend, Jesus drank the cup before Him in complete surrender. With treachery no person can fully disown, Judas betrayed the Lord with a kiss. Background Jesus was taken under guard from the garden back onto Jerusalem. First he was questioned by Annas, the former high priest and father-in-law of Caiaphas. Annas had been Israel s high priest from A.D. 6 to 15, when he had been deposed by Roman rulers. Then Caiaphas had been appointed high priest. According to Jewish law, the office of high priest was held for life, but the Roman government had taken over the process of appointing all political and religious leaders. The trial by the Jewish leaders had two phases. The first phase occurred during the night (recorded here in 14:53-65); then another meeting was held very early in the morning (15:1) to satisfy a law that allowed trials only during the daytime. That meeting was a mere formality held at daybreak, during which the verdict was given and Jesus was led off to the Roman procurator for sentencing. -Life Application New Testament Commentary, p. 219 (Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2001) Getting started. Find a quiet place to study. Take your Bible, your lesson and any other study tools you want to use. Begin with prayer. Take time to settle your heart, focus your thoughts and ask the Lord to help you see with clear eyes. Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your law. Psalm 119:18 NLT Mark 14:43-72 Read the passage two or three times without interruption. If possible, read from more than one Bible translation. Briefly describe in your own words what is happening. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
This text is provided for your convenience. Use this to scribble notes, write down word definitions, highlight events whatever you find useful to your own personal study. The translation used will vary from week to week. Working Text for Mark 14:43-72 New International Version (NIV) 43 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 priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard. 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, Rabbi! and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 48 Am I leading a rebellion, said Jesus, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled. 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled. 51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind. 53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. 55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. 57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 We heard him say, I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man. 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree. 60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you? 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. 2
Again the high priest asked him, Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One? 62 I am, said Jesus. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven. 63 The high priest tore his clothes. Why do we need any more witnesses? he asked. 64 You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think? They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, Prophesy! And the guards took him and beat him. 66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus, she said. 68 But he denied it. I don t know or understand what you re talking about, he said, and went out into the entryway. 69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, This fellow is one of them. 70 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean. 71 He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, I don t know this man you re talking about. 72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times. And he broke down and wept. Scripture taken from the New International Version, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Pub. All rights reserved. 3
Write down your OBSERVATIONS Read the section and record what you see. Use the first column to keep track of what you find in the Bible passage. (Who? What? When? Where?) Follow along with Mark as he tells the story. Look for clues that tell you when and where the story is taking place. Who is mentioned and what part do they play? What events are recorded? Use the second column to record information you gather from other sources. Are more details of the story recorded in another gospel? What else can you discover about the people and places mentioned? You may want to look up names and places in a Bible dictionary, map or encyclopedia. You can also use this section to jot down your own thoughts and impressions about people and events. Imagine the people, places and events you read about. Don t use your imagination to produce facts but use it to bring those biblical facts to life. Mark 14:43-52 Bible Facts and Information: My Research and Observations: 4
Mark 14:53-65 Bible Facts and Information: My Research and Observations: Mark 14:66-72 Bible Facts and Information: My Research and Observations: 5
Key Words and Phrases Key words and phrases help us understand the main point the writer wants to make. How do we recognize key words and phrases? Here are some simple things to look for. When you see a word or phrase that is repeated, you can be sure it was important to the writer in making his point. A key verse spotlights the main idea, while the surrounding verses support and add detail. You may need to read through the chapter several times before you re able to identify the key verse. If you are unfamiliar with a word or its meaning, it becomes a key word for you. Take time to learn the definition so you will understand how it is being used in the sentence. List any key words and phrases you found in Mark 14:43-72. Write the definition of the following words or phrases. Use a regular dictionary or a concordance with a Greek Dictionary if you have one. betrayer (vs. 44) forsook (vs. 50) condemned (vs. 64) denied (vs. 68,70) INTERPRETATION What does it mean? Look for a spiritual lesson. Be careful not to read into the Bible an idea that is not there. Examine each verse in light of the verses around it. To help you find a spiritual lesson, ask questions such as, Is there a command to obey? A promise to claim? A condition to that promise? Is there a warning to heed? An example to follow or avoid? State the lesson in one simple sentence. APPLICATION How does it apply to me? We don t study the Bible just to gather information we want to spiritually grow. Our heart needs to be open to change. The only way to move truth off the pages of your Bible and into your life is to put it into action. To apply a spiritual lesson, we must examine ourselves and take deliberate steps to do something with what we have learned. Ask yourself: Is this a new lesson, or does it reinforce what I already know? What does it challenge me to do? Does it point out error in my attitude or actions? What changes does it require? Think of how the lesson relates to you and what specific course of action you will take. Write your application in the form of a question to make it personal. 6
Mark 14:43-52 Lesson: Application: Mark 14:53-65 Lesson: Application: Mark 14:66-72 Lesson: Application: Summary Write a simple sentence that summarizes what the passage is about. Give a title to the chapter that will help you personally to remember it. 7
Take A Closer Look But He kept silent and answered nothing. Mark 14:61a Arrested, abandoned and accused, Jesus made no effort to counter the false charges brought against Him. Having allowed His own arrest, Jesus willingly accepted all the suffering that was to follow. He kept silent, reminds us that Jesus shameful treatment was a fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah s words. Let s compare a very personal aspect of the suffering foretold by Isaiah with Mark s account of the early hours leading up to our Lord s crucifixion. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. -Isaiah 53:3a Added to the abuse from His enemies, Jesus was betrayed by a disciple, abandoned by all of His disciples, and disowned by one of His closest friends. Each incident was a painful thrust into the heart of Christ. One of you will betray Me Judas betrayal didn t happen overnight. It was the end result of a pattern of selfish motives and dishonest living. Long before Judas sold Jesus out, he had been inwardly rejecting instruction from the One he called Teacher. Is there a warning lesson for us in Judas example? You will all fall away That night in Gethsemane, all the disciples ran away. It was a frightening situation and they fled. They thought they were prepared to defend Jesus (see Luke 22:38, 49-51) but they panicked. What played a part in their failure that night? Read Mark 14:32-40 and Luke 22:45 for some clues. How can we prepare to face frightening situations with courage? Meditate on the following scriptures, giving particular attention to instruction; then answer briefly, in your own words. Joshua 1:8-9 Proverbs 3:5-6 Isaiah 41:10 8
you will deny Me three times. Peter succumbed to the same fear and pressure the other disciples faced, but that night his sin was magnified by pride. By nature, Peter was the kind of person who didn t hesitate to say or do what he thought always. His passionate devotion to Jesus, coupled with his dogged self-confidence, blinded Peter to the possibility that he could fail the Lord so miserably. But the words of Jesus, so adamantly rejected by Peter, proved painfully true. Is there a warning lesson for us in Peter s example? Peter, who once questioned the Lord on the limits of forgiveness (see Matthew 18:21-22), found himself broken, humbled, desperate to know the Lord could still love one such as he. His own faith had failed, but Jesus remained faithful to Peter. Some days later, standing on the shore with his risen Lord, the boastful spirit was gone and a deep sense of God s grace was taking hold. Peter was forgiven, restored and spent the rest of his life strengthening believers in their faith. Wise advice comes from a heart of experience. Peter s lessons, forged in the fire of his own life, are passed down to us. What advice does Peter have for you? Make it personal and practical. 1 Peter 5:6-9 2 Peter 1:5-10 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows...he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5 Let the power of those words sink in, making them personal for every care and concern of your life today. Though His own followers caused (and still cause) Him pain, Jesus suffered it willingly, for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). We are that joy! Will you let go of anything you have been clinging to in self-reliance and firmly take hold of His strengthening grace? Tell Him so. 9
Something to Think About... Finally, let us leave the passage with a deep sense of our Lord s ability to sympathize with His believing people. If there is one trial greater than another, it is the trial of being disappointed in those we love. It is a bitter cup, which all true Christians have frequently to drink. Ministers fail them. Relations fail them. Friends fail them. O ne cistern after another proves to be broken, and to hold no water. But let them take comfort in the thought that there is one unfailing Friend, namely Jesus, who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses and has tasted all our sorrows. Jesus knows what it is to see friends and disciples fail Him in the time of need. Yet He bore it patiently, and loved them despite everything. He is never tired of forgiving. Let us try to be the same. - J.C. Ryle - Mark: Expository Thoughts on the Gospels God s Word Bearing Fruit For you personally, what is the most important lesson from this chapter? How will you put what you have learned into practice? 10
Message Notes: Prayer Requests: 2006 Leah Case, All Rights Reserved 11