...no more contradicting God...

“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 he 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.

Jesus before the Council

53 They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled. 54 Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. 56 For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. 57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, 58 ‘We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.”’ 59 But even on this point their testimony did not agree. 60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?’ 61 But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ 62 Jesus said, 

‘I am; and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power”, and “coming with the clouds of heaven.’

63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?’ All of them condemned him as deserving death. 65 Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, ‘Prophesy!’ The guards also took him over and beat him.

Peter Denies Jesus

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 stared at him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.’ 68 But he denied it, saying, ‘I do not know or understand what you are talking about.’ And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. 69 And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, ‘This man is one of them.’ 70 But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, ‘Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.’ 71 But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, ‘I do not know this man you are talking about.’ 72 At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.

Jesus before Pilate

15 As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 2 Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ He answered him, ‘You say so.’ 3 Then the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 Pilate asked him again, ‘Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.’ 5 But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.

Pilate Hands Jesus over to Be Crucified

6 Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. 7 Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. 8 So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. 9 Then he answered them, ‘Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?’ 10 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. 12 Pilate spoke to them again, ‘Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?’ 13 They shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’ 14 Pilate asked them, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him!’ 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified” 

Mark 14:27—15:15.

“1 As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 2 Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ He answered him, ‘You say so.’ 3 Then the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 Pilate asked him again, ‘Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.’ 5 But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.

Pilate Hands Jesus over to Be Crucified

6 Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. 7 Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. 8 So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. 9 Then he answered them, ‘Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?’ 10 For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. 12 Pilate spoke to them again, ‘Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call[g] the King of the Jews?’ 13 They shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’ 14 Pilate asked them, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him!’ 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified” Mark 15:1-15.

The evening before Jesus’ final suffering and death, He shared a covenant meal with His disciples (14:17-26). During the meal, Jesus announced the presence of a traitor in their ranks. Also during the meal, He used bread and wine to symbolize His own person, given for His disciples, His lifeblood poured out in violent death to redeem the many. The contrast is a stark one: Judas is selling the Righteous One for personal gain; Jesus is giving up His life on behalf of the guilty. Mark locates these events in the evening (14:17), connecting it with the first night watch (13:35; 6:00-9:00 p.m.).

The three remaining night watches are narrated: midnight in Gethsemane (9:00-12:00); the cock crowing in the courtyard of the high priest (12:00-3:00); dawn at Pilate’s palace (3:006:00). In each of these night watches, Mark features a contrast: Jesus models faithfulness; those around Him fail in every way. Through it all, we learn the meaning of discipleship; and the meaning of “watching” throughout the night of waiting for the owner of the house to come back (13:33-37).

Yet this next section does more than present pictures of faithfulness (Jesus) and of failure (disciples, especially Peter; a mysterious naked young man; Jewish religious leaders; a Roman politician). It will also give us all glimpses of the ultimate solution to human failure. Beyond failure is forgiveness and renewal for those who turn back (repent).

The hints have begun already in the first night watch. In the evening Jesus has offered his lifeblood for the many. Now as midnight approaches, He invites the disciples to be reunited with Him again after their coming failure (14:28). As the cock crows Jesus is condemned, the innocent stands in place of the guilty, and Peter weeps the repentant tears that signal his recognition of sin (14:64, 72). At dawn the substitutionary aspect of Jesus’ death is enacted. Jesus, the innocent one, goes to His death; Barabbas, the guilty one, goes free.

Throughout this section, we can see some important contrasts. Jesus predicts accurately, the disciples predict inaccurately (14:27-31). Jesus prays, the disciples sleep (14:35-41). Jesus openly confesses truth (14:62); Judas hides deception with a kiss (14:45) and Peter with lies and oaths (14:68-71). The crowd is armed with swords and clubs (14:48); Jesus trusts God and obeys the Scriptures (14:27, 49). Jesus willingly accompanies His enemies (14:46); His followers flee into the night (14:50-52). Jesus confesses His true identity though his physical life is at stake (14:62-64); Peter denies his true identity though his salvation is at stake (14:71; 8:35). Pilate is swayed by the crowds (15:15) and the crowds are swayed by their leaders (15:11); Jesus — to the end — submits only to His Father’s will (14:36).

On the surface it is all a terrible miscarriage of justice. At a deeper level, it is a tragic miscalculation by religious leaders and politicians. They are desperate to hold on to their authority; as a result, they ultimately lose their positions, their temple, their city, and their land. At a still deeper level, God is working out redemptive purposes.

Only Jesus recognizes that with the arrival of His captors the Hour has come (14:41). The crucifixion of Jesus is more than His hour of suffering; it is the Hour of fulfillment (14:41; 13:32). At the end of this section, all the preliminary events are over. Jesus is led away to be mocked as a false king, crucified as the Jewish king, and raised up by God as King of kings.

Looking at Mark’s story of the suffering and death of Jesus I am struck by how difficult it is for you and me to live with opposites on our life, as well as in the suffering and death of Jesus: Jesus predicts everything that is to happen to Him — and accurately, while you and me, along with the disciples can only predict inaccurately (14:27-31). Jesus prays, while you and I sleep through another opportunity to pray (14:35-41). Jesus openly confesses the truth (14:62); You and I — through Judas — hide our deceptions with a kiss or with another sinful choice, once again (14:45), and Peter, like all of us,  convinces himself that all his lies and promises to God will finally work this time (14:68-71). We join the crowd who are armed with swords and clubs while we are armed with the distractions of the internet and legions of other useless excuses (14:48); and yet Jesus trusts God and obeys the Scriptures (14:27, 49). Jesus willingly accompanies His enemies (14:46); you and I join His followers and flee into the night (14:50-52). We just step away convincing ourselves once again that we have plenty of time to fix our life. Jesus, in the meantime, confesses His true identity though His physical life is at stake (14:62-64); We join Peter who denies his true identity though his salvation — and ours — is at stake (14:71; 8:35). Pilate is swayed by the crowds (15:15) and we are in the crowds who are swayed by others (15:11). Jesus — to the end — submits only to His Father’s will (14:36). To the end, we go our merry ways assuming that some day in the future we will get our lives together.

Pray today for an end to the contradictions that define our lives, once and for all!

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.