Mark 14:12-31. Mark continues the story of Jesus fulfilling his God designed destiny; living out his purpose.  The first thing that impressed me was the part about the room where they would have the Passover meal.  Although most people probably don’t think about it this is really a prophecy.  Jesus is telling them what will happen before it happens.  Now some people could think that it was prearranged by Jesus, but I don’t think his activities were so scheduled that he would know that at the very moment his followers would enter the city that the very man they needed to talk to would be walking by with a picture of water.  As God, looking into the future he could see that, but I don’t think it was scripted; like a movie.

The next thing that kind of stood out to me was that it says his disciples (students) went and prepared the room ahead of time.  Later when Jesus arrives “the twelve” are with him.  We need to remember that Jesus had more “disciples” than the twelve (think about all the women who were faithful followers, for starters).  When we think of this meal that Jesus is going to have, called “The Last Supper” by many, you may think of that famous painting.  Interestingly they probably were not sitting at a table like in the picture.  They probably weren’t all on one side of the table they were at, and there may have been more people there than Jesus and the Twelve.

As they are all kick back around the table Jesus brings up the fact that one of them is going to betray him.  Certainly that part of the story wasn’t prearranged by Jesus.  It’s interesting that the leaders were plotting against him in private; secretly (Mark 14:1).  In Mark 14:10-11 Judas, one of the twelve, goes off and he and the leaders plot against Jesus.  I’m sure they didn’t announce it to Jesus before hand.  In fact when Matthew tells this story Judas is specifically named as one of the people who denied that he was going to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:25).  But Jesus knew it was going to happen.

In verse 21 Jesus tells them that it would have been better if the person who was going to betray him had never been born.  He uses the word “woe” which is usually used in the Bible to indicate that God is going to punish someone.  If God forced someone to do something then I don’t think he would punish them for it.  Punishment comes from disobeying God not for obeying him.  Although God knew what was going to happen he did not force Judas and the leaders to plot against him.

Verses 22-25 describe the formal part of the “Passover” meal.  There is a lot of symbolism in the Passover celebration; a lambs bone, bitter herbs, four cups of drink, three or four crackers that are eaten at various time through out the night (one of which is hidden and later discovered and eaten, this is probably the one Jesus broke for his followers).  I wish I had time and space to describe it all here.  Maybe I will do a “Did You Know” about it sometime.  If you get a chance to do a “Passover” at church sometime you should do it to see how Jesus the Messiah was the real meaning behind the celebration.  It is clear that Jesus saw himself in that way because he tells them that two of the symbols represent his body and his blood; both representing his life which he was going to give as the payment for many (Mark 10:45).

In verses 26-31 Jesus and his followers go out to an olive grove on a hill outside of Jerusalem.  Jesus tells his followers that all of them are going to run away soon.  Peter, the big mouth of the group, is insistent that he will never run away from Jesus, even if it means dying with him.  But Jesus knows and insists right back that Peter will deny him, even giving the details of what is going to happen.

I think there is a common theme running through today’s reading, Jesus knew.  Theses events weren’t a surprise to Jesus.  But that doesn’t stop him.  How many of us would get in a car for a ride if we knew that we were going to get in an accident and be crushed or decapitated or burned to death.  Jesus was facing multiple beatings and then what many consider the worst death ever invented yet he moved forward.  The author of Hebrews told his readers that because of the joy in front of him that Jesus endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).  You see Jesus not only saw the man with the picture of water, he saw not only the betrayal by Judas, he saw not only his followers all running away and denying him, he saw not only his beatings and death, he saw a kingdom filled with people who were made right with God because of his broken body and spilled blood.  He saw not only Earth where sin was gone and there was no more crying or pain.  That was the joy before him and the cross was just a bump in the road.  Later one of his followers, a guy named Saul of Tarsus (read “Paul: Sent one to the Gentiles”) would suffer for fulfilling his God designed destiny.  In a letter to the church in Corinth he calls the trouble he had encountered while traveling around starting churches “momentary light affliction”.  That was his way of saying “it was nothing” (2 Corinthians 4:17).  Later in the letter he describes some of what had happened to him, it included trials, beatings, shipwreck, being stoned (not on drugs but having a group try to kill him by throwing lager rocks on him until he was dead) (2 Corinthians 11:22-33).  In another letter to another church, in a town called Philippi, Paul told the group that his life was about serving them and that is why he was willing to endure all the trouble he was going through, but he also said he would be happy to die, not because that meant escaping the trouble but because it meant the beginning of eternity with Jesus in Heaven (Philippians 1:20-24).

I think that for the believers in Rome this account of Jesus life would have been very encouraging.  God knows, Jesus knows, the events that are coming are no surprise to God.  Not only does he know but he cares.  Jesus gave his life in a very brutal way to fix the sin problem and make eternity in Heaven available to each of us.  Unfortunately in order to give people time to respond to his offer of eternal life God is patiently enduring all the junk that we keep doing here and now on Earth; he is allowing people time to come to him (2 Peter 3:9)  Incidentally all the time God has allowed so far also allowed you and me to be born, and to hear about Jesus, and to respond to him.  I’m glad it’s worked out that way but there is a day coming when God is going to put a stop to it all (That is what we read about a couple of days ago and what we find in the book of Revelation).  But for now God is patiently enduring the evil and he want’s us to be like him and Paul, enduring too as we tell as many people as we can about Jesus.

God I’m glad you know and I’m glad you care.  I know if I go through trouble that it is mostly because of evil in the world.  Help me have a good attitude about the trouble knowing that it is you loving patience, giving people time to come to you.  Help me help other understand your existence, your perfection, your purity, and especially you self-sacrificing love.  Help me lead other to you.  Give me endurance and help me not add to the evil in the world.  Thank you for dealing with my rebellion and disobedience.  Thank you for the assurance of eternity with you.