As Jesus arrived in Bethany, the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were approaching. In the back streets of Jerusalem, the religious leaders guarded their secret plans to arrest and kill Jesus. The time drew near for Jesus to go into the heart of Jerusalem, but for now, he rested at the house of Simon the Leper.
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Mark 14:3
Although her name is not specifically mentioned in the Gospel of Mark, John identifies the woman as Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. She had so much to be thankful for and her deep love of Jesus motivated the pouring of the perfume. Mary was rebuked by some of those present and Jesus swiftly rebuked them in return.
9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
Mark 14:9
Judas watched from the sidelines, frustrated that this Messiah was not the one he expected. Now was the time to make his move as he quietly left the room and approached the chief priests ready to betray Jesus.
Just a couple of days later, on the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, Jesus gathered with his disciples for supper. He predicted the betrayal of one of his disciples and, as you would expect, they began to speculate about who it would be. One thing they were certain about, it wouldn’t be them.
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Mark 14:22-24
At the end of the meal, they sang a hymn together. Many scholars suggest that the song would have been Psalm 118. With words of thanksgiving in their hearts, they made their way to the Mount of Olives.
The time spent in the Garden of Gethsemane was not the disciples' finest hour. Jesus had already predicted Peter’s denial and the betrayal of Judas. Troubled by all that was to come, he asked his closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, to sit with him while he prayed.
Instead, they slept soundly.
In this passage, Jesus is described as deeply distressed and yet they continued to sleep rather than grant his one request. Three times he returned to the sleeping disciples, urging them to stay awake with him.
41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Mark 14:41-42
Something to think about…
Jesus told Peter, “Watch and pray” because “the spirit is willing, but the body is weak” (v.38).
How do these words apply to you?
How will the Gethsemane story change the way you pray this week?
Questions are taken from the Serendipity Bible.
For today’s reading you will need to stop the clip at 5 minutes 23 seconds.
Kay Moorby
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