Project 119: Mark 14:32-72
| Project 119 | Amy Hirsch
Today is Maundy Thursday. If you’re like me and didn’t grow up at MBBC or in a liturgical church, you may wonder what that means. “Maundy” comes from Latin mandatum and references the commandment that Christ gave on the night He was betrayed–to love one another just as He has loved us (John 13:34-35). In John’s gospel, Christ gave this commandment after washing the disciples’ feet. While Mark does not include this act of self-humiliating love in his gospel, I think Christ’s prayer in the garden, found in today’s reading, likewise shows us the astonishing depths of His love.
In this haunting scene, we see Jesus go out to the Garden of Gethsemane, a garden near the olive groves on the Mount of Olives. While He prays alone, the three disciples who swore they would never forsake Him fall asleep by His side. Another disciple has already made preparations to betray Christ. And there, abandoned by those He loved, we see Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, lying prostrate on the ground as He experiences the soul-crushing weight of anguish anticipating His death, pleading for the Father to allow this hour to pass from Him.
If you know the rest of the story, you know that, while Christ faced death, He was also raised to life. I think sometimes we allow that to “sanitize” the rest of the story. Even in His omniscience, even in knowing that the Father could raise Him from the dead, we see Jesus here experiencing the anguish we all feel as we look into the face of death. It’s a magnificent picture of Christ’s humanity and of His sacrificial love–that, knowing the road ahead, He chose to submit to the Father’s will. And, it’s a moment of identification. When we feel the sting and the sorrow of death, we are encouraged that we are not alone. Others may not know what to say in times of grief, just as the disciples fell asleep while on watch rather than praying–but we are comforted with the truth that Christ knows. That He knows what it means to be “sorrowful to the point of death” and to be deeply distressed. And that, because of His resurrection, we are promised that death, the last enemy, will one day be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26) and that we too will be raised to life (1 Corinthians 15:50-58).
Lord, thank You for the hope we have in the face of death, through the One who defeated death. We are grateful that You put on skin and identify with us in every sorrow. You know what it is like to grieve. You know what it is like to face death. What a testimony of Your true love for us! And because we know You, we trust that, one day, we will also know what it is like to be raised to life.
Mark 14:32-72 (ESV):
32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him and seized him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” 50 And they all left him and fled.
51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.
53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 54 And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And some stood up and bore false witness 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 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.
66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. 69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And 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 invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.