Mark 14 reminds me of the moment of realization after we have caused someone else pain. It can be a look, or a sound; or a new understanding. Intentional, or not, from that instant on, we have the choice to repent, or retreat. Today’s chapter is about that choice. We begin two days before Passover with Jesus at the home of Simon the Leper, “A woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume… She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head”. This was an act of worship, yet one of the disciples objected, “Why this waste of perfume?” Think of all the good they could have done with the money. Please note the reaction of Jesus, “She has done a beautiful thing… The poor you will always have with you… But you will not always have Me”. Sometimes we get so busy serving and working that we miss the people right in front of us. How differently would we react if we knew it was the last time we would see someone? Jesus said she was preparing His body for burial. After this exchange, “Judas Iscariot… went to the chief priests to betray Jesus”. Perhaps money for the poor was not the real reason for his anger over the perfume. “They…promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand Him over”.
The Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread are interconnected Festivals. The Matzah bread is made without yeast, to remember the original exodus from Egypt. “On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread… it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb”. The disciples made preparations for the Passover Meal. When evening came, Jesus arrived with the twelve. “While they were reclining at the table eating, He said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me’”. Note that no one looked at Judas with suspicion, but rather, one by one each asked if it was them. Perhaps each of them had also been tempted? In the midst of this time of self-inspection, the meal was concluded by fully revealing the meaning of the symbols given to Moses. First, the middle matzah which had been broken wrapped in linen and hidden, was retrieved, “Take it; this is My body”. It was the symbol of the resurrection promise. Next He took the 3rd cup of wine, the “Cup of Redemption” and revealed its full meaning, “This is My blood of thenew covenant, which is poured out for many”. This is a plain statement that the once and for all salvation of mankind was at hand. And note that He will not drink the 4th cup, the “Cup of Completion” until we are united together in Heaven.
The rest of the chapter focuses on Peter. He boldly boasted he would never deny Jesus, but Jesus already knew, “tonight—before the rooster crows twiceyou yourself will disown Me three times”. While praying, Pete fell asleep, “Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour?” And finally, after the arrest, “Peter followed Him at a distance” listening to the false testimony and watching the reaction after Jesus was asked, “Are you the Messiah?” Jesus said, “I am”. Peter watched as they “began to spit at Him; they blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists” while mocking Him and condemning Him to death. Here was Peter’s spotlight moment, “one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself”, she said, “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus”. Peter denied knowing Jesus, and went outside. After the third time Peter was associated with Jesus, “He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about’”. “Immediately the rooster crowed the second time”, and with that, Peter “broke down and wept”. So what is the difference between Judas and Peter? Peter repented, while Judas retreated by himself. The five hardest words in the English language are, “I’m sorry, please forgive me”. My friend, is it time to reconcile?