What Jesus Did

In the evening Jesus arrived with the Twelve. As they were at the table eating [the Passover meal], Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me."

—Mark 14:17-18 NLT

Key Thought​

Ouch! Imagine how it hurt the followers of Jesus to hear these words! Imagine how much more it hurt Jesus to have to say these words about one of his closest friends and followers. Betrayal by a friend hurts terribly and wounds us grievously. But, when we are...

 

[To prepare for the Passover meal,] Jesus sent two of [his disciples] into Jerusalem with these instructions: "As you go into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, say to the owner, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?' He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal." So the two disciples went into the city and found...

 

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you?"

—Mark 14:12 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus is our Passover Lamb. Mark wants us to know that Jesus will go to his death in the context of the Jewish Passover and God's great deliverance of his people from Egypt. In the events that lie ahead, Jesus brings us deliverance. That deliverance, however, will...

 

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted when they heard why he had come, and they promised to give him money. So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

—Mark 14:10-11 NLT

Key Thought​

This section of Mark began (in 14:1) with the enemies of Jesus plotting his death. It now ends with one of Jesus' own close followers offering to betray him to death. How sad! Rather than...

 

[After the woman had poured expensive perfume on Jesus' head, he said,] "I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be remembered and discussed."

—Mark 14:9 NLT

Key Thought​

Some events are too precious to forget. Jesus wanted the sacrificial love shown by this woman to be wedded to the story of his Good News. They fit together. When we die, wouldn't it be great if our lives have been lived in such a way that they fit...

 

[After people said the money for the expensive perfume the woman poured on Jesus' head should have gone to the poor, he said,] "You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time."

—Mark 14:7-8 NLT

Key Thought​

So often we have people we love dearly and greatly respect but we don't praise, honor, or thank them until after they are...

 

But Jesus replied, "Leave [the woman who poured perfume on my head] alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me?"

—Mark 14:6 NLT

Key Thought​

Like Jesus does so often in his earthly ministry, he protects a vulnerable person from criticism and attack and also finds a way to affirm and bless that person. He emphasizes the good this woman has done. May we be willing to do the same for others who are generous, kind, and loving to the Lord Jesus and to other people...

 

[Talking about his second coming, Jesus continued,] "And since you don't know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!"

—Mark 13:33 NLT

Key Thought


Since we cannot know for sure the exact time of the Lord's return, our approach should be clear and without distraction. We are to stay alert and keep watch so that we are ready for the Lord's return whenever it occurs — ready with constant vigilance ... constant anticipation ... and constant moral preparedness...

 

Some of those at the table were indignant [that the woman poured the perfume over Jesus' head]. "Why waste such expensive perfume?" they asked. "It could have been sold for a year's wages and the money given to the poor!" So they scolded her harshly.

—Mark 14:4-5 NLT

Key Thought​

Isn't it sadly strange that people so often criticize the gifts others make? I'm not sure if it is jealousy, greed, or pure pettiness that makes humans so quick to be critical of other's generosity...

 

Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While [Jesus] was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head.

—Mark 14:3 NLT

Key Thought​

Mark moves us from a scene of some of the worst of human motivations against Jesus (Mark 14:1-2) to this scene — one of the most precious stories of love and appreciation for Jesus we...