Mark 14, that's on page 1021 in the Red Bible.
Johnny's told me to give everyone a little bit of time, so I'll pause.
So starting at verse 27,
You will all fall away, Jesus told them, for it is written,
I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.
But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.
Peter declared, Even if all fall away, I will not.
I tell you the truth, Jesus answered,
Today, yes, tonight, before the cock crows twice,
you yourself will disown me three times.
But Peter insisted empathetically,
Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.
And all the others said the same.
Verse 43.
Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, appeared.
With him was a crowd of armed, with swords and clubs,
sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them.
The one I kiss is the man.
Arrest him and lead him away under guard.
Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, Rabbi, and kissed him.
The men seized Jesus and arrested him.
Then one of those standing near drew his sword
and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
Am I leading a rebellion, Jesus said,
that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?
Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts,
and you did not arrest me.
But the scriptures must be fulfilled.
Then everyone deserted him and fled.
A young man wearing nothing but a linen garment was following Jesus.
When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
They took Jesus to the high priest,
and all the chief priests, elders, and teachers of the law came together.
Peter followed him at a distance,
right into the courtyard of the high priest.
There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin
were looking for the evidence against Jesus
so that they could put him to death,
but they did not find any.
Many testified falsely against him,
but their statements did not agree.
Then someone stood up and gave this false testimony against him.
We heard him say,
I will destroy this man-made temple,
and in three days will build another,
not made by man.
Yet even their testimony did not agree.
Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus,
Are you not going to answer?
What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?
But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him,
Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?
I am, said Jesus,
and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One
and coming on the clouds of heaven.
The high priest tore his clothes.
Why do we need any more witnesses? he asked.
You have heard the blasphemy.
What do you think?
They all condemned him as worthy of death.
Then some began to spit at him.
They blindfolded him,
struck him with their fists,
and said,
Prophesy.
And the guards took him and beat him.
While Peter was below in the courtyard,
one of the servant girls of the high priest came by.
When she saw Peter warming himself,
she looked closely at him.
You were also with that Nazarene Jesus,
she said,
but he denied it.
I don't know or understand what you're talking about,
he said,
and went out into the entrance.
When the servant girls saw him there,
she said again to those standing around,
This fellow is one of them.
Again he denied it.
After a little while,
those standing near said to Peter,
Surely you are one of them,
for you are a Galilean.
He began to call down curses on himself,
and he swore to them,
I don't know this man you're talking about.
Immediately the cock crows the second time.
Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him.
Before the cock crows twice,
you will disown me three times.
And he broke down and wept.
Thanks very much Lucy and Graham.
So if you keep your Bibles open there at Mark 14,
27 to 31,
and then from 43 through to verse 72.
And we're in a section of Mark's Gospel,
which has become known as the Passion,
which is really the last week,
the last few days coming up to the death of Jesus.
So with that in mind,
I want to commend to you a book
with that very same title.
It's called Passion.
So this is something I'm suggesting
to put on your Christmas list
to either buy for yourself,
if you like yourself that much,
or you can give it to somebody else.
Now here's the difference.
Yes, it's looking at the Passion
the last few days of Jesus' life,
but it's not through Mark's Gospel,
it's through Luke's Gospel.
It's just one that I read a little while ago,
found it very helpful.
Kirstie's now reading it
and also enjoying it
and finding it very helpful.
Written by Mike McKinley,
who is somebody who's a part
of the Radstock board
that Ralph serves on as well.
Very easy to read,
very helpful as it goes through
the last week of the life of Jesus
on earth before his death.
So that's the Passion.
You can get the title
and any more details afterwards.
Well, we're going to pray
and ask for God's help.
Amen.
Father, we thank you for Mark's Gospel.
We thank you for this record,
this account,
this true story
of the last few days,
the last hours
of Jesus' life
on earth.
we pray that this event
would not just be
some historical event
in the past,
but that it would be
something that speaks
to us afresh today,
changing our lives,
helping us to see
the wonder and the greatness
of who Jesus is
and how we should live
in response to him.
We pray that we may grasp
something of the Passion
of Jesus
this morning.
We pray it in Jesus' name.
Amen.
His words
were very hurtful
and they cut right
to the heart.
Look at verse 27.
You will all fall away,
Jesus told him.
How could he say that?
I mean,
we've left everything
to follow him.
Verse 31,
Peter insisted emphatically,
even if I have to die
with you,
I will never disown you.
And all the others
said the same.
Even if we have to die
with you,
we will never
disown you.
Well, within just a few hours,
those words would come back
to haunt them.
As those desperate
for Jesus' death
moved in,
look at these
die-hard disciples
now
in verse 50.
Then everyone
deserted him
and fled.
Jesus is left
standing alone,
abandoned
and rejected
by those
who called him
friend.
In fact,
they are so desperate
to get away
from Jesus.
Look at verse 51.
a young man
wearing nothing
but a linen garment
was following Jesus.
when they seized him.
He fled naked,
leaving his garment
behind.
The first streaker
ever recorded.
But it's not meant
to be funny.
This is tragic.
He would rather
suffer the shame
of being found
without his clothes on
than to be associated
as a friend
of Jesus.
You see,
we're like this
young man.
There are times
we will do
anything
to protect
our own
reputation.
We will do
whatever it takes
to avoid
being associated
with Jesus.
What if
somebody knows?
Maybe they won't
be my friend
anymore.
In fact,
we're also like
Peter.
Look at verse 54.
Brave Peter
who followed
at a distance
right into
the courtyard
of the high priest
and there
he sat
with the guards
as if to say
I'm now
one of them.
And he warmed
himself
at the fire
safe
comfortable
and distant
while Jesus
stands vulnerable
rejected
and alone.
What's
going on here?
What's happened?
Well,
through this
encounter
while everybody
else
is
faithless
Jesus
remains
faithful.
While Judas
goes to
betray him
and while
the Sanhedrin
gather
to kill
him
and while
Peter curses
and denies
him
Jesus
remains
the loyal
friend
willing
to die
providing
hope
and offering
grace.
first
Jesus
willingly
dies
for those
who
betray
him.
Look at
verse 44
Now the
betrayer
had arranged
a signal
with them
the religious
authorities
the one
that I
kiss
is
the man
arrest
him
and lead
him away
under guard.
Going at
once to
Jesus
Judas
said
Rabbi
a term
of affection
and kissed
him.
Judas
we know
was one
of the
twelve.
He spent
the last
three years
in the
intimate
company
of Jesus
eating
with him
working
with him
going on
trips
with him
learning
from him
enjoying
the
friendship.
But now
Judas
comes
and he
betrays
him
with a
kiss.
It's
like a
husband
who
takes
his
wife
to
the
very
place
that
they
got
engaged
only
to
tell
her
that
he's
leaving
her
for
another
woman.
Only
the
closest
and
intimate
of
friends
can
betray
you.
It's
painful.
It
breaks
you
and it
destroys
you.
I
wonder
how we
respond
or how
we would
respond
if a
friend
were to
do
that
to
us.
Lash
out in
our
words.
Hit
out with
our
fists.
But look
at Jesus.
Look at
him.
There is
no
retaliation.
there is
no
opposition
to
Judas
or to
those
that he
has
brought
along
with
him.
Yes,
there are
others
who are
getting
angry.
Verse 47
Then one
of those
standing
near
drew
his
sword
and
struck
the
servant
of the
high
priest
cutting
off
his
ear.
But
not
Jesus.
Verse
48
Am I
leading a
rebellion?
Said
Jesus,
that you
would
come out
with me
to me
with swords
and clubs
to capture
me.
Look,
every day
I was
with you
teaching
in the
temple
courts
and you
didn't
arrest
me.
But the
scriptures
must be
fulfilled.
Jesus
knew
all along
that this
would happen.
Jesus
has not
been taken
by surprise
at what
Judas
has done.
Remember
back to
the meal
they just
shared
together?
Chapter
14
verse
18
While
they were
reclining
at the
table
eating,
Jesus
said,
I tell
you the
truth,
one of
you
will
betray
me,
one
who is
eating
with
me.
You
see,
it's in
the
knowledge
that
those
closest
to
Jesus
will
betray
him,
that he
willingly
dies
for
them.
Jesus
doesn't
resist,
he
doesn't
fight,
he
doesn't
run
for his
life as
everybody
else
does.
He
gives
up his
life.
You
see,
it's
people
just
like
you
and
me
who
can
betray
Jesus.
Those
of us
who say,
yep,
I'm a
friend of
Jesus,
we read
our
Bibles,
we serve
in church,
we can
be teaching
or preaching,
we seek
to be
faithful year
after year
in our
walk with
him,
but then
something
happens.
Perhaps
like Judas
we become
disappointed
with Jesus.
He doesn't
do what
we expect
him to
do.
And
maybe
Jesus
doesn't
do
what
you
want
him
to
do.
We
ask
him
to
change
a
circumstance
in our
life,
we
ask
him
to
remove
it,
but
he
doesn't
and
there's
no
change.
Or
maybe
Jesus
let
something
happen
into
our
lives
that
we
don't
expect
or
we
don't
want.
We
get
sick,
we
lose
our
job,
something
goes
wrong
in
our
life,
and
we're
disappointed,
and so
we sell
him out.
We
turn our
backs
on
Jesus
in
search
of
something
else
or
someone
else,
and we
betray
him.
But in
the very
act of
betrayal,
look
at the
one who
does
not
retaliate.
Look
at the
one who
does
not
lash
out
in
anger,
who
does
not
oppose
what
the
betrayer
does
to
him.
Instead,
he
willingly
goes
to the
cross
to die
for
those
who
betray
him,
because
Jesus
is
a
faithful,
loyal
friend.
Second,
Jesus
provides
hope
for
those
who
will
kill
him.
Look
at verse
55.
The
chief
priests
and the
whole
Sanhedrin,
that was
the
religious
authorities,
they
were
looking
for
evidence
against
Jesus
so
that
they
could
put
him
to
death,
but they
didn't
find
any.
Many
testified
falsely
against
him,
but their
statements
didn't
agree.
Why
all
these
lies?
Why
is there
such
desperation
to get
rid of
Jesus?
Well,
the answer
is crystal
clear.
It comes
to us
in verse
61.
Jesus
had
remained
silent
and gave
no answer
to all
their
false
accusations.
Again,
the high
priest
asked
Jesus,
are
you
the
Christ,
the
son
of
the
blessed
one?
Jesus,
are
you
claiming
to be
God?
Are
you
claiming
to be
God?
Verse
62,
I
am,
said
Jesus.
I
am
this
one
with
universal
power.
I
am
the
one
with
supreme
authority.
I
am
God.
And
I
am
the
Messiah,
the
Christ,
the
only
one
who
can
provide
hope
for
people
like
you.
At
this
point,
for
Jesus
to
admit
that
he
is
God,
the
son
of
the
blessed
one,
is
basically
to
sign
his
death
sentence.
But
the
proof
that
Jesus
is
God
will
be
seen
by
his
resurrection
from
the
dead.
Look at
the rest
of
verse
62.
And
you
will
see
the
son
of
man,
that's
Jesus
sitting
at
the
right
hand
of
the
mighty
one
and
coming
on
the
clouds
of
heaven.
Jesus
is
saying
to
the
court
that
is
before
him,
I
will
be
killed,
you
will
kill
me,
but
I
will
rise,
I
will
conquer
death,
and
I
will
reign
victoriously,
and
I
will
establish
my
kingdom,
because
I
am
the
one
who
provides
hope
for
this
broken
world.
Of
course,
as Jesus
made clear
his identity,
look at
their response
in verse
64.
You
have heard
the
blasphemy,
what do
you think?
They
all
condemned
him as
worthy
of
death,
and
they
began
to spit
on
him,
and
blindfold
him,
and
struck
him
with
their
fists,
and
said,
prophesy,
and the
guards
took
him,
and
beat
him.
You
see,
we
might
not
be
present
at
the
trial.
We
might
not
be
the
ones
bringing
false
accusations,
but
every
one
of us
in
this
room
have
all
played
our
part,
in
wanting
to
get
rid
of
Jesus.
You
see,
we
don't
like
the
idea
that
Jesus
is
who
he
says
he
is.
We
don't
like
the
idea
that
Jesus
is
God.
Because
if
Jesus
is
God
with
all
power
and
all
authority,
then
that
means
my
life
belongs
to
him.
And
if
Jesus
is
God,
the
one
who
is
going
to
come
on
the
clouds
of
heaven,
then
I
must
listen
to
him
because
one
day
I'm
going
to
stand
before
him.
He
will
be
my
judge
and
I
will
be
answerable
to
him.
And
we
don't
like
that.
And
so
it's
much
easier
for
us
if
we
can
somehow
explain
Jesus
away
as
some
kind
of
fiction.
If
we
can
reason
that
the
gospel
of
Mark
is
not
a
true
historical
account
it's
all
just
been
made
up.
If
we
can
somehow
remove
Jesus'
Godness.
if
we
can
get
rid
of
his
divine
status
and
reduce
Jesus
to
nothing
more
than
just
an
interesting
teacher
who
lived
hundreds
of
years
ago
then
that
means
I
can
live
my
life
however
I
want.
You
see
we've
all
wanted
him
killed
so
that
we
don't
have
to
deal
with
him
and
so
that
we
don't
have
to
answer
to
him.
But
look
again
in
the
act
of
trying
to
kill
Jesus
look
at
the
one
who
dies
for
you
and
for
me
look
at
the
one
who
rises
again
the
one
who
will
conquer
death
who
breaks
free
from
the
grave
and
providing
hope
as he
comes
on
the
clouds
of
heaven
to
establish
his
eternal
kingdom
to
live
with
him
forever
and
ever
providing
hope
to
all
who
will
bow
their
knee
to
him
as
God
why
would
he
do
that
because
Jesus
is the
faithful
loyal
friend
third
Jesus
offers
grace
to
those
who
deny
him
look
at
verse
66
while
Peter
was
below
in
the
courtyard
one
of
the
servant
girls
of
the
high
priest
came
by
when
she
saw
Peter
warming
himself
she
looked
closely
at
him
you
also
were
with
that
Nazarene
Jesus
she
said
remember
Peter
who's
been
so
consistently
portrayed
as the
faithful
loyal
and true
disciple
I'll
die
for
you
Jesus
I
won't
disown
you
verse
68
but
he
denied
it
I
don't
know
or
understand
what
you're
talking
about
he
said
and
he
went
out
into
the
entrance
the
distance
the
physical
distance
between
Jesus
and
Peter
gets
greater
and
greater
signifying
his
own
relationship
with
him
and
with
every
question
and
every
accusation
in the
courtyard
comes
a
greater
denial
look at
verse
70
again
he
denied
it
and
after
a
little
while
those
standing
near
said
to
Peter
surely
you
are
one
of
them
for
you
are
a
Galilean
and
he
began
to
call
down
curses
on
himself
and
he
swore
to
them
and
I
think
Mark
has
carefully
edited
it
here
I
don't
know
this
man
that
you're
talking
about
Peter
the
strong
and
the
brave
is
nothing
but
a
weak
and
a
broken
failure
Peter
you
see
there's
something
that
draws us
into
the
story
here
with
Peter
we
don't
like
to
say
it
do
we
and
we
don't
often
like
to
admit
it
but
we
all
know
that
this
is
me
I'm
Peter
and
you're
Peter
the
promises
that
we
make
the
commitments
that
we
give
and
then
when
we
know
we
should
be
speaking
up
or
we
should
be
saying
something
we
just
keep
quiet
and
we
move
away
it
might
be
at
a
conversation
at
work
it
could
be
as
we're
socializing
with
friends
the
opportunity
arises
for
us
to
say
what
we
think
and
what
we
believe
but
then
inside
we're
thinking
but
what
about
my
reputation
what
will
people
think
of
me
I
might
lose
their
friendship
we
don't
want
to be
the
one
who's
left
standing
alone
and
so
like
Peter
we
pretend
we
don't
hear
or
we
don't
understand
what
they're
talking
about
at
times
we'll
do
anything
to
avoid
association
with
Jesus
and
you know
those
times
maybe
it's
been
through
this
past
week
but
in
the
moment
of
our
denial
look
at
Jesus
look
at
the
one
who
is
loyal
and
faithful
and
true
the
one
who
remains
steadfast
and he
offers
grace
to
sinners
like
you
and
me
jump
forward
to
chapter
16
verse
7
a
minute
this
is
after
Jesus
has
died
and
after
he
has
risen
again
from
the
dead
and
at
the
tomb
the
empty
tomb
the
angels
are
there
and
this
is
the
message
they
give
to
the
women
to
go
and
tell
the
others
just
look
at
the
beginning
of
verse
7
of
chapter
16
but
go
tell
his
disciples
and
who
and
Peter
don't
forget
to
tell
Peter
Jesus
the
risen
Jesus
needed
to
meet
with
Peter
Jesus
knew
his
denial
Jesus
knew
all
about
his
sin
Jesus
saw
his
guilt
and
he
saw
his
shame
and
so
as
the
risen
saviour
he
goes
to
meet
Peter
to
offer
him
the
grace
of
forgiveness
while
everyone
else
is
faithless
Jesus
remains
faithful
as
we
betray
him
as
we
kill
him
and
as
we
deny
him
Jesus
remains
the
loyal
friend
willing
to
die
providing
hope
and
offering
grace
but you
know
what
there's
only
one
person
in
this
encounter
with
Jesus
who
knows
him
as
the
loyal
friend
there's
only
one
person
who
knows
him
as
the
loyal
friend
it's
Peter
who
came
in
repentance
look
back at
chapter
14
verse
72
chapter
14
verse
72
immediately
the
cock
crowed
the
second
time
and
Peter
remembered
the
words
Jesus
had
spoken
to
him
before
the
cock
crows
twice
you
will
disown
me
three
times
and
he
broke
down
and
wept
as
Peter
remembered
the
words
of
Jesus
so
Peter
repents
for
his
sin
and
if
we
are
to
know
Jesus
as
our
loyal
friend
the
faithful
one
who
does
not
give
up
if
we
are
to
know
him
personally
and
intimately
then
we
must
repent
as
Peter
did
he
broke
down
and
he
wept
literally
he
threw
himself
on
the
ground
and
he
cried
he
sees
his
sin
but
more
than
that
he's
admitting
to
his
sin
these
are
tears
not
of
self
pity
but
these
are
cries
for
a
saviour
and
that's
the
difference
between
remorse
and
repentance
remorse
is just
being
sorry
because
you've
been
found
out
and
you
feel
bad
about
yourself
repentance
is to
own
what
you
have
done
and
to
seek
forgiveness
so as
we look
at
Peter
on
the
ground
weeping
and
as
we
by the
Holy
Spirit
are
confronted
with
our
own
sin
don't
run
away
and
hide
learn
to
fall
on
your
knees
and
repent
and
as
you
do
you
will
see
Jesus
the
loyal
and
faithful
friend
who
went
to
the
cross
for
you
who
took
your
very
acts
of
betrayal
and
denial
and
was
killed
in
your
place
for
you
and
look
at
the
one
who
rose
from
the
grave
and
who
is
one
day
going
to
come
again
on
the
clouds
of
heaven
providing
hope
the
eternal
kingdom
of
God
for
people
like
you
and
me
and
be
amazed
be
amazed
at the
one
who
now
stands
with
all
power
and
supreme
authority
and
offers
his
grace
enough
to
cover
every
one
of our
sins
Jesus
is
our
faithful
friend
he
does
not
give
up
and
he
will
remain
loyal
let's
pray
father
there's
a
side
of us
that
wants
to
crawl
away
and
hide
and
yet
there's
another
side
that
wants
us
to
rejoice
and
celebrate
the
faithfulness
of
Jesus
and
so
in our
own
minds
we do
crawl
out of
that
dark
corner
no
longer
hiding
no
longer
sitting
in our
guilt
and shame
but
coming
to
our
faithful
friend
Jesus
receiving
forgiveness
receiving
hope
and
receiving
grace
thank
you
Jesus
for
your
amazing
love
towards
people
like
us
and
may
this
change
us
so
that
we
will
go
on
as
Peter
did
following
you
and
serving
you
and
living
for
you
may
you
pour
out
your
grace
upon
us
every
day
to
be
the
people
you
call
us
to
be
we
pray
this
in
Jesus
name
Amen
to
love
and
if
to