Year ago, a private investigator was hired to track down and retrieve stolen funds from a robber who fled into Mexico. The investigator needed a Spanish interpreter and hired the first interpreter he found.
After many days, he captured the bandit and, through the interpreter, asked him, “Where did you hide the money?” In Spanish, the thief replied, “What money? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
With that, the frustrated investigator drew his pistol, pointed it at the suspect, and said to the interpreter, “Tell him that if he doesn’t tell me where the money is, I will shoot him where he stands.”
Upon receiving this message, the robber said to the interpreter, “Señor, I have hidden the money in a coffee can, under the fourth floorboard, in the second-floor men’s room of the Palacio Hotel on Via Del Rio in La Paz.”
“What did he say?” the investigator asked the interpreter.
“Señor,” said the interpreter as he thought for a moment, “he says he is prepared to die like a man!” (Ivan R. Misner, The World’s Best Known Marketing Secrets, Bard Press, 1994, p.41; www.PreachingToday.com)
People, who are supposed to help us, sometimes betray us.
Gethsemane is a Hebrew term that means “an oil press,” a place where oil is forced out of olives. Jesus entered His Gethsemane and you and I will inevitably enter ours. For many of us there will be more than one Gethsemane – a time when we are pressured to avoid doing what we should because we know that doing right will cost us dearly and hurt us deeply.
The Gospel of Mark was written during the 1st Century under Roman rule. Those who trusted in Jesus Christ found that their friends and some of their family members betrayed them to the Roman authorities. Many lost their jobs, several were arrested, and notable numbers of them died horrible deaths.
From this passage we can learn about Godly responses when we feel betrayed and deserted or how to go on living for Jesus after being unfaithful to God.
Mark wrote to encourage those 1st Century Christians and us by how Jesus’ was betrayed.
Mark 14:43-45 “And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.” As soon as He had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.”
The type of kiss that Judas used was unto a close friend. The same word is used of Mary who anointed Jesus’ feet and “kissed” them continually (Luke 7:38, 45). It’s also used of the father who saw his prodigal son returning home from a far off. Luke 15 records that, he ran to him and “kissed” him (Luke 15:20). This type of kiss was an expression of devotion and love, but Judas used it for a sign of treachery and betrayal.
Mark 14:46 “Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him.”
The crowd came with the swords and clubs, the crowd, which John’s gospel identifies as “a band of soldiers”, arrested Jesus (John 18:3).
Mark 14:47 “And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.”
The gospel of John 18:10 listed that it was Simon Peter that drew the sword.
Then it’s recorded in Luke 21:51 that, Jesus restored the man’s ear. Now, we need to recall how Jesus warned the disciples of the temptation that would come and they were to watch and pray, but they slept.
Warren Wiersbe said, “Peter used the wrong weapon, at the wrong time, for the wrong purpose, with the wrong motive.” Peter was fighting a spiritual battle with physical weapons. He had failed to pray, so then he resorted to the sword in his hand.
Mark 14:48-49 “Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? “I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”
In verses 48 and 49, Jesus uncovers the shameful way they arrest Him. They needed to privately and secretly arrest Jesus for they knew they had no cause to arrest Him. But it is important to remember that this happened so that God’s Word would be fulfilled. Jesus’ shameful arrest and betrayal were all a part of God’s plan. (see Isaiah 53:3)
“All God’s plan” is an important phrase for you and me to recognize, especially when facing a Gethsemane moment. Because God is not surprised by what happens.
When we find ourselves in a Gethsemane moment…we need to TRUST IN GOD’S PLAN.
Depend on the fact that “God’ got this” and it’s all under control.
Another reason we should be faithful during a Gethsemane moment is that the Bible tells us the end of the story. SPOILER ALERT!! The followers of Christ win in the end! We come out on top in a place where all the enemies of Christ are vanquished. Also in the end, all suffering, death, and pain will be eliminated. We are reunited with our loved ones, and we get to spend eternity with Jesus!
In the grand story of God working out His plan, we know that all will be fulfilled just as God said it would. We just need to trust in His plan along the way. And if we do, we might enjoy the “journey” a whole lot more.
A study done through the University of California, San Diego, suggested that spoilers don’t spoil stories. Instead, contrary to popular opinion, they might even enhance our enjoyment of a story. The study ran three experiments based on 12 short stories. Each version of the story was read by at least 30 people. Surprisingly, the researchers found that the study participants preferred the “spoiled” versions of the suspenseful stories. For example, in one case, participants were told before reading the story that a condemned man’s daring escape is all just a fantasy before the noose snaps around his neck. That spoiler alert helped them enjoy the story.
One of the researchers had an interesting theory about why people liked getting a spoiler alert. He said, “It could be that once you know how [the story] turns out… you’re more comfortable processing the information and you can focus on a deeper understanding of the story.” (ScienceDaily, “Spoiler Alert: Stories Are Not Spoiled by ‘Spoilers,'” ScienceDaily.com, 8-11-11; www.PreachingToday.com)
Hum, maybe that’s what the Bible is about, we know the rest of the story, so along the way, we shouldn’t have to worry or be distressed. When life takes an unexpected turn, we must trust in God’s plan. Believe that God will fulfill His Word.
Depend on it! And…Don’t fail in our Gethsemane moments like Jesus’ disciples.
Mark 14:50-52 “Then they all forsook Him and fled. Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.”
Mark is the only Gospel which records the account of one of Jesus’ followers, a young man, running away naked. Many Bible scholars believe it was John-Mark himself, the writer of this gospel.
It’s embarrassing and shameful! However, that’s a word picture that the apostle Mark wanted us to remember about the disciples running away from Jesus. It was desertion, because they lacked the faith and courage to follow through on their testimony. Just a few hours earlier, they had emphatically declared that they would stay by Jesus no matter what (verse 31). Now, they are running away fully exposed in shame.
The lesson we need to pick up from this is that when a Gethsemane moment arrives that’s not the time to turn away from Jesus.
Mark 14:53-56 “And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.”
The Mosaic Law required agreement in the independent testimony of at least two witnesses to condemn a man to death.
Mark 14:57-59 Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’ “But not even then did their testimony agree.”
Jesus did make such a claim (John 2:19), but he was talking about the “temple” of His body. Only these witnesses twist Jesus’ words to say He was talking about destroying a place of worship, which according to Josephus, was a capital offense in the ancient world (Josephus the Antiquities of the Jews 10. 6. 2). But even their testimonies do not agree, so the high priest entices an answer from Jesus for these accusations.
Mark 14:60-62 “And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Jesus made it very clear that He is indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, with all power and authority given to Him.
Mark 14:63-64 “Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? “You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.”
They condemned Him to die, because blasphemy was a capital offense. For Jesus had claimed rights and powers belonging exclusively to God.
Talk about a Gethsemane moment, this still is a final decision each person has to make. It’s either that Jesus is who He claimed to be, God in the flesh, or He is a liar/blasphemer.
There are some people that say Jesus was a great teacher but that still makes Him a liar!” Since He claimed to be God, He is either the Lord or a liar. The religious leaders in His day decided that Jesus was a Blasphemer (lying about God), so they condemned Him to die.
Mark 14:65 “Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.”
They mock His claims to deity and personally degrade Him as a human being. They insulted Him by spitting in His face, blindfolding Him, and then striking Him. Jesus did not deserve such treatment, but they gave it to Him anyway, because they did not believe He was God.
Sometimes we operate like this in a Gethsemane moment, we might strike out at God through not believing that He has all the power to handle our tension or not believing that “God’s got this.”
Mark 14:66-68 “Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.”
This is the first crow of the rooster. Jesus had told Peter, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times” (vs.30).
Mark 14:69-72 “And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.” Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!” A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.”
Peter broke down and wept and was shamed. He had boasted so emphatically that he would die for Jesus and never deny Him (vs.31). Now here, before a “servant girl” and some “bystanders”, he denies ever knowing Jesus just as emphatically.
This was the kind of situation Mark’s original readers faced. The temptation to deny that they were followers of Christ was very real, because they could lose their lives over it.
That’s what Peter feared, but before we judge him too severely, how many times have we tried to hide the fact that we are Christians for fear of far less repercussions, for fear of losing a friend or for fear of what others might think?
Warren Wiersbe wrote: “How many times have we denied the Lord and lost opportunities to share the Gospel with others? Do we, like Peter, talk when we should listen, argue when we should obey, sleep when we should pray, and fight when we should submit?” (Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary).
We are ALL open to these things especially when faced with a Gethsemane moment. Instead of trusting that “God’s got this” we tend to fail or flee.
So what do we do about it? What do we do when we finally realize we have been faithless and deserted, denounced, or disowned Jesus? Well, look at what Peter did, he “broke down and wept” (vs.72). We need to find God’s mercy.
When we have failed to trust that “God’s got this”, we need to TRUST IN GOD’S GRACE.
We rely on His unconditional love. We depend on His unmerited favor, which can turn our shameful failures into shining trophies of His glory!
In our passage remember the unusual story of the “young man” running away naked in verses 51 and 52. Verse 52 says, “He left the linen cloth and ran away…”
The “young man” in Mark 14:51-52 could represent all of us who have so shamefully failed our Lord, but that is not the end of the story. On the cross, Jesus takes upon Himself our garment of shame and gives us His garment of glory in exchange. Jesus took the shame of our sinful failures and gives us His own perfect righteousness instead. (Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, “Who Was that Young Man”, Kindred Spirit, Winter 2013/2014, Vol.37, No.3)
In Mark 14, we see Peter’s failure, disowning the Lord before a servant girl and a handful of people. But in Acts 2, we see Peter boldly proclaiming the good news of Christ before thousands of people near that same spot!
Chuck Colson, years ago founded a ministry to prisoners called “Prison Fellowship”. He once said, “The great paradox [of my life] is how God used my life… It was not the successes, achievements, degrees, awards, honors, or cases that he won before the Supreme Court. What God used to touch the lives of literally thousands of other people is the fact that he failed and went to prison. My great defeat was the only thing in my life I didn’t succeed in.” (Chuck Colson, The Gravy Train Gospel at www.Preaching Today.com)
Praise God we will not need to succeed in our defeat! God doesn’t want us defeated. That’s the Gospel, the good news! God took our shame and turned it into great glory!
Tim Keller put it this way: “Here’s the gospel: you’re more sinful than you ever dared believe; you’re more loved than you ever dared hope.” Oh dare to hope in God’s love today!”
When we have failed to trust that “God’s got this”, we need to know that His grace has no limits.
“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23