(v. 34) And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” Even when HIS soul is sorrowful even to death, the only thing Jesus did was to spend time in prayer and he also wanted his disciples to pray for him. He has set an example for us to pray without ceasing and showed that pray is utmost important thing for us.
The unnamed woman anointed Jesus with an expensive perfume. It shows her extravagant love towards Jesus. The response of the people around her was criticism and harsh rebuke. What was Jesus’ response?
Appreciation and recognition.
This passage helped me to reflect on my own love for Jesus.
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT NARD- “Highly prized and probably the most expensive perfume mentioned in the Bible, made from a plant whose oil was imported at some expense from INDIA.” -D.A. Carson study Bible.
Judas betrayed Jesus; Peter denied Jesus; all the disciples deserted him and fled. The biographies of Jesus’ disciples does not end here. In Acts of the Apostles and in the Church history we read the later part of their biographies. Having received the power of the Holy Spirt, they turned the world upside down. God is still counting on us!
(v. 1) …the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. Priests supposed to intercede on behalf of the people in front of God and Teachers of the law supposed to teach people not to kill as in ‘Thou shall not kill’. This reminds me that I am like these people. Doing the best in the eyes of the people and secretly doing actions that are cunning. Wicked me. Cleanse me O Lord until every bit of dirt is off me, especially my self-righteousness which is nothing but garbage.
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives (v. 26). Wonder how Jesus sang. Was he as captivating with his singing as he was with his teaching?
Mark 14 shows the suffering of Jesus – physical, psychological, spiritual. Betrayal at the hands of his creatures in general, hands of His friends in particular . I remember the greatest Protestant poets Hebert put this in the great poem – The SacrificeAll my Disciples flie; fear puts a barre
Betwixt my friends and me. They leave the starre,
That brought the wise men of the East
Was ever grief like mine?
God suffering with humans for humans by humans
Will of God!
-(v36) Jesus fell to the ground and prayed “Abba, Father, Take this cup from me. Yet, not what I will, but what you will”.
-As for me, this is the only prayer that was unanswered to Jesus. He knew for sure that it is not the will of His Father. But, still He asked because He knew the kind of bloodiest death He is going to go through. His soul was overwhelmed with the sorrow to the point of death (v34).
-There are times where our prayers are unanswered too. That’s because what we asked is not the will of God!
Jesus didn’t ask His deciples to pray for Him. He asked them to pray for themselves. 38 நீங்கள் சோதனைக் -குட்படாதபடிக்கு விழித்திருந்து ஜெபம்பண்ணுங்கள்.
Peter failed in the test because he didn’t pray. He relied on his own abilities. It proves a point, whether it is small or big, we could fail if we do not put our faith on Him. In other words, failures help us to get alerted and turn back to Him. Many successful persons in this world loose the ability to see God. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus!
