Mark 14:27-72 Jesus' Warnings

Jesus' warnings to His disciples were especially brought up by my commentary and it seemed to make a special effort to help me understand what might have happened differently had they been obeyed.

"Jesus warned the disciples that they would all forsake Him, but He then assured them that He would meet them again in Galilee, after His resurrection ... Their minds and hearts were unable to receive and retain His words ... Had they listened to His word and believed it, they would have saved themselves a great deal of anxiety, and Peter would not have denied the Lord."

"The quotation from Zechariah told the disciples what to do when the Jews arrested Jesus:  scatter! ... at the very time of His arrest, Jesus said, "Let them go their way.  In other words, 'Men get out of here!'  Peter was not supposed to follow at all.  Had he obeyed the Lord, he would not have attacked a man with his sword or denied the Lord three times."

"Our Lord's struggle in the garden can be understood only in the light of what would happen to Him on the cross.  He would be made sin for us and bear the curse of the Law ... the contemplation of being forsaken by His father ... Note that Jesus did not tell the Father what to do.  He had perfect confidence in God's will ... He yielded to the Father's will in loving surrender."

"When the high priest put Him under oath, Jesus had to reply, and He testified clearly that He was indeed the Son of God ... and the members of the council knew exactly what Jesus was saying:  He was claiming to be God come in human flesh!  This claim, of course, was blasphemy to the Jews, and they declared Him guilty and worthy of death."

"It was not the crowing of the cock that convicted Peter; it was the remembering of Christ's words.  It is always the Word that penetrates the heart and brings about true repentance ... Jesus turned and looked at Peter.  It was a look of love, to be sure, but injured love."

"How many times have we denied the Lord and lost opportunities to share the Gospel with others?"

Father, I would have done no better.  We let fear drive us and want control to get rid of the fear.  That desire for control is an idol that we try to worship instead of You.  Banish my fear and aid me in all that I do.  I love You, Father, and I love what Your Son did for me!

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford