April 26 - Great Loss

April 26 - Great Loss - Mark 14:27-52

"You will all fall away." The interpretation of that verse is that all of the remaining 11 disciples would avoid the treatment He was going to get and turn away from Him. And as soon as He said that, He promised that He would come back to gather them together again. Peter couldn't believe it. He would NEVER do that. But, Jesus told him that his would be the worst. Not once, but three times would Peter deny Jesus. (Mark 14:27-31)

Peter, James, and John ... the same three who witnessed the Transfiguration. As he walked with them deeper into the garden, Jesus became more and more distressed. He finally told them how upset He was. Can you imagine hearing those words from your friend? Your teacher? He left them and went a little further - not so far that they couldn't hear Him, but enough so that He could have a semblance of privacy. This was a time of deep pleading for Him.

Three times Peter failed to watch and pray, three times Peter denied His Lord. Stay alert when the Lord calls you. (Mark 14:32-42)

Just as Jesus aroused them the third time and told them to get up, Judas showed up with a crowd that had been incited. I can't imagine why Judas needed to identify Jesus, the Sanhedrin had been looking for ways to kill Him since He had arrived on the scene, but the tenderness of that greeting stands in stark contrast to Judas' motives.

Jesus presented no defense against the arrest. When His disciples saw that, they all deserted Him. They all turned away. Not one stayed to walk with Him to the end of His life. For 3 years, He had been trying to teach them the truth of who He was and now they were gone.

There was a young man, who followed Jesus. But, the guards tried to sieze him, probably thinking he would make a good witness. He pulled out of his clothes and fled. The only reason for this aside to be placed here is that Mark wanted his readers to know that he had been there watching the end of Jesus' ministry.