Mark 14:1–72

August 18, 2012

Thoughts from Chapter 14:

• Worship (true worship) of Jesus is more important than good works (service). Service is a by-product of worship and praise. If service is first it becomes about us. If praise is first it becomes all about Him.
• The specifics of God's directions. He gives us specific directions to follow  Mark 14:13–15 - "Go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. When he goes into a house, tell the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says: Where is my guest room in which I can eat the Passover meal with my followers?' The owner will show you a large room upstairs that is furnished and ready. Prepare the food for us there." He doesn't give us a role to play and then leave us to wander about aimlessly. When God calls—God provides.
• Some people just will not listen to God's warnings. Judas heard these words: "How terrible it will be for the person who hands the Son of Man over to be killed. It would be better for him if he had never been born." After hearing those words (Mark 14:21) Judas went out and betrayed Jesus. If we, having once known Christ, turn from His ways then we are like Judas "... because they are nailing the Son of God to a cross again and are shaming him in front of others." (Hebrews 6:6)  
• After having the Lord's Supper they sang a *hymn. I would love to know what they sang. Was it one of the Psalms? Which one?
• We are all capable of stumbling in our faith. It is not in our own strength that we can finish the race without stumbling. It is in God's strength and God's alone.  
• Friends can go with us, but ultimately we must face our trials alone. It is between us and God.
• The goal is to get to the place where you can say like Jesus said, "Do what you want, not what I want."
• It's amazing there were still people who did not know who Jesus was and therefore couldn't recognize Him. They needed Judas to betray him and point him out. How did they not know Him? Thousands gathered around Him. He taught in the temple. He was very visible. Yet some people did not know Him. Kind of like today. The Bible is readily available. News about Christ is everywhere. Yet some people choose to either discredit Him or just ignore Him.  
• Jesus didn't try to argue with those who accused Him. But when they asked Him if He was the Christ He responded, "I am."
• Jesus was condemned for speaking the truth.  
• Jesus had a purpose and He fulfilled that purpose. 

* While reading Jane's (Her Name Was Jane) KJV, I noticed a cross reference for the word "hymn" that made me curious. The cross reference? Psalm 150. Wouldn't it be awesome if what Jesus and the disciples sang after the Lord's Supper was Psalm 150? Psalm 150—The first thing Jane told me to read; a new concept of praise we now live our lives by; and a chapter (hymn) we quote often.

"Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.  Praise him for his mighty acts; praise him according to his excellent greatness.  Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals; praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." (Jane's King James Version)

What a way to end Journal 9 and begin Journal 10.  Indeed—Praise the LORD!


Next Entry: Mark 15:1–47