Letting Jesus Down (Mark 14:27-72)

"Then everyone deserted him and fled". Mark 14:50 (NIV)

Context

Mark’s Gospel was based on the eyewitness testimony of Simon Peter. Watch the video (below) for more background on the reasons it was originally written to the church in Rome.

Observation

As you read Mark 14:27-72, highlight the various ways the disciples let Jesus down during the hours of his greatest trial. Here are some that we found:

• Peter, James, and John are unable to stay awake in order to pray with Jesus before he is betrayed (Mark 14:37-41)
• An unnamed disciple (identified as Peter in John 18:10-12) tries to help Jesus through violent resistance (Mark 14:47)
• After his arrest, all of Jesus’ disciples deserted him and fled (Mark 14:50)
• Before the rooster crows twice, Peter denies Jesus three times (Mark 14:66-72)

Interpretation

Put yourself in the shoes of Peter (and the rest of the disciples):

• How do you think he felt after becoming aware of all the ways he had let Jesus down in these final hours before the cross?
• Why do you think Peter was willing to let Mark write down these stories about his failures?
• Based off of the information you gathered from today’s video, how might reading about Peter’s failures encourage Mark’s original readers?

Application

Although we desire to remain faithful to Jesus at all costs, we all, like Peter, fail to be consistently faithful. But Jesus is not surprised by this, nor does he disqualify us for our shortcomings. In fact, this is why Jesus came. This is why Jesus died.

As you prepare for Easter, spend some time reflecting on a situation in which you feel you “let Jesus down”:

• First, hold that memory before Jesus in repentance and ask for his perspective on it.
• Second, walk away confident that Jesus has forgiven you and that he has called you to continue to partner with him and his mission.