Daily Devotions
Mark
Acts 3:16a "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know." Acts 3:16a"
Day 304 – Mark 14
“And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know.” Acts 3:16a
MANY THINGS NOT FULLY COMPREHENDED
Jesus had spoken many things which must have sounded very cryptic to His Disciples. There was the issue of the betrayer as one of the Twelve. There was the institution of the Lord’s Supper. There was also the mention of the New Covenant. Each of these things would have warranted deep study! But there was no more time. The Passover meal had come to an end. The meal concluded on a beautiful note.
“And when they had sung a hymn,
they went out to the Mount of Olives.”
Mark 14:26
What a tremendous note of triumph, to conclude the Passover meal with a hymn. What does this single mention of hymn-singing suggest?
1. Absence of despair
There wasn’t a note of despair in the least! Singing represented great trust in God!
2. Presence of God
Praise was apt! The Passover was kept in remembrance of God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery in ancient Egypt. The reality of God’s Presence must have been felt. There was no trace of fear of death at all!
ANOTHER SOLEMN WORD OF WARNING
Jesus, ever mindful of His Disciples, once again warned them of what would transpire shortly.
“Then Jesus said to them,
‘All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night,
for it is written:
‘I will strike the Shepherd
And the sheep will be scattered.’
But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.'”
MARK 14:27-28
1. All will stumble
What a thing to say to the Disciples! Taking it at face value, it would appear as if Jesus had no confidence in His disciples at all! How could He make such a statement?
2. For it is written
Was Jesus mistaken? Could He have spoken out of turn this time? Absolutely not! Jesus knew the Scriptures. In His knowledge of the prophetic Scriptures He knew that His disciples would scatter. (This prophecy was recorded in Zechariah 13:7).
3. After I have been raised
This short word ended on triumph though. Jesus spoke of His resurrection!