19 July 2020 (am) – Mark 14:43-52
 | Andy Bruins preaching from Mark on Sunday 19th July 2020. |
Mark 14:43-52 Hated, Betrayed and deserted
A mob made up of hundreds of armed men, soldiers and temple guard, comes for Jesus in the darkness of the night. They are acting on behalf of the Sanhedrin and they are directed to Jesus by Judas, the traitor.
Judas has agreed to hand over Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, the going rate for a slave! It is hard to understand how he could have fallen so low, becoming an instrument of Satan himself.
But even his faithful disciples now also desert Him as they realise that Jesus is going to go willingly with the soldiers. And so the man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, is left utterly alone as He now faces the horrors of the cross.
Summary: Even the best of us are weak and prone to fall. But sin, left un-dealt with and unconfessed can eat away at our character and give Satan a foothold in our lives.
Q What do we know about Judas? Were there any warning signs leading up to his betrayal?
Q What privileges did Judas have as a disciple of Jesus? What does this tell us about the reasons that people fall away?
Q How might we guard our hearts against falling away from Christ?
