Mark 14:26-30
Mark 14:26 (KJB)
And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
The hymn they probably sang was the Hallel Psalms 115-118 which signified the
end of the Passover meal. Jesus Himself had sung the hymn too even though He
knew that they were going to meet the soldiers head on who were going to arrest
Him. One of the reasons that Jesus could sing the hymn with His impending
crucifixion at hand is found in Hebrews. (Heb 12:2 KJV) Looking unto Jesus
the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the
throne of God. Jesus despised or set aside the shame of the cross which
would last for but a second compared to eternity and to what it will accomplish.
It would purchase the salvation for millions and the fact that He will sit at
the right hand of the throne of God tells us that His sacrifice is sufficient to
save all He came to save and to rule throughout eternity. After they had sung
the closing hymn, they went to the Mount of Olives where the Lord Jesus would
begin the time of His suffering.
Mark 14:27 (KJB)
And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended
because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the
sheep shall be scattered.
Offended - To put a stumbling block in front of, cause to fall away
Here Jesus tells the disciples that this very night, they are going to be
offended, that is, they are going to fall away from the Lord Jesus Christ that
very night but Jesus also tells them that it is a fulfillment of Scripture and
they are not doing this on their own. (Zec 13:7 KJV) Awake, O sword, against
my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts:
smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand
upon the little ones. The sheep had to be scattered because it could never
be written that any of the disciples suffered with Him or else they would make
that disciple out to be a co-redeemer with Christ. Look at what the Roman
Catholic Institution has done with Peter making him the first pope and exalting
him to a lofty position based on stories laden with more stories. Jesus is
telling the disciples straight out that they will abandon Him temporarily
because He had to go through this alone.
Mark 14:28 (KJB)
But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
Then Jesus does not leave it there with the disciples abandoning Him. He tells
them that after He is risen from the dead that He is going to meet them in
Galilee. This was a wise move because Galilee was about 70 miles (113 km) north
of Jerusalem and it would have taken the disciples about three days of walking
to get up there and meet the Lord. This was also done to get the disciples out
of Jerusalem so the Sanhedrin would not have went after them and have them
imprisoned or killed. This verse is a great encouragement to the disciples that
even though Jesus was going to die, death had no hold on Him because He is the
way, the truth and the LIFE. Eternal life always surpasses death.
Mark 14:29 (KJB)
But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
Peter then begins to exalt himself a little by making the statement that though
all will abandon Jesus, he will never fall away and forsake the Lord Jesus. No
doubt Peter was speaking with what he believed was a sincere heart in that he
would never forsake Jesus. He was unaware of the plan that no one could be near
Jesus when events started because Jesus had to bear the sins alone and no man
could ever be in a position to claim any credit for atonement. Peter loved the
Lord and he did show bravery in the garden of Gethsemane by cutting off the ear
of Malchus with his sword. (John 18:10 KJV) Then Simon Peter having a sword
drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The
servant's name was Malchus.
Mark 14:30 (KJB)
And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this
night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Jesus responds to Peter’s vow with another prophecy. He starts out by telling
him “verily” which means “truly” I say unto you that you are going to deny me.
You will deny me three times even before the rooster crows early in the morning.
Jesus is not giving Peter some type of vague prophecy but is telling him
specifically that he will deny and when. In fact, Peter will go from defender to
denier in just a few hours.