Mark 14:10-11 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
 
JUDAS Iscariot is identified as the one who betrayed him. (Mark 3:19b) Betray means to turn over, to give up. Judas turned Jesus over to the Jews. He gave up faith and trust in Jesus for reasons we cannot truly know.
    Betrayal is a terrible thing, isn’t it? If you want to hurt someone, betray their trust in you. They’ll harbor hard feelings against you for a very long time. Why do people betray those who love them? Certainly Jesus loved Judas. Why would Judas betray Jesus?
    There is much speculation. Most believe Judas was greedy, looking for a payoff. But he was quick to throw away his reward when he learned Jesus would go to the cross. Something deep disturbed the man’s heart. Perhaps he realized Jesus was not the kind of Messiah he expected. Maybe he felt he was in danger as he associated with Jesus.
    Whatever the motive for betrayal, it always begins with, “Me.” We remember Joseph’s brothers who betrayed their father and their brother when they sold Joseph into slavery. They were jealous. Genesis 37:20 “Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.” Joseph also was his father’s eye on his brothers’ integrity to tend to Jacob’s flocks. Betrayers destroy for their own gain.  
    King Saul betrayed God’s anointing to make him king. Saul betrayed David’s commitment to his king. David betrayed his faithful bodyguard, Uriah, because he wanted Uriah’s wife. Israel gave up their God for the idols that led them to destruction. All betrayed for their own perceived gain. All, in some way, lost the fullness of God’s anointing on their lives.
    What would it be like to know God’s anointing, to become Jesus’ disciple and then betray him? We can likely think of too many occasions when we’ve betrayed our faith. We can, it seems, too easily give up our trust in Jesus because he’s not quite the Savior we expected. Our own desires dominate our lives. We are unwilling, perhaps, to adjust to the very difficult  things the Lord can command us to do.
    What’s your motive for following Jesus? Is it to get what you want? Jesus calls  you to seek what he wants. David repented of his betrayal. God redeemed him. God will do that for you, too. 

Worship the Lord
 
Mark 14:3-9 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. 6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
 
JESUS stayed overnight in Bethany, just a short walk from Jerusalem, during the week before his death. This was the site of Jesus’ powerful resurrection of Lazarus. Lazarus, Mary and Martha lived in Bethany. John’s gospel says these three were at the meal. John also says Mary is the woman who anointed Jesus: John 12:3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. The perfume was very valuable. But the cost didn’t matter. Mary had watched Jesus give her brother back to her and Martha. How could anything material compare with a resurrected life? It is impossible to consider that any offering is extravagant when given in response to Jesus’ extravagant love.  
    There was another person in the house that day who also knew Jesus’ life-giving power. He was Simon the Leper, the host of the meal. Apparently Simon had had leprosy. He is one of many Jesus’ cured. To still call him “the Leper” indicates a human fallacy to focus on another’s problems or weakness. But no leper could host a meal. No one would come. Perhaps a better name for him is Simon the Restored. He knew Jesus’ resurrection power changed, renewed and enlivened the diseased cells into health. No material wealth could match the beauty of his renewed body. Jesus had come to provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. (Isaiah 61:3) Simon, Mary, Martha and Lazarus knew Jesus’ very personal garment of praise on their lives.
    Others, including Judas (John 12:4), did not. They seem to have good motives. Feeding the poor is one of God’s great desires. But at this moment it was time to put aside the world’s concerns and worship the Lord. The Father had created this occasion to focus on the Son. Jesus was about to shed his blood to spread the aroma of his salvation throughout the globe.
    As you consider Jesus’ life-giving gift, be mindful to pour your oil of gladness on Jesus. Worship him more than you worship anything else.

Mark 14:1-2 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2 “But not during the Feast,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
 
THE ruling Jews did not plan to kill Jesus during the Passover and Feast of the Unleavened Bread. This was a seven-day event that marked the Jews’ freedom from Egypt. God’s angel of death killed the firstborn of each Egyptian household, but he passed over the Jews’ firstborn. God’s loving grace commanded the Jews to mark their doors with a lamb’s blood. The unleavened bread was their food in the first days of leaving Egypt because they had no time to allow dough to rise. In the Passover and the Feast, the Jews were to remember God’s gracious love to free them into a living relationship with him. Free in the desert, Moses sang God’s praises: Exodus 15:13 “In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.”  
    As in Egypt, God determined the time and method of his salvation for the Jews and for all mankind. Jerusalem was full of pilgrims who came to the Passover. The Pharisees and priests wanted to wait until after the Feast to lessen any opposition to their plan.
    But God’s plan overruled theirs. The night before the Passover, the Lord sent Judas to the Jews: John 13:27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him. Judas’ betrayal propelled the Jews to act. In the Father’s will, Jesus died as the Passover Lamb of God. This fulfilled God’s atoning plan for mankind first spoken in the Garden: Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”  The “he” here is Jesus, the Atoning Sacrifice for the sin born out of Adam’s sin. Satan will strike his heel. In God’s sovereign authority the Savior would suffer. Through the suffering Jesus would crush Satan’s head – his authority over mankind. In his sacrificial laws, God required blood to atone for sins. Jesus suffered the cross to fulfill the promise and the law.
    Jesus had once condemned the ruling Jews for being under the devil’s authority. In this condemnation he summarizes mankind’s problem: John 8:44 “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!”  
     Our Creator has graciously revealed his eternal truth to us. His loving authority formed and fulfilled the plan for your salvation. Listen to his words. Receive his love. May your life be under the knowledge of his grace to save you.     

Mark 13:30-37 “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 32 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back – whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
 
IF you knew for certain that a very well-known person was coming to your house, but you didn’t know the time, you would be on the watch, wouldn’t you? Your watch would be an active preparation to do what you needed to do to honor your visitor.
    Is that your attitude toward Jesus’ Second Coming? Are you spiritually watching your heart, so you will spend eternity with him? Do you watch what you read, watch what you hear, and watch what you believe? Are you watching your loved ones, so they, too, receive him with love, joy, and worship?
    Jesus wants you ready for him and all the universe-changing events that will unfold as the heavens and earth pass away. We are the Master’s church. He has commanded us to help people watch for Jesus.  We are to do so through the effective ministry of his grace under the Spirit’s power. Each day of the Christian life, each era of the church must be lived as if Jesus’ return is right now. When will the honored King come? He could come now.
    His return will be great joy to his faithful servants. But first, many will know great persecution, even to the death. Regardless of what trouble strains around us, we must know the Honored Guest will come. We will join him in the redeemed world.
    Did Jesus expect his return to happen within a few years? It seems so when he said, “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” Detractors say he was mistaken. And if he made a mistake, we cannot believe him when he said, “I tell you the truth.” What did Jesus truly say? It’s important to know, so you can defend your faith.
    In response, the Greek meaning of generation is easily interpreted in two ways: “This age will not pass away.” And “This nation will not pass away.” The age is the years the church exists. (See Titus 2:12, Ephesians 1:21.) Jesus says the church will continually exist until Jesus’ return.
    The church is also referred to as Jesus’ nation, under his governance until he returns. Peter says it beautifully in 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
    The Lord Jesus has affirmed his plan and his purpose. Prepare your spiritual house for his arrival. 

Mark 13:24-29 “But in those days, following that distress, ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ 26 At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. 28 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.”
 
NOTE Jesus says, “In those days, following that distress.”  Jesus had warned his disciples to watch for the signs of Jerusalem’s destruction. Now he says there will be signs of his own conquest of the world. Jesus shifts his warnings from the impending judgment on Jerusalem in the near future to the final Judgment Day. Jesus quotes from Isaiah 13:10 and 34:4, promising God’s power will be visible to all, “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”
    Jesus revealed similar visions to John: Revelation 8:12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night. And in Revelation 16:10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness.
    From these cataclysmic events, Jesus will establish his reign over God’s new creation. How comforting to know the Son of Man will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. This is the great, sure hope we have for our future under Jesus’ salvation.
    All must also understand that within this promise is Jesus’ judgment. He doesn’t gather all in the world. Jesus gathers his elect to himself. Those not under Jesus’ salvation are sent into Judgment.
    Jesus, the Living Word, speaks through the prophet, the gospels and his vision to John to prepare his church for the end of time. We find it sad and difficult to understand why so many reject his message. The Lord Jesus has spoken. Let’s help people listen to his promises and be alert to his warnings.       
 
You Can Be Sure: the end will come….are you sure of your status at the end?  

Mark 13:21-23 “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect – if that were possible. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.”
 
JESUS continues his warning of Jerusalem’s upcoming destruction. He has said the elect – the church – must flee to the mountains when signs of Jerusalem’s destruction begin to appear. This would be evident when Rome’s army devastated Judea and lay siege to Jerusalem. Now he warns the church to flee Satan’s signs of spiritual warfare through false Christs – false Messiahs – and false teachers.
    What would a false Messiah do when Rome was on the march? People claiming to be Messiah could lead a call to arms and urge Jerusalem to resist, denouncing Jesus’ instructions. Under Satan’s power hey would be convincing. If someone offers a solution when our minds are fearful and uncertain, we may too quickly follow, even if our action is against God’s Word. That’s why Jesus warned and affirmed his message, “False prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect – if that were possible.” Satan’s purpose is to destroy the church and repulse God’s authority on earth with his authority. He will use demonic power through false teachers to do so. Moses, Paul and John warn us as in 1 John 4:1 “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”  We test the spirits when we consider what we hear and what God says. Jesus assures the elect if they remain true to him they will be under the Father’s protection.
    Jesus offers you two key lessons. First, be prepared to know the difference between the false and the true teachers. Look around, and you’ll quickly see how liars prevail upon the innocent They add their own words to God’s Word, or they subtract from God’s Word. Knowing God’s Word is the only way to discern false and true teachers.
    Jesus’ second lesson is to live courageously and confidently in God’s Word. You will be attacked because you are the Lord’s elect. Some of you have experienced physical attacks. All of us are under spiritual attack. Our sin nature does not let us rest comfortably in Jesus. Our natural desire is to believe the liars. That’s why we must continually pursue Jesus, knowing we are his forever: Psalms 33:20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. Keeping this in mind as you keep your daily habit to know the truth will build our spiritual defense. Jesus wanted the early church to erect its defenses on his Word. Those who were true to his instructions lived.   
     The lesson is obvious for us today. The church that survives today is the church that believes all Jesus says.
    Confront the conflict. Look to the LORD for your help. Know his Word. Believe his Word.  

Mark 13:18-20 “Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now – and never to be equaled again. 20 If the LORD had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.”
 
JESUS continued to warn the disciples of Jerusalem’s impending destruction. The Bible tells us of many horrific wars that destroyed cities and killed its inhabitants. This is one of sin’s supremely tragic effects on the human race. God had established Jerusalem on a mountain. It was a strong fortress, very difficult to conquer. Only with God’s permission could an enemy destroy his city as did Babylon in 586 BC. Only in God’s will did Rome destroy Jerusalem in 70 AD.
    Jesus wants his disciples – the new church – to be ready for Jerusalem’s tribulation, the “days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now – and never to be equaled again.” Nothing can hold back God’s almighty power.
    How bad was this event? There is a secular historian named Josephus, who is highly regarded in his accuracy of history during the first century AD. He even gives evidence of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Josephus wrote, “The destruction of the temple was a catastrophe of supernatural dimensions, with armies appearing in the sky and a supernatural voice. The suffering was unparalleled.” (from The Reformation Study Bible)  
    In the midst of the suffering, God “cut short those days… for the sake of the elect.” Jesus had warned the disciples to flee, and they did so. Many of the church in 69-70 AD established a new settlement east of Jerusalem. Rome left them alone. They persevered through the war and preserved the gospel.
    Within this prophecy of great tribulation in Jerusalem and Judea, Jesus also taught prayer is effective to influence God’s will. As Jesus urged his followers, “Pray that this will not happen in winter.” he teaches us to pursue God’s personal intervention into his decreed purpose. Even as we know the enemy is approaching, we can faithfully pray, “Protect us. Save us!” The Savior promised special help in times of need.
    Yes, when the storm has ravaged your home, the disease has weakened your body, or the family is split in disagreement, you can confidently seek God’s will to help you through the trials. You can pray God will cut short those days to guide you to his place of refuge and help.
    As we continue, Jesus will point his disciples from Jerusalem’s destruction to God’s final judgment on the world. We all know the world is groaning under sin, awaiting that day. Let’s pray for his assistance to help us prepare and be sustained through those times.  

Mark 13:9-11 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”
 
JESUS spoke a very grim picture for a Jesus follower. Who wants that type of life? In truth, each Christian should respond, “I do!” and here’s why.
    Jesus promises a  true disciple’s life is one of power. The Spirit grants you the opportunity to know the power that created the world is at work in your life. Jesus had called the disciples from their ordinary, safe lives to an extraordinary, dangerous commitment to Christ’s cause. Their only hope to prevail was to trust the Spirit’s words: “Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”
    What an extraordinary promise! The Spirit’s presence adds the LORD God’s creation power to your faith. Your Helper directs you to experience the reality, “Nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) God’s Word spoken through you will help you speak new life into people dead in their sin. From the formless void at creation came the living world. Now, into your mind comes Jesus’ gospel power. As Living Water, faithful words flow before you can think. In those moments of need, you will know God’s forming, shaping, living word is with you!
    But is the work too hard? Since the first disciples, a life following Jesus for many people has been marked with persecution, heartache, joyless days and disappointments. Faithful Christians have lost employment and are impoverished. Many suffer prison because they spoke what the Spirit gave them to say. Victories seem far apart if they ever come.
    How do you trust Jesus’ teaching here? You trust it when you know that is precisely the way Jesus’ ministered. John 14:10b “The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” Jesus followed the Father’s will to preach the truth and pointed him to persecution and to the cross. Out of that persecution has come the glorious gospel. He has suffered, so we may have life. Many Christians are called to that same destiny. God anoints them to faith. They stand before persecutors and testify as the Spirit speaks through them. From their persecution many lives, even nations have been transformed.
    God calls us all to particular people or places where we must testify to his saving grace. This can be in your home talking with an unsaved friend or relative. You might be at the market or walking along the road. You could be standing before authorities who want to silence your testimonies. Be open to these opportunities. Seek the Spirit’s words in your prayers and in your daily work. He will help you see the needs of those around you. You will learn to go where you go, do what you do and say what you say because the Holy Spirit dwells within you. Yes, the Spirit is life power, and he is available to power your life. 

Mark 13:4-8 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” 5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.”
 
YOU’VE heard the weather report. “A storm’s coming!” You want to know when, don’t you? You want to know the details, so you’ll be prepared. There is a great urgency in the weather forecast. “I’ll tell you when and where.” the weather person promises. Listen! Be good stewards of  the news. Maybe you can do something to prepare for the storm.
    As Jesus prophesies the temple’s destruction, the disciples naturally and urgently ask, “When?” Jesus does not answer there question in the moment. That will come as the conversation continues. But Jesus wants to point them toward his final return. So he expands his answer to the far future. He warns the church will encounter false prophets. Wars will be constant and earthquakes in various places, and famines will mark world history.
    This is happening, isn’t it? As sure as dark clouds, high winds and severe lightning mark an approaching storm, the disturbing events in our daily news are the birth pains in a world God is preparing to birth into his glorious new heaven and earth.
    Of course, Jesus doesn’t tell them specifically when his final return will be. Surprisingly he even said he didn’t know: Matthew 24:36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Jesus often tells us he ministered strictly under the Father’s command. The Father had not reveal the end date to the Son. In the fellowship of the Trinity, the Father retains absolute authority.
    Now, imagine you are Jesus’ disciple at that moment. What would you do?
    Or should we ask, “What are you doing?” Through God’s inspired Word, the Living Word is telling you today what he told the Twelve that day. God has scheduled all creation for the final “Judgment Storm”, and he wants you ready for the day.