Mark 14:10-21

Bringing the sermon home:

As the events of “Holy Week” unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that Jesus is not the kind of Messiah everyone had expected. Instead of mounting a political takeover, He keeps talking about His own impending death and even about the coming destruction of Jerusalem rather than its liberation. With this in view, and with the arrival of the Passover, Mark contrasts the actions of two of Christ’s disciples in 14:1-21.

1. Discipleship calls for humble sacrifice (vv.1-11).
    
   As a dividing line is drawn, we begin to see that there have always been two types of people who follow Jesus: those who do so because of what they think they can get from Him, and those who do so because He is worthy of all that we have to give to Him. The genuine disciple is willing to trade everything to get Jesus while the false disciple is willing to trade Jesus to get what they really want.
    
2. Discipleship calls for humble self-examination (vv.12-20).
    
   As the 11 other disciples discover that one of the 12 is going to betray Jesus, their thoughts don’t turn outward, but inward, with each of them asking: “Is it I, Lord?” Like those 11 faithful followers, we must recognize our own capacity for betrayal and ask: “Am I a Mary, or am I a Judas?” Are your expectations for the life of discipleship in line with His promises, or, like Judas, are you following Him for the wrong reasons?
   
   
3. Discipleship calls for humble submission to God’s will (v.21).
    
   Jesus humbly submitted to the Father’s will, knowing the great cost to Himself. Will you walk in faithfulness to God’s revealed will for your life, praying “thy will, not my will, no matter the cost”?