New Testament in a Year – Mark 14

Jesus Anointed at Bethany - Mark 14:1-11

Understand It

• When and where did the events of this story take place? (14:1-3)
• Why did the Jewish leaders not want to arrest Jesus during the Feast of Unleavened Bread? (14:2)
• What attitude did many of the common people have toward Jesus? (14:2)
• What amazing thing did a woman do while Jesus was visiting Bethany? Where? (14:3)
• What reaction did the woman’s actions get? Why? (14:4-5)
• What caused some people with Jesus to become indignant? (14:4-5)
• What does this incident tell us about some people’s understanding of who Jesus was and why He had come? (14:4-6)
• Whom did Jesus rebuke? Why? (14:6)
• How did Jesus evaluate the behavior of the woman who poured out the perfume? (14:6)
• What did Jesus predict? (14:9)
• What did Judas do? (14:10-11)
• How did Judas betray Jesus? (14:10-11)
• How did the chief priests react to Judas’s visit? Why? (14:10-11)

Apply It

• What is one way you can show your devotion to Christ above all other things, people, or ambitions in your life? When?
• What is one step you could take this week toward helping the poor in a practical way?

The Lord's Supper - Mark 14:12-26

Understand It

• When did the events of this story take place? (14:12)
• What did Jesus’ disciples ask Him? (14:12)
• How did Jesus make the arrangements for the Passover meal? (14:13)
• Whom did Jesus send to make the arrangements for the Passover meal? (14:13)
• What specific instructions did Jesus give the disciples He sent out? (14:13-15)
• How did Jesus’ predictions compare to what the disciples actually found when they got into the city? (14:16)
• What was the reaction of the disciples to Jesus’ prediction of His betrayal? (14:19)
• How did Jesus specify who would betray Him? (14:20-21)
• The central emphasis of the Passover meal was traditionally the sacrificial lamb; where did Jesus place His emphasis? (14:22-24)
• What important announcement did Jesus make? (14:25)
• How did Jesus and the disciples conclude their Passover meal? (14:26)

Apply It

• What are two or three steps you can take to prepare for the next time you celebrate the Lord’s Supper?
• What do you want to remember the next time you take the Lord’s Supper?
• How can you say thank you to Jesus each day this week for the suffering He endured for you?
• How can you trust Christ with the circumstances you do not yet understand?

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial - Mark 14:27-31

Understand It

• What did Jesus reveal to His disciples? (14:27)
• How would Jesus’ prediction fulfill Scripture? (14:27)
• What did Jesus quote? Why? (14:27)
• To what "shepherd" and "sheep" did Jesus refer? Why? (14:27)
• What information did Jesus give the disciples? (14:28)
• How did Peter respond to Christ’s words? (14:29)
• What was Peter’s state of mind when Jesus predicted that the disciples would betray Him? (14:29)
• What did Jesus say about Peter’s loyalty? (14:30)
• What was the reaction when Jesus said that Peter would disown Him? (14:31)
• What did Peter claim? (14:31)
• What do the disciples’ reactions tell us about them? (14:31)

Apply It

• In what way can you show your dependence on God for the strength to follow Christ?
• What can you do over the next week to renew and strengthen your faith in Christ?

Gethsemane - Mark 14:32-42

Understand It

• Where did the events of this story take place? (14:32)
• What did Jesus tell the disciples to do? (14:32)
• Who did Jesus take with him to pray? (14:33)
• What emotions was Jesus feeling? (14:33-34)
• What do Jesus’ actions at this time tell us about His character? (14:33-34)
• Why was Jesus so distressed and troubled? (14:33-34)
• What did Jesus do in response to His deep sorrow? (14:35-36)
• What "hour" did Jesus pray to "pass from Him"? (14:35-36)
• What does Jesus’ prayer tell us about His relationship to God the Father? (14:36)
• What distressed Jesus when He returned to His disciples? (14:37)
• What did Jesus find when He returned to the disciples who were keeping watch? (14:37)
• How did Jesus instruct the disciples to prevent themselves from falling into temptation? (14:38)
• Why did the disciples have so much trouble praying with Jesus? (14:38)
• How did Jesus explain the difference between the spirit and the body? (14:38)
• What caused the disciples to be speechless when Christ returned to them the second time? (14:40)
• When did Jesus stop praying? (14:41-42)
• What caused Jesus to stop praying? (14:41-42)

Apply It

• Who is someone you can ask to help you overcome a weakness?
• What needs of others will you commit yourself to pray for during this next week?
• How can you support a friend or relative facing a difficult task this week?

Jesus Arrested - Mark 14:43-52

Understand It

• Who was Judas? (14:43-44)
• Who accompanied Judas to Gethsemane? Why? (14:43-44)
• How did the religious leaders treat Jesus? (14:43-46)
• Why did the religious leaders bring a large, armed force to arrest Jesus? (14:43-48)
• What signal had Judas prearranged with the armed leaders to identify Jesus? (14:44)
• How did Judas greet Jesus? Why? (14:44-45)
• In what way were Judas’s actions contradictory? (14:44-45)
• How did one of Jesus’ disciples (we know from John 18:10 that it was Peter) react to the arrest of Jesus? (14:47)
• How did Jesus respond to the sight of the armed men? (14:48-49)
• How was Jesus’ response to this situation different from that of His followers? (14:48-50)
• What had to happen? (14:49)
• Who fled the scene? When? (14:50-52)
• What is significant about the fact that all of Jesus’ followers deserted Him? (14:50-52)

Apply It

• What can you do now to prepare for times when your dedication to Christ is tested at work, at home, or around neighbors?
• What friend can you support through a difficult situation? How?

Before the Sanhedrin - Mark 14:53-65

Understand It

• Before whom did Jesus have to stand trial? (14:53)
• Who followed Jesus as He was being led away? How? (14:54)
• What did the men of the Sanhedrin want to do to Jesus? Why? (14:55)
• Why did the Sanhedrin have such a difficult time convicting Jesus? (14:55-59)
• What testimony did some witnesses bring against Jesus? (14:57-58)
• How did the high priest try to get Jesus to answer the questions put to Him? (14:60)
• What was Jesus’ response to all the accusations against Him? (14:61)
• How did Jesus use silence during all the testimony against Him? (14:61)
• What did the high priest finally do in an attempt to speed up the trial? (14:61)
• When did Jesus choose to speak? (14:62)
• What did Jesus tell the Sanhedrin? (14:62)
• Why did the high priest respond with such shock to Jesus’ testimony? (14:63-64)
• What did the Sanhedrin consider blasphemy? (14:64)
• To what punishment did the Sanhedrin sentence Jesus? Why? (14:64)
• How did the people in the courtroom abuse Jesus after He was sentenced to death? (14:65)

Apply It

• How do you want to react the next time you are falsely accused or tricked?
• What specific steps can you take this week to entrust your circumstances to God?

Peter Disowns Jesus - Mark 14:66-72

Understand It

• Where did the events of this story take place? (14:66)
• What was Peter doing at this critical time? (14:66)
• How do we know Peter was concerned for Jesus? (14:66)
• What was the servant girl’s opinion of Jesus? (14:66-69)
• How did Peter’s denial of Christ happen? (14:66-72)
• Who confronted Peter about his association with Jesus? (14:67)
• How did Peter respond to the servant girl’s questioning? (14:68, 70)
• Why did Peter move "out into the entryway"? (14:68)
• Who else besides the servant girl confronted Peter? Why? (14:70)
• Who in the courtyard was curious and insistent about finding out who Jesus’ followers were? (14:66-70)
• How did Peter respond to the third question about whether he was a follower of Christ? (14:71)
• Why did Peter cry? (14:72)
• What reminded Peter of Jesus’ words to Him earlier? (14:72)
• How did Peter react when he realized what he had done? (14:72)

Apply It

• In what situation or context will you consciously identify with Christ publicly this week? How?
• What person do you need to tell of your faith in Christ? When can you?