B, Midweek Lent 2 - Mark 14:22-52 "The Cup Passed On"

The way of the cross ramps up a notch as Jesus takes the Passover meal and redefines it with what is about to happen to him. 

The Passover, a meal practised by the Jews since the days of Moses, was a meal  first prepared in haste before the angel of death passed through Egypt pouring out the tenth plague upon all first born.  The angel spared only those who had the blood of the lamb smeared over their doorway, those who had eaten the lamb roasted over the fire together with bitter herbs, dressed for a quick departure from Egypt.

Jesus now takes this remembrance meal and gives it a renewed function.  We remember what he said and did with his word, instituting the bread of the Passover meal with his body sacrificed on the cross, and the cup of wine with his blood poured out as a sacrifice which would, and continues to, save many.

Now that the cup of salvation in his blood is instituted, the new covenant is set to be fulfilled.  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world heads out to the Mount of Olives for the events to be enacted which would make Jesus the Lamb to replace all sacrificial blood required for the old covenant.

Jesus’ interaction with Peter takes on special significance as he tells the disciples what is about to happen.

Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’  But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”  (Mark 14:27 ESV)

Some years prior Zechariah prophesied, “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.”  “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.” (Zechariah 13:1, 7 ESV)

Jesus was that fountain of blood, he was the Son from the right hand of the Father, who was incarnated as man, as the shepherd of Israel, was about to be struck.   Jesus’ little ones were to be scattered as the shepherd takes the place of a sheep to be slaughtered, of whom the disciples are Jesus’ little ones.

Peter flatly disagrees with Jesus saying, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” (Mark 14:29 ESV)

Even after Jesus tells Peter he will deny him three times, Peter says forcefully, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” (Mark 14:31 ESV)  The other disciples also agree with Peter.

In the wake of this reading, we heard on Sunday, Jesus scolds Peter with the harshest of rebukes.  We hear,  “But turning and seeing his disciples, Jesus rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan!  For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.’” (Mark 8:33 ESV)

John Mark was Peter’s scribe.  The Gospel of Mark is Peter’s account of Jesus’ ministry written down by John Mark.  Incidentally the naked young man we hear leaving the scene in Gethsemene, is believed to be the author of this Gospel.

How Jesus deals with Peter, which Peter proclaims, and Mark records, seems quite abrupt.  Perhaps today the sensitivities of many would be offended.  We can learn much, however, from not only Jesus’ abruptness, but also the willingness of Peter to preach about his weakness recorded in the pages of Mark’s Gospel.

Peter’s forceful and impassioned statements  “Even though they all fall away, I will not” and “If I must die with you, I will not deny you”  stand in absolute contrast to what happens next.

In Gethsemene, as Jesus prays, we see his human flesh as our flesh.  Peter, James, and John see it too.  Jesus is willing, yet in the weakness of human flesh, he prays and waits, despite being dumbfounded, distressed, and overwhelmed by the weight of the world he is about to carry.

He leaves Peter, James, and John to pray alone.  Jesus knows his fate.  In the flesh of humanity, he struggles knowing what is going to happen to him.  Like any human that learns of their impending death, and struggles with its reality, so too does Jesus!  

With the weight of the known, Jesus stumbles and falls to the ground, he prays that the hour of suffering and death might pass over him.  But he is the new covenant, he is the new Passover Lamb, he has instituted at the last supper, all that God the Father has led him to do.  And he is led by the Holy Spirit to give him the spirit with which to be the Passover Saviour!

Hear in Jesus’ struggle, Jesus hates death.  Like any of us that pray when our utter helplessness is pressed upon us,  Jesus prays, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you.  Remove this cup from me.” (Mark 14:36a ESV)

In true faith, Jesus prays a confession about the nature of God the Father.  Everything is possible for God our Father!  With his Word he could have removed the cup from Jesus!  But knowing the evil and the good this cup bears he contradicts what he’s just said and continues, “Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36b ESV)

What are the disciples doing?  Is Peter waiting, watching, and praying as Jesus asked?  The one who confesses Jesus as the Christ, the one who says, even if I die with you, I will not deny you, cannot even stay awake.  When Jesus returned from praying, he did not find Peter, James, and John supporting him with prayer, but sleeping.  Three times this happened, impressing on us the reality that even if the spirit is willing, we need the Holy Spirit to enliven our weak flesh.

Judas comes to betray Jesus, with him is a mob from the chief priests, scribes, and the elders.  When they seized Jesus, one of them gets his ear cut off.  Mark does not report who, but in John’s Gospel, we’re told its Peter. 

In keeping with Peter’s lack of understanding, demonstrated throughout the Gospels, Peter cuts off the servant’s ear, overcompensating for his inability to stay awake and pray with, and for, Jesus.

But Jesus having come to fulfil the scriptures drinks the cup the Father has given him to drink, and all left him and fled.

Some years later Peter is martyred by Nero on an upside-down cross.  In coming weeks, we will hear more about Peter as he denies Jesus and the cock crows. 

The change in Peter who comes from understanding only the things of man to enduring death knowing the things of God, is a comfort for all in the church of the living God. 

Peter drinks the cup Jesus drank.  But it is said that out of respect for his Lord he was crucified on a cross upside-down. 

The event that is Peter’s life, saw a work of God, that took time!  From Jesus calling him on the sea of Galilee, working with the erratic ebbs and flows of his faithlessness and faith, right the way through to where he trusts the Holy Spirit to lead him as the Spirit led his Lord, even to death on an upside-down cross, all occurred in the fullness of God’s time.

In this Lenten season, there is opportunity for us to reflect on the work God is doing in us.  Our life is God’s event, he works in us as he did in Peter.  He gives us a cup of salvation and servanthood from which to drink, and the Holy Spirit will enable us to drink it over time!  Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, thankyou for working with Peter, even as you were sending your only Son to the cross.  Thankyou that our life is your event and that you are patient with us, willing us with your Word.  Help us not grieve the Holy Spirit.  But drink the cup of the new covenant, deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and drink deeply from the font of forgiveness, servanthood, and salvation.   Amen.