{"id":2240,"date":"2021-04-05T18:30:03","date_gmt":"2021-04-06T01:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/?p=2240"},"modified":"2021-04-03T23:26:48","modified_gmt":"2021-04-04T06:26:48","slug":"abiding-in-the-lord-mark-ch-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/blog\/abiding-in-the-lord-mark-ch-14\/","title":{"rendered":"Abiding in the Lord: Mark Ch. 14"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)<\/em><\/p>\n

Worship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By singing praises and hymns, awake your soul, open your heart to the Lord, and prepare yourself to welcome the presence of God and receive the Word of God that will be given to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thanksgiving<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Petition with thanksgiving to God for a wonderful day and pray sincerely for a focused Scripture reading time! (Do not rush into reading the Bible without starting with prayers!<\/strong>) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scripture Reading<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Get the following items ready in advance: your devotional notebook, paper, pen, and\/or electronic devotional articles so that you can easily write down the Bible verses, questions, and thoughts you have noticed! You are encouraged to open your Bible and vocally read out the scriptures (Try to practice this reading method daily or once a week)!<\/p>\n

Scripture Reading: Mark Ch. 14 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Take a moment to quietly reflect on today’s Scriptures. Through such exercises, let God’s Word be gradually written into our hearts and be inscribed to our mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Devotional<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(<\/span>vv.\u00a0<\/span>1-25)\u00a0<\/span>It was getting closer and closer<\/span>\u00a0to t<\/span>he Passover<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0t<\/span>he chief priests and scribes\u00a0<\/span>had<\/span>\u00a0been thinking about\u00a0<\/span>eliminating<\/span>\u00a0Jesus for a long time<\/span>. They were<\/span>\u00a0waiting for\u00a0<\/span>an<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>opportune time to act<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>but\u00a0<\/span>were\u00a0<\/span>afraid of\u00a0<\/span>an uproar from the people<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>In<\/span>\u00a0the first half of today<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s\u00a0<\/span>passage<\/span>, we\u00a0<\/span>read about<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>two things that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>both\u00a0<\/span>occurred<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>while<\/span>\u00a0Jesus and his disciples\u00a0<\/span>were\u00a0<\/span>eating<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One time<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>it was at Simon<\/span>\u00a0the leper\u2019<\/span>s house in Bethany. We\u00a0<\/span>see<\/span>\u00a0a woman who, concerned about the death of the Lord, took\u00a0<\/span>a flask of\u00a0<\/span>the best\u00a0<\/span>ointment of pure nard\u00a0<\/span>to anoint the Lord.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The Lord\u00a0<\/span>concluded<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>She has done a beautiful thing to me\u2026 She has done what she could\u2026 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.<\/span><\/b>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before the second\u00a0<\/span>meal<\/span>, the\u00a0<\/span>passage<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>provide<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>background<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>information\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>Jesus<\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u00a0disciple Judas\u00a0<\/span>had gone<\/span>\u00a0to the chief priests and made a deal to hand Jesus over to them.\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>h<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0group of people\u00a0<\/span>had<\/span>\u00a0still<\/span>\u00a0been<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>scheming<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>yet\u00a0<\/span>had no idea\u00a0<\/span>on<\/span>\u00a0how to capture Jesus<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>hey were\u00a0<\/span>now\u00a0<\/span>thrilled that someone from the inside\u00a0<\/span>actually<\/span>\u00a0reached\u00a0<\/span>out\u00a0<\/span>to them\u00a0<\/span>with\u00a0<\/span>information<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During the meal, Jesus\u00a0<\/span>told<\/span>\u00a0his disciples:\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me\u2026 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.<\/span><\/b>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Then,\u00a0<\/span>during<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>this last supper<\/span>, Jesus\u00a0<\/span>instituted<\/span>\u00a0the Lord<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s Supper in front of\u00a0<\/span>his<\/span>\u00a0disciples.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One person\u00a0<\/span>willing<\/span>ly<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>gave up all\u00a0<\/span>that she could<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>offer<\/span>ed it all<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to the Lord<\/span>. B<\/span>ecause\u00a0<\/span>of what\u00a0<\/span>she\u00a0<\/span>did, she is\u00a0<\/span>praised\u00a0<\/span>till this day.\u00a0<\/span>Another person<\/span>\u00a0willing<\/span>ly<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>allowed his<\/span>\u00a0selfish desires\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>materialize<\/span>\u00a0and commit<\/span>ted<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>huge<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>mistake<\/span>\u00a0of betraying\u00a0<\/span>the Lord<\/span>. B<\/span>ecause of what he\u00a0<\/span>did to the<\/span>\u00a0Lord,\u00a0<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>is disgraced till<\/span>\u00a0this day<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

W<\/span>e are all able to distinguish<\/span>\u00a0between beauty and ugliness and<\/span>\u00a0know what\u00a0<\/span>we\u00a0<\/span>should\u00a0<\/span>do<\/span>\u00a0and what\u00a0<\/span>we\u00a0<\/span>should<\/span>n\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>do<\/span>… The\u00a0<\/span>crucial question<\/span>\u00a0is what\u00a0<\/span>do I think\u00a0<\/span>is good\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>m I willing to offer it to the Lord? What\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>some<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>selfish desires<\/span>\u00a0that I should sever<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>am I willing to give\u00a0<\/span>it\u00a0<\/span>up for the Lord? Today, think of\u00a0<\/span>one thing<\/span>\u00a0you are willing to\u00a0<\/span>offer<\/span>\u00a0to the Lord and\u00a0<\/span>one thing<\/span>\u00a0that you are willing to give up\u00a0<\/span>for<\/span>\u00a0the Lord, and\u00a0<\/span>commit<\/span>\u00a0to liv<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0for the Lord!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>vv.\u00a0<\/span>26-52)\u00a0<\/span>Next<\/span>, the Lord and his disciples\u00a0<\/span>went<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>a place called<\/span>\u00a0Gethsemane (meaning:\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>\u00a0place where oil is pressed)<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>pray to the\u00a0<\/span>Heavenly\u00a0<\/span>Father\u00a0<\/span>about<\/span>\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>impending<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>trial<\/span>\u00a0and death<\/span>. Can<\/span>\u00a0you can feel\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>anguish<\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>his heart?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Jesus\u00a0<\/span>was<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>fully<\/span>\u00a0God<\/span>\u00a0and fully human<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>as well as being perfect and without sin<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>In order to bear the sins of all mankind, the death he\u00a0<\/span>had\u00a0<\/span>to face was not\u00a0<\/span>something that he deserved<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>We\u00a0<\/span>can hear\u00a0<\/span>in his prayer how he\u00a0<\/span>openly expressed<\/span>\u00a0what\u00a0<\/span>was in<\/span>\u00a0his heart\u00a0<\/span>to the Father, and at the same time, we also\u00a0<\/span>see<\/span>\u00a0him\u00a0<\/span>show<\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>his prayer\u00a0<\/span>that he was willing to obey completely.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prayer is<\/span>n\u2019t just<\/span>\u00a0for<\/span>\u00a0bring<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0what you want\u00a0<\/span>before\u00a0<\/span>God, but\u00a0<\/span>is also for<\/span>\u00a0bring<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0what you don\u2019t\u00a0<\/span>want\u00a0<\/span>to face\u00a0<\/span>before<\/span>\u00a0God<\/span>. This\u00a0<\/span>can\u00a0<\/span>help you further<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>discern\u00a0<\/span>God\u2019s will and\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>be<\/span>come<\/span>\u00a0more willing to obey God\u2019s authority.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>W<\/span>e\u00a0<\/span>should\u00a0<\/span>imitate Jesus\u00a0<\/span>such that in the midst of extreme suffering we\u00a0<\/span>still cho<\/span>o<\/span>se to surrender! Is there\u00a0<\/span>something\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>you have been trying to\u00a0<\/span>put off<\/span>?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>In your prayer, t<\/span>ry respond<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0to God\u00a0<\/span>through<\/span>\u00a0obedience!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(<\/span>vv.\u00a0<\/span>53-72) At\u00a0<\/span>an\u00a0<\/span>unusual time<\/span>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>in the middle of the night, in\u00a0<\/span>an\u00a0<\/span>unusual place<\/span>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>in the high priest\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>home<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>under\u00a0<\/span>unusual accusations<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 based on\u00a0<\/span>conflicting<\/span>\u00a0testimonies, we see that the only\u00a0<\/span>thing that\u00a0<\/span>convicted<\/span>\u00a0Jesus\u00a0<\/span>was t<\/span>he truth\u00a0<\/span>that came\u00a0<\/span>from\u00a0<\/span>his<\/span>\u00a0mouth.\u00a0<\/span>This<\/span>\u00a0was when the high priest asked Jesus,\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?<\/span><\/b>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>Jesus answered:\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.<\/span><\/b>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Under<\/span>\u00a0all the false\u00a0<\/span>charges<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>it was\u00a0<\/span>this\u00a0<\/span>that<\/span>\u00a0convicted\u00a0<\/span>Jesus.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>This<\/span>\u00a0was<\/span>\u00a0b<\/span>ecause\u00a0<\/span>everyone had already agreed on\u00a0<\/span>eliminating<\/span>\u00a0Jesus and condemning him to death<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>so it didn\u2019t even matter that<\/span>\u00a0all<\/span>\u00a0the other details<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>didn\u2019t make<\/span>\u00a0sense!\u00a0<\/span>And\u00a0<\/span>Peter, who\u00a0<\/span>emphatically told<\/span>\u00a0the Lord<\/span>\u00a0that\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>If I must die with you, I will not deny you<\/span><\/b>\u201d<\/span>, did exactly what the\u00a0<\/span>Lord said<\/span>\u00a0he would do \u2013 deny his relationship with Jesus not once, not twice, but three times<\/span>, while\u00a0<\/span>even\u00a0<\/span>invoking a\u00a0<\/span>curs<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0and sw<\/span>earing<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to not know him<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are l<\/span>essons\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>hat can be\u00a0<\/span>taken<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>from Peter\u2019s experience. While\u00a0<\/span>being<\/span>\u00a0surround<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0by\u00a0<\/span>voices\u00a0<\/span>against<\/span>\u00a0Christianity, we must\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>guard against\u00a0<\/span>our own\u00a0<\/span>arrogance<\/span>, lest\u00a0<\/span>we become<\/span>\u00a0pride<\/span>ful<\/span>\u00a0and lose our vigilance<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Moreover, t<\/span>hose\u00a0<\/span>who<\/span>\u00a0have\u00a0<\/span>already\u00a0<\/span>fallen\u00a0<\/span>should quickly get\u00a0<\/span>back\u00a0<\/span>up because Jesus has not given up on you and so you should not give up on yourself!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pray<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Give thanks to God for His enabling us to read the Scriptures and for our response for living out the Word of God today! (e.g., You may start with a simple prayer like this: \u201cDear Lord, what\/where are you going to lead me to today?”)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abiding-in-the-lord","category-pastor-mickey-hsiao"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2240"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2240\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2241,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2240\/revisions\/2241"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}