Daily Bible Plan - Mark 14

25. November 2025

Devotion by Deaconess Ruth Ahiabor

Theme: Unleashed for Kingdom Advancement - Mark 14: 1 - 31

Fortified City Church / Love City Church / Basel French Assembly / Luzern City Fellowship / ⁠PIWC Bern / ⁠Global prayer family

INTRODUCTION

Mark 14 is eventful; it’s the time of the Passover, the city is full of people and activity. Against this back drop, the reason for Jesus’ manifestation is about to be fulfilled. Jesus is focused on His assignment and spares no opportunity in persistently downloading the mind of the Father and teaching His disciples about prophecies which are about to unfold.

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JESUS FRIEND TO ALL (Mark 14:2-9)

Leprosy causes destruction of a person’s skin, arms, legs and ultimate physical appearance. This makes it difficult for them to engage socially especially in Jesus’ day when they were considered unclean and outcasts, isolated from society. At that time, it was forbidden for religious leaders to touch people classed as “unclean”, yet Jesus (a rising religious leader with a large following) defied the cultural standards of the day. He not only chose to visit Simon the leper at home but also ate with him which per the culture of the day meant dipping his hands into the same bowl as Simon, a leper.

Reflection

1.      Jesus is calling us into intimacy with Him. Throughout the book of Mark, Jesus is always speaking – to crowds, his disciples, religious leaders etc. Pouring himself out as a drink offering to satisfy thirsty souls. The more we encounter Jesus, spend time and hang around him, the more He unfolds His mysteries to us.

2.      In Jesus’ day, leprosy was considered one of the worst social conditions a person could find themselves in yet Jesus, broke barriers of culture, class and religion when He had dinner with Simon the leper and He is calling us to do same. Intimacy with God often means fraternising  ourselves in lowly positions (1 John 4:20)

3.      Absolutely, nothing in this world, not our past failings nor our present weaknesses can disqualify us from a relationship with Jesus (Rom 8:35)

Jesus’ example was a huge encouragement and inspiration to others, like the woman with the expensive ointment. It triggered something in her, “Surely, if Jesus can eat with a leper, then he will not deny me audience.” And from a place of brokenness, she borke the jar and poured out everything she had on Him(what was considered costly in human terms) without holding back. By pouring out such an expensive oil on His head, she gave  an extravagant worship and also affirmed His Kingship.

While the Pharisees and hypocrites got into a religious debate over what was wrong about the woman’s actions, her worship touched the heart of the Master and she received a good commendation – “She has done a beautiful thing to me. She has done what she could.” The woman did not need to reach heaven before receiving her “Well done good and faithful servant” commendation, she received it right there on the spot!

“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.” Mark 14:9

Reflection:

When was the last time you did a “beautiful thing” to Jesus?

Perhaps we have done some things but have we truly “done what we could?” Or is there still room for more?

You see, the opportunities we have today to serve the Master and work for the kingdom will not always be available because the night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4, Mark 13)

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BELIEVE IN HIS PROPHETS SO SHALL YOU PROSPER (Mark 14:12-21)

Jesus’ disciples were discerning enough to recognise the authority of their leader. They had an understanding of the times and seasons and were careful and sensitive enough to seek his direction regarding their preparation for what one could easily trivialise and consider as a routine traditional celebration.

1 Chron 20:20b Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

Prov 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths

Jesus is always speaking, trying to catch our attention, to share His mind, even during our moments of reclining or relaxation.

The question is are we sensitive enough to hear and heed his warnings?

Judas had already negotiated his plan to betray and handover Jesus with the Chief Priests but now Jesus the all-knowing one has exposed the plan.

Jesus knew Judas was going to betray him and even if the other disciples didn’t know who Jesus was talking about, Judas knew in his heart that Jesus was referring to him and that his plan had been exposed. Ordinarily, one would expect Judas to tremble in fear and repentance especially after hearing Jesus describe what would happen to the one who would betray him.

Instead of heeding the warning, taking the opportunity for repentance and course correction, he hardened his heart in defiance and indignation. Judas instead chose to walk in pride, deception and pretence to the point of daring to ask Jesus, “Is it I?” Mark 14:19

Either Judas still hadn’t fully understood who Jesus was, which made him undermine his authority or sin had got such a grip on his heart that his conscience was now seared and he could no longer hear what the voice of the Lord was communicating

James 1:15  When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

James 1:23-24 For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Our Good Shepherd does not wish for any of His children to be destroyed, which is why He always brings us words of warning, prophetic direction and instructions etc through the scriptures, mouth of our Pastors, Prophets, Elders, fellow friends/bros or sisters etc.

We are blessed to be under the ministry of Rev Joseph who God has been using mightily to bring specific word of knowledge, instructions and warning about events about to unfold in our lives.

Reflection:

·       How do we respond to such words? In repentance? In pride?

·       Do we trivialise the messages because of familiarity or do we receive them with reverent fear, reflecting on them and walking in repentance where needed?

·       How would Judas’ outcome have been different if Judas had walked in repentance instead of deception and pride

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A HEART POSTURE OF DENIAL OR HUMILITY  (Mark 14:26-31)

Mark 14:31 Peter had walked long with Jesus and had seen so much, including walking on water. He was effectively saying, Jesus, we have been through too much together for me to shift camp. Peter’s spirit was willing but we see later on that he in fact denied Jesus as had been prophesied.

Knowing that Jesus was a good shepherd, Peter’s response should instead have been “Master, in what way will I deny you and what must I do to escape it?

No matter how much intention we have, if we don’t train our flesh to align and submit to our spirit man, our words will simply fall to the ground. Our flesh must obey, which is why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:27 “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.”

Bearing in mind that we are not there yet but being transformed from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18), what should be the position of our heart when the voice of Jesus speaks to us- through the daily devotional, a sermon, a song ministration?

Like the psalmist do we have the heart position - search me O God and know my heart or are we more interested in bragging to God about how good we are? (Luke 18:9-14)

Reflection:

·       If Jesus the one who knows the end from the beginning is revealing something about us, our posture should not be one of having arrived but of wanting to be better, always wanting to line up with the Father’s ultimate standards

·       Before God everything about us and our intentions are laid bare and we cannot hide therefore our posture to warnings should be one of humility instead of defiance ?

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PRAYER

Father, thank you that you are always speaking, always guiding and directing me in every situation because it is not your plan for me to perish. Help me to recognise and acknowledge you in every situation and not to be too familiar so as to miss your specific instructions. Give me more grace not to trivialise the words of the people who serve as prophets in my life in Jesus name. Amen