Bible Reading
Mark 14:10–21, 43–52 (ESV) —
> 10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.
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> 12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
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> 17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 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.”
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> 43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him and seized him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” 50 And they all left him and fled.
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> 51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.
Observation Questions
- According to Mark 14:10–11, who initiated the betrayal of Jesus, and what was Judas offered in return?
- What signal did Judas use to identify Jesus to the arresting crowd, and why is this detail significant?
- In the sermon, what were the three main motivations suggested for Judas’ betrayal?
- How did the other disciples react when Jesus announced that one of them would betray him?
Interpretation Questions
- The sermon says, “Being a disciple is more than just being close to Jesus. It's about making Him the priority of your life.” Why is proximity to Jesus not enough for true discipleship?
- Judas’ motivations included love of money, desire for significance, and self-preservation. How do these motivations reveal what was truly in his heart?
- The sermon points out that Judas’ betrayal was a conscious, calculated decision. What does this teach us about the nature of sin and personal responsibility?
- The pastor said, “You can be close to Jesus and not really be a disciple. You see, it's not proximity, but priority that indicates true discipleship.” How can someone be active in church or religious activities but still miss true discipleship?
Application Questions
- The sermon challenges us to examine our own motivations and priorities. If someone looked at your calendar and your bank statement, what would they say is most important to you? Are there any changes you feel prompted to make?
- Judas’ love for money, significance, and self-preservation led him to betray Jesus. Which of these temptations do you find most challenging in your own life, and how do you see them affecting your relationship with Jesus?
- The sermon says, “None of us always make Jesus our priority.” Can you think of a recent time when you acted out of self-interest or fear instead of faith? What would it look like to respond differently next time?
- The world offers us a “price” for our loyalty—money, comfort, approval, or success. What is one area where you feel tempted to compromise your faith for something the world offers? How can you resist that temptation this week?
- The sermon reminds us that grace meets us in our failures, not our perfection. How does understanding God’s grace change the way you respond to your own failures or the failures of others?
- The story of Judas is a warning, but also a call to self-examination. What practical steps can you take this week to make Jesus the true priority in your life, not just someone you’re “close” to?
- The pastor asked, “What’s your price?”—the thing that could tempt you to turn away from Jesus. Is there something in your life that you’re tempted to value more than Christ? How can you surrender that to Him?
