40 Day Bible Reading Challenge: Day 40 Last Supper and Jesus is Betrayed

 Mark Chapter 14 of the Bible details the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It begins with the chief priests and scribes seeking a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill Him. At Bethany, while Jesus is at Simon the leper's house, a woman anoints Him with expensive ointment, which Judas Iscariot criticizes but Jesus defends as a preparation for His burial.

The chapter then recounts the Last Supper, during which Jesus predicts His betrayal by one of the Apostles and the denial by Peter. After the meal, they go to the Mount of Olives, and Jesus foretells that all His disciples will desert Him. In Gethsemane, Jesus prays intensely, expressing distress about His impending death, while His disciples fall asleep.

Judas then arrives with a crowd sent by the chief priests, scribes, and elders to arrest Jesus. Following His arrest, Jesus is taken to the high priest Caiaphas, where He is falsely accused and condemned to death for blasphemy after affirming His identity as the Messiah. Peter, who follows at a distance, denies knowing Jesus three times, fulfilling Jesus' earlier prediction.

This chapter is pivotal in the New Testament, marking the beginning of the Passion of Christ. It emphasizes themes of betrayal, sacrifice, and the fulfillment of prophecy, showcasing Jesus’ awareness of His fate and His dedication to His mission despite the suffering He faces.