Mark 14

This is another incredibly long chapter. It takes us from the Lord's supper, Jesus' arrest, all the way to Peter's three denials. I am going to take it one thing at a time.

Judas Iscariot: the name "Iscariot" means "man of Kerioth", Kerioth being a small town south of Jerusalem. "Thus, Judas was not a Galilean like the other disciples. It is clear that Judas never had any spiritual interest in Jesus - he was attracted to Him because he expected Jesus to become a powerful religious and political leader. He saw great potential for power, wealth, and prestige though his association with Him." John MacArthur. I don't know where Mr. MacArthur gets that Judas had "no" spiritual interest in Jesus or the potential for power, etc., but it would make sense. Interesting to also note that whenever the 12 disciples are named, Judas is always named last.

The Last Supper, though beautiful imagery of what was to be, these verses here really are kind of freaky, scary, in that the bad guy, Judas, was reclining with them at the table, "'Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me - one who is eating with Me.' They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, 'surely not I?' And He said to them, ' It is one of the twelve, one who dips with Me in the bowl. For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.'" v.18-21

What do you suppose Judas was thinking while Christ was talking? Did he want to change his mind at that time knowing that Jesus already knew his plan and basically said that he was condemned? I would have been terrified! Maybe he was but felt compelled to go through with it anyway since now it was out in the open.