Welcome again, my friends. We have spent a lot of time together. I’ve shared many secrets about myself and my experiences — baring my soul to you. This is not because I am anyone special. I shared my openness with the goal of motivating you to embrace vulnerability in Scripture.
In holding our lives up to biblical standards, we can see areas we can improve in. I say improve in, not fail in. This life is about continued improvement. Today, we will read Mark 14.
The Discipline of Rising Early
My normal day starts at 4:00 a.m. so I can read my Bible verses and eat breakfast before posting my devotionals online. I can automate much of it, but there is a group—some of whom read before going to work—and I like to get the post made before 6:00 a.m. if possible. I am devoted to this. But it is difficult for me. I love to sleep.
When I was in my twenties, I would sleep in on weekends. Sometimes, I would not get out of bed until 10:30 or later. Then I came to own cats, and they won’t allow such behavior.
Delighting in Betrayal
Today, we read:
“Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” (Mark 14:10–11, NIV)
We’ve discussed betrayal before. Their delight struck me. Sleep used to be something I delighted in—because I would stay out too late the night before.
Using this word in Mark 14:11 made me want to find out what the top ten things are that people delight in today. That list includes:
- Entertainment
- Wealth
- Social media validation
- Travel
- Food
- Power
- Sex
- Fame
- Control
- Revenge(1)
This does not surprise me. When we finish working at the end of our day, we turn on the television and look for something to watch. Not that we even pay attention all the time. But we need to be entertained.
Many churches focus more on the entertainment value of the worship service than on the theology. Years ago at a College Bible Camp in Glorieta, NM, I could meet Matt Boswell and Matt Papa—two great worship leaders. Matt Boswell wrote a book called Doxology and Theology. In it, he points out these should be inseparable.(2)
Singing with Sound Doctrine
When we read that the disciples with Jesus were singing hymns (Mark 14:26), I have to believe they had sound doctrine within them. They were singing the Hallel Psalms (Psalms 113–118), songs of praise used during festivals like Passover. This is where we get the word Hallelujah, which means “Praise the Lord.”
So we see they had good intent. But there’s an adage: the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I know the disciples loved Jesus, but they had gotten too complacent. They felt at ease in His presence. As time passed, they got bolder—asking for places in the kingdom and even contradicting Him (Mark 10:37), saying they would never deny Him (v 14:29).
Sleeping in the Garden
This was clear in the Garden of Gethsemane when they fell asleep (Mark 14:37–40). Every night, as my wife and I watch television, I try to stay focused, but my eyes get heavy and she has to ask me if I want her to stop the show while I grab a brief nap. It’s not that I find the show uninteresting or boring, but I just get comfortable after a day of thinking. I allow myself to be relaxed—and it results in falling asleep.
The disciples in the garden were too comfortable. When Jesus went to pray, they should have focused, wanting to know what He was saying to the Father, awaiting the reply, and anticipating the moment. Instead, they kept falling asleep.
Casual Faith and Reverence
In Matthew 24:42 and echoed in Mark 14:62, we are told to stay awake. But I fear we’ve gotten too casual in our relationship with God. We hear terms like “I have a friend,” or “the Big Guy,” or “the Man Upstairs.” These are annoying because they lack reverence for God. He is God. We should be in awe of everything He is and does.
Instead, I fear that someone will catch us sleeping because, like the Pharisees, we value fearing man more than fearing God (Mark 14:2).
What Do You Delight In?
When I think through this chapter, I have to evaluate: What do I delight in? My list is like the one above. Having an honest, objective look is beneficial because I know I need to spend more time and energy talking to God, listening to what He has to say.
He should be at the top of the list. Yet for many of us, He’s not in the top ten at all. The next step is trying to take actionable steps to change that. Praying that He would give us more faith.
Tomorrow, we will read Mark 15-16.
Footnotes
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“Top 10 Things People Take Delight In,” Psychology Today, accessed October 9, 2025, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-path-passion/2023/10/what-do-people-delight-in..
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Matt Boswell, Doxology and Theology: How the Gospel Forms the Worship Leader, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2013.
