Mark 15:1-5

Mark 15:1-5 

English Standard Version 

  I can't remember what I ate for lunch yesterday, but I can still remember mean things people said about me a few decades ago.  The human mind is amazing, right?  We zero in on the negative things people say, while often the good things wash right over.

  Here, Jesus is being accused of all sorts of things.  We remember that Jesus is perfect, but that doesn't stop them from making false accusations.  Jesus is calm in the face of it all -- he is completely confident in his identity as a beloved child of God.  He has no fear of false accusations.  He knows that everything is held in God's hand.

  May we find the same courage to ignore the false and malicious things people say about us, and may it lead us to a place of peace, where we don't worry about the negative things coming from others, and we focus instead on the fact that God loves us and wants more for us than we can possibly ask or imagine.

Mark 14:66-72

Mark 14:66-72 

English Standard Version 

  I've said it before and I'll say it again -- I love Scripture because of how human and accessible it is.

  You've probably heard the argument that every Olympic event should have one average person in it just so we could truly appreciate how great Olympic athletes truly are.  We take their greatness for granted because that's all we see during the Olympics, but if you saw me struggling to throw a javelin more than 5 feet or watched me fall on my tail 16 times during an ice-skating event, you'd probably recognize how great those athletes are.  

  When we read Scripture, we can take the same mentality into it if we're not careful.  We can look at people like Peter and Paul and David and Abraham and think they're super-human and super-Christians, but the Bible doesn't portray them like that.  The Bible tells us their flaws and shows us how broken they are.  They don't hide their imperfections -- Mark tells us how Peter promised Jesus he would never forsake them and then reveals how Peter denied knowing Jesus shortly after.  This is the same Peter who would go on to be a leader in the church, and everyone knew his flaws.  

  The message here is that your flaws don't disqualify you from membership in the church.  There is a place for you, brokenness and everything, because the church is always and has always been a community of sinners, each of us redeemed through the love and grace of God.

Mark 14:53-65

Mark 14:53-65 

English Standard Version 

  Have you ever decided you didn't like something before you tried it?  Or made a decision about a person before you got to know them?  Maybe you went to a restaurant that didn't look very nice, but the food was fantastic, and you found yourself surprised at how good the food was.  Or maybe you met someone who didn't look like they'd be very impressive, and then you discovered how kind or wise they were.

  The high priests had already decided that Jesus was guilty.  They didn't like the threat that he represented to the power that they held. They saw him as an enemy, and nothing he said would've mattered.  

  I think there are a lot of people in the world who have formed opinions about Jesus based on what they've heard from people other than Jesus.  Maybe they heard a piece of a talk or read something a leading Christian wrote, and that was enough.  It's unfortunate, but people form their opinions based on followers of Jesus.  It's so important that we go to the Gospels, that we hear from Jesus himself, to read his words and learn about his actions, so that we have an unfiltered opinion and hear the wonders and love directly from him.  We can use others to help us learn, to help us grow, but nothing is a substitute for hearing directly from God, in study of the Word and prayer.

Mark 14:51-52

Mark 14:51-52 

English Standard Version

 I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas!  It will never cease to amaze me that of all the ways God chose to enter the world, a poor couple in a stable was the preferred method.  Given that the magic of Christmas is still celebrated around the world thousands of years later, this was clearly the correct choice, but it's not the one that I would've come up.  I would've designed something different, based on human wisdom, and it would've failed.  

  The Gospels are simply unique, and the story is triumphant because God's wisdom is greater than our own.  They are true, because they don't hide the bumps in the road that are part of every journey, but they show us the larger story arc winning out despite human weakness.

  Take this short part of Mark, in the midst of Jesus being arrested.  This is thought to be autobiographical, with Mark including this detail about his own flight to safety away from the soldiers.  Mark was running for his life.

  Why would you include this if you were making up a story?  It's embarrassing.  It's awkward.  Mark is forever known as the guy who ran away naked rather than risk association with Jesus in the garden.

   You'd only include it if it was true.  You'd only include it if your failure had been redeemed by the love of one so powerful that even death itself is no longer a threat.  You'd only include this if you were in a place where you could laugh at your weakness because human frailty doesn't matter anymore -- it's been covered by grace, and only hope and redemption matter now.

  You'd only include this if you believed the truth of the Gospel had won the day. Thanks be to God that it has!

  Merry Christmas!

Mark 14:43-50

Mark 14:43-50 

English Standard Version 

  It's fascinating to be reading this at Christmas time -- we have both ends of Jesus' life, each fraught with risk and human frailty.  And yet this was always the plan.  God wanted to save God's beloved people, and it required a perfect sacrifice.  It was never going to be easy or clean, because sacrifice never is, and yet it is somehow infused with perfect love throughout.  The elders and scribes who Jesus came to save were only interested in preserving their own power, so they turned against him.  Judas was lost, and he ran from Jesus, but Jesus didn't give up on him.  

  So at Christmas, we peer into the manger to see the wonder, and the pain of Good Friday only amplifies the miracle.  God knew redemption would lead through the cross, and yet God still chose this path, because it was the only way.  The people fled and Jesus was alone, and yet Jesus remained on the course.  Love remains faithful, even to the end.

Mark 14:32-42

Mark 14:32-42 

English Standard Version 

  What do you say to people who let you down?  It's hard to resist the temptation to needle them a little, to remind them of what a disappointment they are in the moment.  We often do this without thinking, because our tongues get sharper and we tell people that we expected better.

  Jesus is about to be killed, and he asks the disciples to stay up and pray with him, and to show their dedication and devotion to him... they instantly fall asleep.  It's a pivotal night in Jesus' life and he needs them to be a community for him... and yet they completely fail.  Three times.  

  Jesus could have said all sorts of things, and yet he says the kindest thing possible.  He finds something nice to say about them in the moment -- that their spirits are willing, but the flesh is weak.  He looks for the bright spot in this, and highlights their willingness to be with him, and blames their bodies for not keeping up with him.  Jesus didn't have to say this, but he chose to be kind and look for something good to say.

  May we do likewise when others reveal their flaws to us.  

Mark 14:26-31

Mark 14:26-31

English Standard Version 

  Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves.

  We often don't think of Jesus as the God of the Psalms, but it's the same God.  Jesus knit us together in our mother's wombs, and he knows us completely.  He knows our every weakness, and he still loves us, which is remarkable.  He knows Peter's weaknesses, and he calls Peter and loves Peter.  Peter doesn't realize how far he is about to fall -- Peter thinks he is stronger than he is, Peter thinks he'll be able to resist his self-preservation instinct and remain faithful.

  It all falls apart for Peter, just as Jesus knew that it would.

  But Jesus called him anyway, Jesus loves him anyway, and he will redeem Peter's failure, just as he will do for you and I.

Mark 14:22-25

Mark 14:22-25 

English Standard Version 

  So much of the Bible revolves around sharing meals together.  Adam and Eve started it off by sharing the wrong food, opting to eat what looked good but wasn't good for them spiritually.  Then God fed the Israelites manna in the wilderness.  Moses and some of the elders dined with God on Mt. Sinai.  Elijah was fed by the ravens in the wilderness.  Jesus fed several large crowds miraculously.  

  Here's Jesus, inviting the disciples into a new kind of meal, one that symbolizes the type of community the church is -- one that is formed around Jesus himself.  He is the sustenance that we need, he is the one that binds us together.  We cannot survive without the nourishment that he brings, which he gladly pours out for us so that we might be sustained and redeemed.  

  I don't know that we think about Jesus like this, as something that we need every day.  We likely focus more on breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  May we wisely recognize the food that our souls need to survive the journey, and make time every day to sit and dine with Jesus. 

Mark 14:17-21

Mark 14:17-21 

English Standard Version 

  Sometimes, we have the ability to be incredibly honest with ourselves.  We often deceive ourselves, but every once in a while, complete honesty comes through.  That's what I see here from the disciples -- when Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him, they don't immediately deny it.  Each of them asks if it is him, as though they don't know.  They don't know if they're capable of such a thing, but they also don't seem certain that they aren't.  They wonder if it could be them.

  May we be aware of our limitations, and watch out for the ways Scripture warns us about weaknesses.  May we form a community around ourselves to help us be strong, that we may encourage one another in steadfastness, in faithfulness, in humility, that when we gather around the table we may be a community holding each other accountable to pursue Christ above all else.

Mark 14:12-16

Mark 14:12-16

English Standard Version

  There were so many things that Jesus could've been doing that final week of his life.  His ministry had three years of momentum and thousands of people would press in on him every time he went to speak.  He could've sought to maximize public speaking and teaching opportunities, or to perform as many miracles as possible.  And he likely did some of those -- but what we learn throughout the Gospels is that Jesus opted to prioritize spending time with his friends, sharing a meal with them.  They didn't know what was about to happen, despite him telling them about it time and time again, but looking back on it, it must have been remarkable to have spent his final hours in such company.

  May we choose relationships as well.  There are so many pressures in life, and it often feels like there are so many things to get done.  May we pause and choose to spend time with those who are around us.  We don't know what the future holds -- so let us enjoy a feast, even a modest one, in the company of friends and family, giving thanks for such opportunities.

  And may we rejoice that God wants to spend time with us in such a way.  God comes to us as a Savior, but also as a friend, to be known and to know us.  We find God in breaking bread, in a common meal, for God wants to be found by us.

Mark 14:10-11

Mark 14:10-11 

English Standard Version 

  There was probably a time in Judas' life when he never could've imagined doing this.  It likely would've appalled him to merely think of betraying Jesus.  He would've reacted like Peter when Jesus told Peter that all the disciples would abandon him.  Judas likely would've denied even having the thought.

  But something happened.  It likely didn't occur all at once, but things changed inside of Judas, and his heart grew cold.  He turned into a different person than the one who chose to follow Jesus at the start, and eventually, that led here.

  There but for the grace of God go I.  We don't know what the future holds.  It's easy to say that we'd never do something, but we've often never experienced the circumstances that others have which have led them to do such things.  May we have pity on one another, extend grace towards one another, and pray for the wisdom and courage to endure the path of discipleship, no matter how hard things get, so that we may be true to our calling and true to our Savior, resisting the temptation to turn aside and let our hearts grow cold.

Mark 14:1-9

Mark 14:1-9

English Standard Version 

  In a country as diverse as ours, there is massive diversity among individuals, and it grows daily.  Some value money while others value relationships.  Some value popularity and fame, while others value family and simplicity.  Some value faith and service, others humility.  Our own values can bounce around, changing depending on who we're near and what we're doing, if we're not careful.  

  These verses show us the different values of the people who were around Jesus.  We see the chief priests and scribes are experiencing a threat to their authority and power, so they want to eliminate that.  They don't value honest inquiry and intellectual curiosity -- they value their position in society, and will do anything to protect that.  

  Others around Jesus value money -- they're instantly thinking of the cost of the ointment, wondering if this is the best use of it.  They want to see something monetized so they can count its value.

  This woman -- she values Jesus above all else.  This costly ointment means so little in comparison to Jesus, that she is willing to pour it upon Jesus as an expression of love.  Everything else pales compared to the surpassing value of Jesus.  

  Spend some time today thinking about your own values and how you express those in your life.  What do you value above all else, and how do you show that?

Mark 13:32-37

Mark 13:32-37

English Standard Version 

  When I was in high school, I worked at the airport on the oversize bag belt.  I was also responsible for walking around the various baggage carousels and grabbing bins as they made their way around.  It wasn't an incredibly strenuous job, but a good portion of my time was spent sitting by the oversize bag talking with other employees.  One evening, the manager made his way out to find us sitting around talking rather than working.  I still remember the shame of being found slacking off when I should have been working.  The manager rarely made his way out there, so I grew lazy, and I was caught.

  This is like that, only it's actually important!  Jesus is telling us to stay ready, to be on our guard, because he'll be coming back.  He doesn't tell us when, and two thousand years later, we've all grown rather comfortable.  We don't really expect Jesus to come back any day now, do we?  So we prioritize our own items, telling ourselves that we'll get around to putting faith first.

  Stay awake, Jesus tells us.  This world is not our true home, despite the temptation to think so.  May we not be found asleep, but instead, let us continually invest ourselves in the things of God's Kingdom, that our lives may be caught up in joining God's work, rather than putting our own work first.  Each morning, may we choose the things of Christ, and let Scripture be a constant reminder that life is more than what we see, more than what we know here -- all of that is enriched by our lives of faith.

Mark 13:28-31

Mark 13:28-31 

English Standard Version 

  The rhythms of nature are embedded within us -- Jesus is telling us that we naturally know some things.  We see them occuring in the natural world, and we know what follows.  What fits this for you?  Maybe when you feel the first chill wind in the fall, you know the leaves will start turning, or when you see the crocus budding the first signs of spring, you know you'll see more wildlife out and about.  Many of these things are ingrained into us -- we just know them.  

  So it should be, Jesus says, with our lives and Scripture.  Do we know Scripture well enough that when we see things out in the world, we understand it spiritually because we've been learning from Scripture and know what it means?  Are we immersing ourselves in the World of God so that we know and understand how the world points back to God and trains us to worship in the midst of everything we do?  Are we constantly learning?  

  

Mark 13:24-27

Mark 13:24-27 

English Standard Version 

  When it rains, it's hard to feel optimistic.  Rainy days feel dreary to me.  As I think about that, I don't think I'd be overly optimistic if I saw the stars falling from the heavens.  If the sun is darkened and the moon fails to give forth light, I would be pretty discouraged.  It'd be easy to give up hope.

  On the other side of that trial, however, there is God, sending out angels to gather up the faithful.  There is Jesus, coming in clouds and robed in glory.  On the other side of suffering, there is hope -- this is the message of Scripture, all with the purpose of helping us hold onto hope in the midst of suffering, so that our faith might be strong enough to believe that God is with us in the suffering and will give us the power to endure through it to the glory on the other side.

Mark 13:14-23

Mark 13:14-23 

English Standard Version 

  Lots of people think Jesus is a good moral teacher, but little else.  These people don't read the full words of Jesus, only the things they see cross-stitched on a pillow.  Jesus was very serious about who he was, and he was looking at the world through the lens of a Creator.  He knew the reality of sin and brokenness, and he knew the salvation that was coming as well.  He saw it all, and he talked openly about it -- not just the commands to love one another, but the reality that the church would suffer, that there would be violence and pain, and that there would be a lot of uncertainty surrounding these events.

  May we give thanks that Jesus addressed real-world issues.  Jesus didn't hide from it, and he prepared the disciples for it.  The road he calls us on is not easy, but he promises us that it is worth it.  A life of discipleship will be challenging, but Jesus is always urging us to keep the Kingdom in mind.  It's worth it to endure, for the treasures of God far outshine any suffering this world can offer.

Mark 13:9-13

Mark 13:9-13 

English Standard Version 

  We don't exactly print this on t-shirts to sell in the gift shops!  

  But what a gift to so many in the early church who did suffer violent persecution.  We forget that in this country, in this time and place, but untold souls have been killed for their faith.  The Gospels gave them a tremendous gift -- they could go forward in peace, without anxiety, completely dependent on Christ in their moment of trial, trusting that the Holy Spirit was present and at work, and that enduring through the midst of their trial would bring them salvation.  It reminds me of Daniel's 3 friends who are about to be thrown into a fiery furnace.  They are uncertain if they are to be saved, but they will not bow a knee to a false God regardless, because they believe that what they are doing is right.

  So much of this is exactly that -- a reminder that our faith is right, and despite the world turning against us, it is worth it to endure for the sake of Christ.  The Kingdom of God is bigger than this world, bigger than this life, and we are wise to choose that, regardless of circumstances, that we may attain the laurel wreath of glory that transcends any honor this world might offer.

Mark 13:3-8

Mark 13:3-8

English Standard Version 

  I was listening to a preacher I really enjoy the other day, and he started to get into this a little -- with the disclaimer that while we don't know when the end will be, he started to list off things that made him think it was coming soon.  I'm on the fence for even going that far -- part of me appreciates digging into the Scriptures and recognizing that they have something to say to us in modern times.  But mostly, I hear Jesus start with a warning for us not to be led astray by anyone who begins to claim to know when such things will take place.  The world has been a violent place for thousands of years, with too much chaos and too much violence taking too many innocent lives.  Nations are in conflict with nations, and it startles me every time I see the list of conflicts going on in the world.  We long for peace, we pray for peace, but the ultimate peace is only on the other side of great tribulation.

  As the church, all we can do is trust in God and work for peace.  We can see where people are hurting, and we can serve, and we can love, and we can pray.  Thy Will Be Done -- each and every day.