The Everyday Prayer

Re: Verse reading–Mark 14:43-52; 15:1-15 (day two) Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me…14:49

The same men who would stand on the street corners and pray loudly so that all could hear them and marvel at their knowledge of the scriptures are the ones who would sneak around and capture Jesus at night away from those crowds. These are the men who would loudly toss their coins into the offering in order to make as much noise and thereby indicate how much they gave. These who would seek Jesus’ life were politically savvy, and they understood public opinion. What they wanted the people to see, they did openly, loudly, with conviction. What they didn’t want the public to see was done in cover of darkness.

Be honest, where do we sin the most? Out in front of everyone? Not likely. Most of us know how best to hide our sins from the world. How did these actions turn out for those who sought to get rid of Jesus? For Judas? We all have business to do with Jesus, deal with him while you can.

Re: Verse reading–Mark 14:43-52; 15:1-15 (day one)

“Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Rabbi’ and kissed him.”–v 45

Who was Judas trying to fool?  Not Jesus, certainly.  Their conversation a few hours before made it clear that Jesus knew what Judas was up to.  The other disciples?  Perhaps he hoped that the other men would assume that the authorities had “followed him” to the garden, without his knowledge or cooperation.  Maybe, even then, Judas believed that he could force a revolution and that eventually these men would thank him.   Why else would he pretend?

Most likely, Judas was fooling himself.  It is hard to look at sin (our own).  Painful.  To avoid the shame, we pretend, even to ourselves.  We tell ourselves lies.  We play a part, never realizing that the truth is (or will be) obvious to everyone.

“Nothing is hidden that won’t be revealed”–Luke 8:17.  Don’t fool yourself.  A sign in Heaven says, “Truth is spoken here”.

 

Re:Verse reading–Mark 14:12-31 (day seven)

“I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”–v 25

I like Jesus.  Eyes on the future.  Hope!

Just hours away from the cross.  Betrayed by a friend (at some level, ALL of his friends), His clear eyes are still focused on the bright day of God’s coming victory.  “We will be together again” he says in v 25.  “At a great celebration, with wine and glad hearts”.

“For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross” says Hebrews 12:2.  I wonder how courageous I would be if I could see life through His eyes?  I wonder how undisturbed I would be by the pain and pettiness of this present age if I knew, really knew, that a happy victory was coming, and that I would share it with Him?

I think it is time for me to find out!

Re:Verse reading–Mark 14:12-31 (day five)

How quickly they must have forgotten what had just been sung. Mark’s account of the Last Supper mentions that Jesus and His disciples “sung a hymn”. Ever wonder what they sang? In all likelihood it was the second part of the Hallel (Psalms 114-118). Look at some of the words, “The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes”.

No doubt fear played a part in the disciples desertion and denial of Jesus. Here are some of the dangers of fear: fear can master our hearts and minds (leaving no room for hope, trust, and joy), fear causes us to be unfocused and unloving (God and others), and fear becomes the loudest voice we hear (drowning out the still small voice of the Lord). Maybe we should sing those lyrics everyday- “The Lord is for me; I will not fear”.

Re:Verse reading–Mark 14:12-31 (day four)

It was an ancient Jewish festival…Pesach was a spring festival associated with the season of grain harvest.  In the course of time, the life of the Jews changed and the festival took on new meanings and new significances.  During the period of the exodus, Pesach, or Passover as it was reinterpreted, became associated with the deliverance from Egypt.  Now, in celebrating the Passover with His disciples, Jesus attaches a new meaning and significance to the celebration.  It has become what believers now know as the Lord’s Supper…remembering His death and sacrifice made for men and women.

Has your life had periods of new meaning and significance to old experiences?  Have you grown in your relationship with Christ?  Life is not intended to remain stagnant…there is constant growth.  Seek the Lord daily for wisdom and direction.  The living Word of God and the Spirit of God will open new understanding…the application of His Truth to your life will bring new significance…the realization of God’s promises will bring great joy!

Re: Verse reading–Mark 14:12-31 (day three)

“‘Surely you don’t mean me?’”  It’s hard to take an inside look.  How about this hilarious 2002 statistic from pollster George Barna: Ninety percent of pastors rate themselves as above-average preachers and teachers.  Ninety percent are above average?  Think about that.  Anyway, Jesus kept saying life with him requires that a person deny himself.  But we say we just need a little margin, a little breathing space, a little vacation from the frustration.  If we can have that, we’ll be golden.  No, Jesus says, we don’t need that.  What we need is God’s mercy in the face of our depravity.  As long as we’re in surely-not-I mode, we won’t believe for a moment that our own wickedness is gumming up the works.  And so we claim to be without sin.

Re: Verse reading–Mark 14:12-31 (day two) After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. vs 26

For as long as I can remember I have been haunted by this verse. Both Matthew and Mark Jesus singing with his disciples. There it is stuck between the Supper and the Garden. Why is it so important? What can be gained from this part of the story? This was the final moment that the eleven remaining disciples would be together with Jesus before the cross and his visit to them post-resurrection. The final act in this final gathering was to sing. They sang not as an obligation or as a function of their “ritual.” There is strength to be gained from corporate worship. Jesus, knowing what was before him, requested that they sing together, and in that picture of worship there is unity, power, and strength.

If Jesus, who would go on to endure the cross, would choose to sing before having to face it alone why wouldn’t you? If Jesus models for us how we are to face life’s challenges, then shouldn’t we all line up to sing together before we face the storm? I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to worship this week!

Re: Verse reading–Mark 14:12-31 (day one)
(See also Matthew 26:17-46, Luke 22:7-38, John 13-17)

He planned it carefully.  A final time to be with the twelve.  Just them.

That night, all over Jerusalem, families were celebrating Passover.  In a real sense these men were family.

The arrangements were made in secret.  Jesus did not want this time to be disturbed.  Peter and John left the group earlier in the day.  Went into the city.  Found the prearranged (?) room.  Went to the temple.  Sacrificed a lamb.  Came back to prepare the Passover meal.  Jesus and the rest arrived later.

Nearly 1/3 of gospel material is about the last week of Jesus’ life.  And nearly 1/3 of the material on the last week deals with this night.  Passover. Washing Feet. Judas leaves.  The Lord’s supper.  The Lord’s words (John 14-17). Final hymn. Gethsemane.

The gospel writers all agree.  If you want to understand the Lord, you should pay attention to the events and meaning of this night.

Re: Verse reading–Mark 11:12-33 (day seven)

“And He said to it, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ “–v 14

Why don’t warnings work?  They don’t usually. Why do most of us insist on learning things the hard way?  Who teaches us to think that we are “Ten feet tall and bullet-proof”, that none of the warnings of God will ever happen to us or to our families?  Why didn’t the people of Jerusalem believe Jesus that disaster was coming?  Why couldn’t they see the darkness of their own hearts? Why didn’t they repent?

And us?  Why don’t we see that the “God of wrath” is the “God of the path”, that His love is, at this very moment, urging us to follow Him out of danger?

And, why was Jesus so confident?  Why did he teach, with unbending HOPE, that faith and prayer and forgiveness would still work for us?  Even in times of collapse!

Just wondering.