Until that day

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!

Gospel Depth

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

Mark is coming to a close, but it is a Gospel after all, and thus rapidly moves towards the Cross. In this narrative we have the securing of the upper room, the enunciation of a new covenant, the prediction of betrayal(s), followed by immediate denials (they were all wrong; perhaps most of all Peter). All narratives that we seem so familiar with. How do we look at these in a fresh way that doesn’t seem trivial? I suppose the best reminder is that we never graduate from the Gospel, nor those particular events leading up to the Cross. Every so often in ministry, I have heard the occasional mantra, “I want something deeper.” As if the Gospel is wading through shallow waters, no in fact, there is nothing more profound and worthy of contemplation.

Fear

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”.

Pesach

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!

Ruthless

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.

They Sang

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!

A night to remember

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.

Questions

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.

Bountiful

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

In the beginning God invited Adam and Eve to eat of all the fruit of the garden, save one. That fruit would only bring suffering and death. Jesus came that we might have life and life abundantly; he came that we might be free again to know the bounty of good fruit, to taste and see that the Lord is good.

I know you know this, but it must be said, Jesus desires that you bear much fruit, he died in fact, and rose again, that you might. He beckons you to believe, to listen to His voice and obey, and to pray for Kingdom fruit. Is that not what he told his Apostles, “Abide in me and you will bare much fruit,” and “whatever you ask of God and believe, it will be yours.” The invitation is true and clear, will you taste the bountiful fruit of God, will it manifest in your life and others? You can even today.

Teachable Moments

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

As parents, leaders, and believers we look for “teachable moments” (to grow and mature in our relationship with Christ, to pass on the faith to our children and the next generations, and to make disciples of those in our influence and networks)
His time on earth is growing shorter and shorter. Jesus is well aware and uses teachable moments more than ever. What was on His mind and heart? What were His teachable moments only days before His suffering and death?  Mark 11 has several.

The Lord sees past outward appearances of religion and looks for true faith (fruit) as evidence of love for the Lord. (fig tree)

Prayer is a huge part of the growth, maturity, and strength of a vibrant faith. (temple and teaching on prayer)

God has a larger and clearer view of tradition, custom, and circumstances than we do. (Jews wanted their Messiah to cleanse the temple from the Gentiles, Jesus cleansed the temple for the Gentiles)

What are we sensing, seeing, and learning??