Seeking the Light

Mark 15: 16 – 20 The soldiers mock Jesus

Mark 15: 16 – 20 The soldiers mock Jesus

The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spat on him. Falling on their knees they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

* * *

Blow after blow landed on Jesus’ head. His scalp was painfully lacerated by a crudely fashioned crown of thorns. He was mocked, as those who were to crucify him pretended to kneel before him and pay him homage. Jesus would have experienced the terror of being in the hands of a group of men who could do whatever they wished to him, short of killing him. Taking their cue from the notice of the charge against him, they dressed him as a king, and parodied worship.

Mark, who says of the crucifixion merely, ‘And they crucified him,’ takes the trouble to describe details of how the soldiers abused him. Why does he do this?

Possibly he wishes to convey that just as the Jews had rejected the kingship of Jesus, so, too, had the Gentiles.

How reliable is Mark’s account of this episode?

Firstly, how did he know what had happened in the Praetorium? Any Jew who went into the Praetorium would have been ritually unclean, and therefore unfit to take part in the celebration of Passover. It is likely that the only people present were the soldiers and Jesus. The chance that Mark knew these details from a Jewish source is low.

It’s slightly more likely that Mark’s source was one of the soldiers present, perhaps the centurion mentioned in Mark 15: 39, ‘And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” ’ Of course, it would also be possible that Jesus had told his disciples after his resurrection.

The second question is what would Roman soldiers have known or cared about the Jewish Messiah? The crown of thorns, the staff representing the mace of kingly authority, the mock worship, all seem to be directed at Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah.

But are they really? What would the soldiers have needed to know about Jesus to taunt him like this? There was a written notice of the charge for which he was being crucified. ‘The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.’ (Mark 15: 26)

Experience in our own days – the tortures at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, carried out by American soldiers (some of the most disciplined fighters in the world) – makes it clear that it is all too possible for soldiers to behave like this.

Finally, what about the statement, ‘They put a purple robe on him’?

It’s easy to believe the Roman soldiers would have mocked and abused Jesus, but a purple robe? In the Roman Empire, purple was the imperial colour, reserved for the emperor. A purple robe was very expensive. Who would have had such a robe in Jerusalem? Not Pilate. Possibly Herod. And that’s about it.

Could it have been Herod? In Luke 23: 11 we read, ‘Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.’ Perhaps the elegant robe from Herod was purple?

So, although the primary meaning of this passage is to tell us that the Gentiles, like the Jews, rejected the kingship of Jesus, and although there are certainly questions that can be raised, there is nothing in the passage that shows conclusively that it is invented. It is possible that this story is true exactly as it is written.

And if that’s so, what a dreadful scene it describes. Jesus is physically hurt by many blows, some, sickeningly, to the head. He is taunted for his weakness, and for the contrast between his title “king of the Jews” and his helplessness to defend himself. And that is just the start…

Prayer

Dear Jesus

Thank you for submitting to the soldiers, and for bearing the pain and the ridicule. I’m sorry for the many times that I, too, have denied your kingship. Please forgive me; I just want to love and serve you.

For your name’s sake, Amen

Mark 15: 1 – 15 Jesus before Pilate

Mark 15: 1 – 15 Jesus before Pilate

Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ asked Pilate.

‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied.

The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, ‘Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.’

But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

‘Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?’ asked Pilate, knowing that it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to get Pilate to release Barabbas instead.

‘What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?’ Pilate asked them.

‘Crucify him!’ they shouted.

‘Why? What crime has he committed?’ asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

* * *

Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans.

This sentence makes it completely clear that Jesus’ death was planned by the leaders of the Jews.

So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

Jesus bound – and helpless? Let’s look at Matthew’s gospel. During the arrest of Jesus, one of his disciples drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of the group taking Jesus captive. Jesus said to him, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26: 53 – 54) Jesus was deliberately not seeking to avoid his suffering and death; he was consciously accepting it in obedience to the Father’s will.

‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ asked Pilate.

‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied.

What sort of reply is this? In human terms, Pilate had total power over Jesus. He could set him free, or have him crucified. It hardly mattered to Pilate which he did; he had the authority. You might have expected Jesus to have spoken more diplomatically.

The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, ‘Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.’

But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

Pilate surely expected Jesus to try to rebut the charges; instead, Jesus remains silent. Wouldn’t someone in Jesus’ position try almost any means to avoid being crucified? Pilate’s amazement emphasizes the enormity of Jesus’ choice.

Pilate had been amazed by Jesus’ behaviour and manner. I don’t think he had any particular qualms about an unjust execution, but it would seem he preferred Jesus to the chief priests. He tried to use the custom of releasing an imprisoned man at the festival to foil the Jewish leaders’ plans.

‘What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?’ Pilate asked them.

‘Crucify him!’ they shouted.

‘Why? What crime has he committed?’ asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’

The crowd called for Jesus’ death. Had any of them spread palm branches before him a scant week earlier? Were they disappointed at Jesus’ failure to lead an armed insurrection against the Romans?

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The secular power joined with the religious authorities and passed judgment on God’s Son.

That is what human power does when confronted by those who challenge its legitimacy. Jesus committed no sin; he took no violent actions; he did not make personal attacks on those who tried to prevent him from doing the Father’s will. Rather, he healed the sick and preached the good news of the kingdom of God to all who would listen. And yet God the Father allowed him to be tortured, disgraced and killed.

This slams us right into the mystery of suffering.

Why did God allow Jesus to suffer like this?

Why did he create a world in which suffering is unavoidable?

I can only answer these questions by pointing to the book of Job. This basically says that God permits suffering for his own purposes, and our human perspective is too limited to understand the reasons for it.

However, today’s passage from Mark’s gospel assures us of one thing; whatever we suffer as individual humans, Jesus has suffered too. Betrayal, abandonment, interrogation, false conviction, torture and death; he’s been there, and he knows from the inside what it’s like. He surrendered willingly to all this so that God’s will would be done.

This was the culmination of his human ministry. He had healed, taught, raised the dead, lived an exemplary life, and showed us what God’s love meant. His death on the cross is all of a piece with the rest of his life. It is the supreme statement that God loves us.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the love that you showed by submitting to God’s will.

* * *

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who enables Jesus to live in my heart.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Mark 14: 66 – 72 Peter disowns Jesus

Mark 14: 66 – 72 Peter disowns Jesus

While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.

‘You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,’ she said.

But he denied it. ‘I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,’ he said, and went out into the entrance.

When the servant-girl saw him there, she said again to those standing round them, ‘This fellow is one of them.’ Again he denied it.

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, ‘Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.’

He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about.’

Immediately the cock crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: ‘Before the cock crows twice you will disown me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.

* * *

Peter was not a coward.

He was in the high priest’s courtyard, within metres of where Jesus was being tried for his life. He could easily have been arrested himself.

People recognised him. He was accused of being a follower of Jesus. What would I have done, I wonder? Slipped away quietly, telling myself there was nothing I could do? That wasn’t what Peter did. He wanted to be close to his Lord, ready for service if Jesus should command it. He did something pragmatic; he denied that he knew Jesus, and he found a discreet place to wait in the entrance. He moved away from the fire around which people were gathering.

But even in the shadows of the entrance, people recognised him. The servant-girl pointed him out, saying, “ ‘This fellow is one of them.’ ” Did Peter run? No, he didn’t. Very bravely, he stayed put, waiting, hoping. Perhaps Jesus would be released? Peter remembered saying he would die with Jesus; well, perhaps that’s how it would end, but as long as Peter had breath he would take any opportunity to free Jesus. Once more Peter took the course suggested by worldly wisdom; he denied knowing Jesus.

Then Peter was denounced a third time. This time he was identified as a Galilean. What would a Galilean be doing in the high priest’s courtyard in the middle of the night? Surely he must be a follower of Jesus!

Peter realised the danger. He denied knowing Jesus in the strongest possible terms. “He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about.’ ”

See where Peter has finished up by relying on the wisdom of this world! Cursing and swearing and denying Jesus!

Immediately the cock crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: ‘Before the cock crows twice you will disown me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.

Jesus had prophesied, saying that Peter would deny him. Thanks to this forewarning, Peter realised what he was doing and immediately repented. He broke down and wept. What an awful mess. Peter couldn’t bear what he’d just done, and Jesus, the only person who could remove his burden of guilt, was in the hands of the authorities. Dreadful!

I wonder whether this is a story that Peter told often to the early church? It is an example of the mercy of God – because, of course, Peter’s story doesn’t end with the horror of denying Jesus, it continues through forgiveness and devoted service and on to martyrdom (see John chapter 21 for the story of Peter’s forgiveness and commission for service).

The thought I take away from today’s passage is this: I must pray, and pray, and pray, for the direction of the Holy Spirit. It’s far too tempting to follow human wisdom, but what really matters is God’s will.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Your plan is perfect and your will is sovereign. Thank you for Jesus, who showed us how to live according to your will. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who gives us guidance day by day in our lives. Please help me to understand the limits of human wisdom, and live my life more closely in accordance with your will.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Mark 14: 53 – 65 Jesus before the Sanhedrin

Mark 14: 53 – 65 Jesus before the Sanhedrin

They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: ‘We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.” ’ Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’

‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’

The high priest tore his clothes. ‘Why do we need any more witnesses?’ he asked. ‘You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?’

They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, ‘Prophesy!’ And the guards took him and beat him.

* * *

The administration of justice under Judaism was intended to be impartial. The following elements were necessary if the accused were to be convicted of a capital crime.

At least two witnesses had to agree on what had happened
The witnesses must not be related to each other
The witnesses had to have been present at the crime, and each seen that the other was present
At the time of the crime, both witnesses must have shouted a warning to the accused telling him not to commit the crime.
The court had to examine each witness separately. If the evidence was inconsistent, in even a small detail, the testimony was treated as suspect and disregarded.

It was actually made deliberately difficult to convict someone on a capital charge.

In Jesus’ trial the Sanhedrin seem to have wanted to satisfy the legal requirements. This may have been because they didn’t want the conviction to be open to challenge, either by the Romans or by the crowds who followed Jesus, or perhaps because some among them were sympathetic to Jesus’ teaching. It may even have been that those present sincerely wished to see the law observed in every detail – nit-picking observance of a complex set of rules was, after all, the way they lived their lives.

They examined a number of ‘witnesses’, but their testimony never agreed. The Sanhedrin struggled to find grounds to convict Jesus. Eventually, the high priest decided to question Jesus himself. He “stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’”

Jesus had no need to answer such a question. He “remained silent and gave no answer.”

The high priest then took the most desperate measure of all. He sought to have Jesus incriminate himself by blaspheming in front of the court.

“Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’”

Jesus would have known that answering ‘Yes’ to this question meant his certain death; indeed, that was the matter he had been wrestling with all night in Gethsemane. And now we see the answer God the Father gave to his prayer in Gethsemane. Jesus was ready for what followed, he had the spiritual strength to accept his part in our salvation, and there was no hesitation in his answer.

“‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’”

And this is it. The high priest has been asked Jesus whether he is the Messiah, and Jesus has answered truthfully. Indeed, he has been explicit about his relationship with God.

Jesus’ statement is an implied question, and it turns the questioning on its head. It is no longer the court asking questions, it is Jesus asking the single most important question.

‘Do you accept me as the Messiah, and the Son of God?’

We can see from Mark’s account the answer given by the Sanhedrin.

“The high priest tore his clothes. ‘Why do we need any more witnesses?’ he asked. ‘You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?’

They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, ‘Prophesy!’ And the guards took him and beat him.”

Complete rejection and denial. Disorder and violence. Mockery and humiliation.

Hardening of the intention to see Jesus done to death.

‘Do you accept me as the Messiah, and the Son of God?’

That’s a question we all need to hear and answer. It really is as stark as that. Jesus either is the Messiah or he isn’t, and if he isn’t then we live by human values and human wisdom alone. And the Sanhedrin’s response shows us just what that means.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you that we don’t need to live by human wisdom. Thank you that when we follow Jesus, you give us the strength to do your will. Thank you that the resurrection of Jesus shows us that your plan is triumphant.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Mark 14: 32 – 42 Gethsemane

Mark 14: 32 – 42 Gethsemane

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ he said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’

Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Simon,’ he said to Peter, ‘are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’

Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

Returning the third time, he said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!’

* * *

Peter, James and John were with Jesus in Gethsemane. He drew apart from them, instructing them to keep watch.

They fell asleep.

Their teacher, their leader, their Lord, their Messiah was praying, almost in desperation – and they fell asleep!

Jesus woke them, and admonished Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

And, despite this, when Jesus withdrew again to pray, the disciples fell asleep. When he woke them, “They did not know what to say to him.”

Jesus withdrew a third time, and the disciples fell asleep once more.

How were the disciples able to sleep at such a moment of crisis? Even if they didn’t understand what was happening, surely the agony of the prayer that Jesus prayed, over and over again, would have served to keep them awake?

Note that Jesus doesn’t excuse their failure, but neither is his rebuke harsh. In fact, it’s compassionate; he acknowledges that they want to do the right thing but have failed, because, “ ’The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ ”

When the disciples fall asleep, they leave Jesus utterly alone with his sorrow. “ ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ he said to them.”

The falling away of all human support is necessary. Jesus is going to a place that is both unique, and yet familiar to each one of us. He is going to die. Sooner or later, we reach that point when human love can no longer hold us to this world, and we pass – alone – through the deep water of death. As we approach our end, we can feel secure in the knowledge that Jesus has been this way before us. He was fully human, and he experienced the worst our world could do to him.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you that Jesus was fully human, and that he suffered and died for us. I am sorry for the times when I am not awake to what you would have me do – and for the times when I know perfectly well what you want me to do, and fail to do it. I’m sorry; have mercy on me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Mark 14: 27 – 31 Jesus predicts Peter’s denial

Mark 14: 27 – 31 Jesus predicts Peter’s denial

‘You will all fall away,’ Jesus told them, ‘for it is written:

‘ “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”

But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.’

Peter declared, ‘Even if all fall away, I will not.’

‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘today – yes, tonight – before the cock crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.’

But Peter insisted emphatically, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the others said the same.

* * *

Look at the detail in this this passage. Jesus made two prophecies.

To all the disciples he said, ‘But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.’

And to Peter, he said ‘today – yes, tonight – before the cock crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.’

The gospels subsequently tell us that both these prophesies were true, and that tells us something about Jesus. By making these prophesies, Jesus shows that he now fully understands the will of God the Father in the events that are to follow. He knows now that there is no backing out; he has to go through terrible suffering and death. We need to keep that in mind for studying the next passage.

This passage also tells us about Peter and the other disciples. They said they were prepared to die with Jesus, but compare this with their doubt as to whether they would betray him at the Last Supper, in Mark 14: 19. “They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, ‘Surely you don’t mean me?’”

It’s clear that they were completely confused. Nothing about Jesus’ mission made sense to them anymore. Why were they there, risking death in Jerusalem? How was Jesus going to establish his Messianic kingdom? Where were the armies he would need? Or, if he was going to prove to everybody by great signs and wonders that he was the Messiah, why was there such resistance from the chief priests and teachers of the law?

All the disciples had left was faith in a man, the man Jesus; a man with few followers and no armies; a man who talked openly of his own imminent death at the hands of the Romans.

It must have seemed hopeless.

There are times in our own lives when it seems hopeless. We may see the strength of institutionalised greed and exploitation. We may see pointless wars. We may wrestle with grief or depression.

All we have left is faith in a man, faith in Jesus.

It was enough for the disciples. It is enough for us.

Praise God!

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you for the faith of the disciples. Please help us to have faith in Jesus like they did.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Mark 14: 12 – 26 The Last Supper

Mark 14: 12 – 26 The Last Supper

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, ‘Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?’

So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, “The Teacher asks: where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.’

The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me – one who is eating with me.’

They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, ‘Surely you don’t mean me?’

‘It is one of the Twelve,’ he replied, ‘one who dips bread into the bowl with me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.’

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.’

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,’ he said to them. ‘Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

* * *

They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, ‘Surely you don’t mean me?’

Jesus had hand-picked the Twelve, and yet here we are told that each of them asked Jesus, ‘Surely you don’t mean me?’ Each one knew, in his heart, that he was capable of betraying Jesus.

And, of course, in a sense they all betrayed Jesus. Ten of them did so by fleeing and abandoning him to the mob sent by the chief priests and teachers of the law. Peter repeatedly denied knowing him. Judas quite literally betrayed him, by delivering him to the authorities.

Despite knowing the frailty of his disciples, Jesus proceeded to give them – and us – a wonderful gift.

Towards the end of the meal, Jesus very deliberately shared unleavened bread and wine with his disciples. He established a ritual which identified the bread as his body and the wine as his blood, and this symbolised the new covenant between God and man.

Two thousand years later we use exactly the same ritual with the same words when we participate in the Eucharist (or Mass, or Holy Communion, or Breaking of Bread).

Are we twenty-first century Christians capable of betraying Jesus? I think that, just like the Twelve, we know that we are. I certainly have secret doubts that I would last the course if confronted by persecution, say; or, indeed, if tempted by great wealth.

Thinking this, I find myself understanding more deeply the position of the Twelve. They betrayed Jesus, and yet, over the next few days, all the Twelve except Judas continued to meet. Despite abandoning Jesus when he was seized, despite having seen him die on a cross, they stayed together. They had faith; they chose to act in the belief that Jesus was the Messiah and that God would somehow bring good out of the seemingly catastrophic events.

Their acts of faith meant that they were still assembled in Jerusalem for the resurrection. However faint their faith, it was there, and it enabled them to respond to the risen Lord Jesus.

They had each been fearful of betraying Jesus; they had each failed; and yet here they were, open to the possibility of becoming witnesses to him.

In this passage, we have seen the disciples at their weakest, and it was while they were at their weakest that Jesus gave them the gift of the Eucharist, the sign of the new covenant between God and man.

Today, like the disciples, we are weak; like them, we are given bread and wine by Jesus. Let us make sure we are where he wants us to be, ready to witness to the resurrection of Jesus; ready to be his body in our world.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you for the gift of bread and wine that symbolises the new covenant you have made with us. Please forgive us when our faith is weak, whether through fear or temptation. Help us to witness to the resurrection of Jesus whenever we have the chance, and whatever the circumstances.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Mark 14: 1 – 11 Jesus anointed at Bethany

Mark 14: 1 – 11 Jesus anointed at Bethany

Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. ‘But not during the festival,’ they said, ‘or the people may riot.’

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, ‘Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.’ And they rebuked her harshly.

‘Leave her alone,’ said Jesus. ‘Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’

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.

* * *

The first and the last paragraphs of this passage tell the story of the chief priests and teachers of the law as they plot to have Jesus killed. It is a story of malice and treachery, with one of Jesus’ own inner circle betraying him.

These paragraphs frame a story that I think is one of the most touching in the whole bible; the story of the woman who anointed Jesus with perfume made from pure nard.

For a woman, and not even a family member, to pour oil onto Jesus’ head in public was an outrageous act. The watchers would have been scandalised by it. Jesus did nothing to stop her, so the onlookers couldn’t really criticise the act itself. Instead, they attacked the practicalities of “wasting” the perfume, which could have been sold for “more than a year’s wages”.

Just imagine pouring £25,000 of perfume over someone’s head. Surely there could have been a better use for such a valuable commodity? The watchers “rebuked her harshly” – and in doing so, implicitly rebuked Jesus for permitting the act.

Jesus gave them an astonishing reply

“ ‘Leave her alone,’ said Jesus. ‘Why are you bothering her?’ ”

“Leave her alone,” was a firm rebuttal of the criticism directed at the woman, before Jesus added, “Why are you bothering her?” This was not just a casual question. Jesus had understood the implicit criticism of his own actions and was rebuking the onlookers. His question was a strong suggestion that the complainants should examine their motives for rebuking her.

“She has done a beautiful thing to me.”

The woman’s act sprang from her complete love for Jesus. It was a love that didn’t count the cost at all. There had been no cold calculation of what was an appropriate gift, just a surrender to the urge to give her beloved the most valuable thing she possessed. It’s not at all impossible that such a valuable possession represented security for her old age. And she gave that to Jesus without hesitation. There is a parallel here to the example of the poor widow, who gave all she had as an offering to God in the temple. (Mark 12: 41 – 44)

“The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want.”

Here Jesus turned the criticism back on the critics. They could all give more in the future. They could certainly have given more in the past. It’s worth noting, too, that none of the onlookers had offered to anoint Jesus. They were mean towards the poor, and mean in their response to Jesus.

“But you will not always have me.”

Jesus knew he was soon to die. He knew, too, that he was unique. He realised that in her action, the woman was anointing him prophetically. God the Father was using her as an icon of the best of human love.

“She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’”

Jesus now spoke prophetically, describing the significance of the woman’s act. He said that “wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” This act would be told and retold as an image of a perfect response to the love of God expressed through Jesus, and it would encourage countless numbers of others to respond with similar generosity.

The take away message for me from today’s passage is that I can feel free to love and worship Jesus with my emotions as well as my mind and my soul. It is a dramatic example that says to me, “It’s okay, Penny, you can feel free to express how you feel about Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you for Jesus. Thank you, too, for the woman who anointed him lavishly with nard. Thank you for loving me and letting me love you in return.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Mark 13: 32 – 37 The day and hour unknown

Mark 13: 32 – 37 The day and hour unknown

[… Jesus said to them]:

‘But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: he leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

‘Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back – whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: “Watch!” ’

* * *

This is a continuation of yesterday’s study. One of Jesus’ disciples had commented on the magnificence of the temple buildings. Jesus had replied that they would be torn down and not one stone left standing. Peter, James, John and Andrew had asked him privately when this would happen, and what would be the sign that it was imminent. In the course of his answer, Jesus said, “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.” This is the context in which we need to read today’s passage.

* * *

‘But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Some people consider that Jesus, as the Son of God, must have been omniscient. However, this sentence is Jesus’ own statement that he does not know the hour of his second coming. That suggests that he isn’t omniscient. In fact, it seems to fit much better with all we know of Jesus from the gospels; he needs to pray, and he withdraws from those around him so as not to be distracted when he prays. Besides, why should he be omniscient? If he were, he surely wouldn’t be fully human, would he?

Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: he leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

We have been left in charge of God’s house, and each of us has been assigned a task.

What does it mean to be on guard? It means to be conscientious, doing each task as well as possible and not leaving tasks unfinished.

What does it mean that the task has been assigned? It means that God himself has directed what we shall do.

Sometimes the task may seem menial, but there are always plenty of menial jobs to be done in any household. Remember, when you are called to serve others, rejoice! – because you are following the example of Jesus. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10: 45)

Remember, too, that we are assigned tasks for our own benefit as well as for the benefit of the household. For example, even if we are gifted, we may not be called to serve in the area of our gifting, so that we can learn humility. Or we may find our task seems almost beyond our strength. That may be to teach us to rely more on God.

Being alert also means listening (by which I mean prayerful listening). God may want to teach us how to do the task better, or move us from one task to another.

Listening to God is in any case always a good thing, because God wants us to know him through Jesus. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1Thessalonians 5:16 – 18)

Jesus encourages us to watch.

In a way, it’s almost surprising that he needs to do this. Surely it’s an immense privilege to serve God in his kingdom? “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” (Psalm 84: 10)

Nevertheless, we must watch, we are called to watch. May God grant us all the strength and enthusiasm to be found busy and our tasks complete!

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you for calling me to serve you. Please help me to do it as well as I can, not shirking any task you give me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Mark 13: 1 – 31 The destruction of the temple and signs of the end times

Mark 13: 1 – 31 The destruction of the temple and signs of the end times

As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!’

‘Do you see all these great buildings?’ replied Jesus. ‘Not one stone here will be left upon another; every one will be thrown down.’

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?’

Jesus said to them: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, “I am he” and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth-pains.

‘You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking but the Holy Spirit.

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

‘When you see “the abomination that causes desolation” standing where it does not belong – let the reader understand – then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequalled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now – and never to be equalled again.

‘If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. At that time if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Messiah!” or, “Look there he is!” do not believe it. For false Messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.

‘But in those days, following that distress, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”

‘At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

‘Now learn this lesson from the fig-tree: as soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

* * *

How should we read this passage?

Many scholars have interpreted the events Mark records as describing the annihilation of Israel and the destruction of the temple by the Romans. This happened about 70 AD. Just as Mark’s gospel says, it was a time of great suffering and the temple was literally razed to the ground. Some of those scholars have gone further, and drawn the conclusion that the event wasn’t prophesied, but written about after the event. They’ve used this to date Mark’s gospel as being not earlier than 70 AD.

However, while some of the passage fits with the fall of Jerusalem, verses 24 – 27 don’t. They seem to be looking to the ‘end times’.

‘But in those days, following that distress, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.”

What can we learn from this?

Firstly, we can learn that Jesus prophesied great turbulence before his second coming. If we are unfortunate enough to live in those days, we can be reassured that Jesus knew it was going to happen. We have to continue to trust in Jesus, because, “… the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Secondly, God’s word is eternal, and so is Jesus’. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Thirdly, the passage should make us think not only of the ‘end times’, but of our own end time; the day we go to be with Jesus. When the day of my death comes, I will no longer have time to enter the house to collect a cloak. The end of this mortal life will have come, and all I can hold on to is Jesus. I shall need to hold on to the knowledge of his love for me, and then I shall not fear, rather I shall long to be fully with him.

I’ve struggled with this passage today. The descriptions of the way human history will play out are brutal, and it almost seems as though God approves.

I was, therefore, greatly comforted when a Christian friend said this to me: “Life is really as simple as helping hands and hearts.” If we help whenever possible, if we love everyone with whom we have contact, if we do this because we have faith in Jesus, we can leave the end times to take care of themselves.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Please strengthen me to offer helping hands to those in need and a helping heart to those who lack love.

In Jesus name, Amen