Tag: Mark 14

Prepared (Mark 14:12-16 Devotion)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover [lamb], His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?” 13 And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. 14 “Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ‘ 15 “Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished [and] prepared; there make ready for us.” 16 So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.

-Mark 14:12-16 (NKJV)

When I was a cub scout we had a motto, “Always be prepared.” We learned how to start camp fires, what to pack for a camping trip, how to help other people in crisis situations, and a host of other activities, all with the idea of being prepared. When I split my knee open several miles away from the nearest hospital, I had a wilderness survival kit complete with everything I needed to do to stabilize my knee and calm my nerves as we made our way to get medical attention. I had gauze to clean and pack the wound, I knew how to make a splint, I even had Tylenol on hand for the pain. I would have preferred to never have slit my knee open, but when I did, I was prepared.

In this passage today we see that the disciples were setting up and preparing for a Passover meal together. They just needed a location to meet and celebrate the meal. Jesus had somehow (either personally or supernaturally) made arrangements and there was a place that was prepared for the disciples to have the meal. What Jesus would say and do at this last meal together with these men would prepare them for what was coming next.

Everything that was about to happen to Jesus and the disciples was going to be unpleasant. It was going to hurt. In a sense it would all be terrible but also in a sense it was something that Jesus had and would prepare his disciples for. When they went through it all and looked back they would connect the dots. They would marvel at God’s graciousness and goodness to them in the midst of such a hard time.

It’s as I look back through my life that I often realize that God has prepared me for what I have been through and often it’s the things I’m doing today that God uses to prepare me for what he has tomorrow. We can marvel at God’s grace that in the midst of what would prove to be a difficult week that Jesus was prepared and he prepared the disciples for everything they couldn’t see coming. What a grace to know that he has prepared us for the difficult moments we face as well.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. Thank you for your grace in preparing us for the things ahead. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

How do Men Like Judas Become a Betrayer? (Mark 14:1-11 Devotion)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

After two days it was the Passover and [the Feast] of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put [Him] to death. 2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.” 3 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured [it] on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 “For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 “For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 “She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” 10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. 11 And when they heard [it], they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.

– Mark 14:1-11 (NKJV)

There were those who were seeking to put Jesus to death. These men were ready to silence Jesus for good. In their perverse minds there was only one way to bring the public ministry of Jesus to a close… murder. They were careful though, they didn’t want a public uproar so they had decided that when the opportunity presented itself, they would do it privately. The scene is set. If anyone, such as Judas were to betray Jesus, there is opportunity.

In the middle of the festivities Jesus and his disciples recline at a table for dinner and as they do a woman pours a costly vial of perfume on Jesus’ feet. It is an extravagant show of honor and hints at worship. This is where the signs of division appear. Some (Judas) see that what the woman did was a waste. They suppose the money could have been better spent on the poor. There is a difference of opinion.

Can that be true? Is money spent on the honor of Jesus a waste? Is it better spent on the poor? Is that our mission, to feed the poor?

Jesus interjects. He defends the woman. She was right. He won’t always be around. Her sacrifice is appreciated. There will always be poor people until Jesus comes. The primary focus should be on Jesus. (the church should learn well from this, even in our benevolence the aim is to honor Jesus). There is a mild rebuke.

This is where Judas should have fallen on his face in repentance. This is where he should have noted that they will always have the poor. This is where he should have thanked Jesus for the mild rebuke and correction. This is where the story could have been different but it isn’t because sin had grabbed hold of Judas’ heart. He was like Cain in Genesis chapter 4 when the Lord rejected his sacrifice. His heart was hardened and evil entered his heart like never before. Judas leaves out the door to betray Jesus.

We like to be shocked at Judas. We wonder out loud about who could do such a thing, but the truth is that we are all capable. Like Cain and Judas, we all are capable of taking offense when someone corrects our ideas of worship. We all have the capacity to want to worship God in our own terms and in ways that WE think are appropriate. We have the capacity to be master craftsmen in our fallen logic and presume the guilt of those who are worshipping Jesus honestly.

We should examine our hearts when our logic is confronted with loving truth and mild rebukes. These things are given us for our good. It’s when our hearts fail to receive loving correction that we realize we aren’t really seeking Jesus after all. How do you receive mild correction?

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. We are grateful for those you place in our lives who point us to your truth. We are grateful for the many wonderful examples we see of your truth lived out among us. We are grateful for teachers and role models who help us grow in our faith. Guard our hearts from pride, error, and narcissism that would seek to hijack our offerings and ideas of worship to make it more about us than it is about you. Let us love you freely and truthfully with all of our hearts that we might glory in good, sincere, right, and true correction. Give us discernment as we apply your word to our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.