The Path of Plight

David Sulcer

Passage: Mark 15:40-47

Prayer: Father, so often the burial of Jesus is never seen in its proper light. Too often it is simply a blip statement in the other, more detailed, aspects that arrest our attention with the Passion narrative. And, yet, Mark gives us the necessary details of this portion of the story even though he is a man given to writing the briefest of information! Perhaps it is necessary for us to hear what he has to say to show that Jesus died a true death, attended by the normal practices of burial: a shroud to cover his body, a tomb to house his remains, and a death certificate of sorts, by Pilate, to prove his body should be laid to rest in proper fashion. Joseph of Arimathea gives us these things. He is one of those secret disciples who comes out of the shadows to do his part in the story of Jesus. The women we see here do their part too, in witnessing these solemn proceedings. But unlike either Joseph or the two women here, our hearts begin to beat with the expectation of what we know to be Mark’s suppressed excitement! Indeed, this scene of mourning will be changed to joy; this scene of a shroud covering Christ’s lifeless body will give way to resurrection; and this scene of a cold tomb will be rocked with the life-force of the universe, flooding it with the warm light of glory and wonder! But not yet. Now a true death has occurred. Now a sad chapter is being written of the human plight with death and dying – a plight of sorrow and sadness that grips our hearts with a deep sense of injustice, futility, and depression. We stand at graves even today with a hollow feeling that tells us we were not meant to finish off life this way. And in this story lies our hope! For our Savior tread the same path of plight every human travels so that he could bring us through this valley of death with the sure strength of his endless life! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Ponder: Why is it SO important to emphasize that Jesus truly died and was buried? Why did he have to go the same full route we have to go in life? Now, how was he different and why does that matter?

 

The Death of Jesus

David Sulcer

Passage: Mark 15:33-39

Prayer: Father, what a Son you have in Jesus. Mark has reminded us of this dear term throughout his gospel. He introduces him as the “son of God” in his opening sentence to his fast-paced story. He has you twice declaring him, in your own voice, your beloved son. He weaves this title into one of Jesus’ parables of the wicked tenants and has Caiaphas himself scornfully forcing it through his lips. Then he ends it all on the lips of Jesus’ executioner, with this battle-hardened soldier declaring his death not as a victory for Rome but a victory for Jesus! Now Roman power will bow to a Jewish Galilean! Now world dominance will concede the spoils not to themselves but to the One who vanquishes Death by his death. Now out of the unusual darkness a new world will be spoken into existence, a new creation will emerge from its primitive evil. Now a vacant Temple will begin to unravel with the first ripping of the veil so that a living temple of the body of Christ will begin to be erected! No longer will we have to stand outside, distanced from the presence of God, because of our sin and rebellion. A new way has been opened to us to approach the inner sanctum of your presence! A new world is given to us in the giving up of the Son of God. But never let us forget the depth he plunged to bring us this gift. Our darkness, death, and evil cut him off from you to join us all with you! So never let us trivialize this event in our lives. Always remind us of its mystery and glory! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

 

The Crucifixion

David Sulcer

Passage: Mark 15:16-32

Prayer: Father, to watch your Son die on the cross presents us with the greatest anguish. Today, looking back through thousands of years of theological reflection allows us to see its beauty and majesty, but not today. Today as we walk through this story one more time, with fresh eyes, our hearts are ripped wide open to imagine such cruelty, humiliation, degradation, dismay, and death. We are struck by how brutal and belligerent we can be when ultimate power is allowed to take our anger out on another person. We are perplexed by the gloating pride of offended religious belief when we see ourselves in the taunts of the people who pass by him as he hangs naked on the cross. A sense of horror floods over our vision as we see Skull’s Place become the backdrop of our Savior’s crucifixion! Even the brigands on his right and left cannot seem to hold back their contempt, seeing Jesus as too gracious and righteous to be counted with them in their cruel revolutionary pride. But in all of this shocking savagery a Savior still hangs on the tree! Our king hangs in our place, taking our sin, assuaging our guilt, cleansing our sin, and rescuing us from ourselves! Indeed, he is at this very moment riding his chariot of victory between heaven and earth! Indeed, this very instance he is seated on the throne of power and coming in the clouds of glory! For amidst all this carnage of evil, a shaft of brilliant light and love is piercing through the dark clouds gathered about him! A king? Yes! A messiah? Truly! So may I, along with Simon of Cyrene, take up His cross and follow him too! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

 

Jesus Before Pilate

David Sulcer

Passage: Mark 15:1-15

Prayer: Father, such matchless love has never been shown to humanity that was shown in the crucifixion of Jesus. It is always amazing to think that the God of creation has humbled himself into the confines of human flesh, but even more so astoundingly amazing to see him brutalized, broken, and crushed by the Cross! How could the sovereign one become silent in the midst of injustice against him? How could the holy one be treated as the worst kind of criminal? How could the Lord of the universe submit to the indignities of the puny powers of religion and politics? And yet he did! The Lord of the cosmos was led like a lamb to the cross, with silent surrender, with sovereign love! Indeed, our Savior, took the grandest mechanism of injustice, of brutal tyranny, of political might and will and drained its pretentious power with every drop of his blood. He turned a symbol of hate into a symbol of love. He upended the dark forces of judicial oppression and structural evil sown into the fabric of world power and becomes, not only the “king of the Jews,” but the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. Now a Servant-King, like that of Isaiah, will emerge out of the chaos of crucifixion. Now a restorative justice, an amazing grace, will rise out of the destruction of a Temple of stone and mortar, of embroidered vials and priestly rituals, because the temple of his body will stand forever as a living center of forgiveness and redemption! Now, the great exchange between our Barabbas-sin and his Jesus-righteousness will be achieved! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

 

Vindication and Denial

Mike Ferrante

Passage: Mark 14:53-72

Prayer: Jesus, only you had what it took to redeem the world.  Nobody in history has the ability to sacrifice themselves for the sins of all past, present, and future creation.  You had to do this alone.  I’m sure the bite of Peter’s betrayal was painful, but you knew it was coming.  Your prophetic voice was vindicated though you never said who struck you.  At last, oh Lord, within these scripture you pull back the veil of the parables and the mysteries, and flat out say, Yes I am the Messiah!  Thank you for this announcement!  Thank you for being willing!  Thank you for taking the heat before the highest authority of Israel to declare your place as the Son of God.  Our hearts, in many ways, have seen your works and the true evidence of your wonders and your plan, and still, we turn our hearts and pretend we don’t know you.  The humblest of people asks us if we are followers and we are timid in our answers.  No longer, Lord!  We speak up!  We are yours, Jesus!  We are followers of your example and carriers of your Spirit power.  Forgive us for turning aside.  We turn back to you! Amen!

Ponder: Have you shirked in your faith in the past to save face?  How can you show the boldness of your witness of the truth of Christ today?

 

Jesus Arrested

David Sulcer

Passage: Mark 14:26-52

Prayer: Father, we stand perplexed in moments like today. Here is Jesus resigning himself to face the agonies before him. The once miracle-working, astonishment-teaching, demon-chasing, supernatural-healing figure we have followed up to this point is now led like a lamb to the slaughter! The strong one, both we and the disciples have grown fond of and hopeful in, has suddenly become weak! This kingdom-bringing Messiah has now told us he will face rejection and we will cave to fear! We who observe this story are embarrassed to watch ourselves in the disciples sleeping, Judas betraying, and Jesus all alone in his pain. Even Jesus is questioning his mission, asking for another route, if possible, to the God who can do the impossible and yet refuses to change his mind on this matter. But, as we see, it is your simple “No” to his thrice repeated prayer that gives him the strength to rise to his greatest work with the power of your Abba presence. And now his betrayer comes as if he is arresting a revolutionary, whom Judas always wanted Jesus to be, couching his dragon breath in a friend’s kiss. Father, it is all of this that tells us how lost we are, how wonderful Jesus is, and how desperately we need to live within this story if we can ever truly find our way home to your love. We are like all the characters in this tragedy, surrounding Jesus, and yet he seems to be ironically in control when we are confused and scattered. We boast in faith one minute, while fleeing the next in fear. We are ready to betray Jesus when he fails to live up to our expectations. We sleep when we should be alert. Oh, dear Father, save us from ourselves! Oh, dear Jesus, rescue us! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Ponder: Where have you found yourself in this story? We are all here in some way or another. What can we learn about ourselves? What can we learn about Jesus?

 

The Last Supper

Chris Kaskel

Passage: Mark 14:12-25

Point: The Last Supper is one of the most significant events in the Bible. Nearly everyone is familiar with the story. Jesus and His Disciples share a Passover meal in “the upper room,” Jesus washes their feet, they break bread and drink wine, and Judas the betrayer is revealed and sent away.

Meals are a wonderful and significant part of our lives. Mostly, we all eat three a day, but we also use them to mark special occasions. We share them with friends and family, and they become very memorable parts of our lives. This meal, however, over two thousand years ago, was arguably the most significant meal that ever took place. Through this meal, Jesus and His Disciples were physically nourished, but they were also taking part in one of the most sacred traditions of the church. This meal is significant because Jesus used it as a precursor and an explanation of what was to come. The imagery and story of the crucifixion are powerful, but apart from the Last Supper, they can be misunderstood and unappreciated. The Last Supper illustrates for us, in very relatable terms, what Jesus was accomplishing on the cross. The broken bread represents His broken body and the wine represents His blood, poured out for many. In the other Gospels, as well as Paul’s letters, we also read that the bread is Jesus’ body broken “for you.” The wine is the blood of the new covenant, poured out for many, for the forgiveness of sins.

This meal was not meant to be forgotten. Jesus’ words were to do this in remembrance of Him. As the Bible says, we partake in this meal to proclaim the Lord’s death until he returns. Even though the Last Supper happened over two thousand years ago, we are all given a place at the table. Sinner and saint, slave and free, male and female, Jew and Gentile, we all are invited to dine with Jesus. This meal unifies the Body of Christ, proclaims His death, and speaks of a new covenant wherein salvation is available for all who simply call on His name.

Ponder: What is the most memorable meal you have ever had? Who was it with? What were you celebrating? What made it so memorable? Does the Last Supper (also called Communion or the Eucharist) have meaning to you? What is it?

Jesus Is Anointed at Bethany

David Sulcer

Passage: Mark 14:1-11

Prayer: Father, the Jesus who announced such impending disaster over Jerusalem has become the very focus of that growing disaster today. Today, the leaders he judged have become his judges with a verdict of death. Today, one of his very own has plotted his arrest. And yet, in the midst of such a gathering darkness, a bright shaft of light has descended upon him. Breaking over his head, a woman takes a bottle of richly scented oil, and bathes Jesus in the fragrance of worship! A leper’s home is turned into a perfumed palace of praise and Jesus is the center of its attention. In the midst of death, life breaks into the room! In the midst of hate, love cascades over the brow of our Savior! And yet when such devotion is displayed those who remain reserved and halting before him denounce it as an embarrassing spectacle. And yet, had they known, how short his presence in their company would be, they would have been as extravagant as this woman. Had they known the worth of his worship they would not have gone all social justice on her display of love. Indeed, this one lone woman, in a sea of men who plot against him and men who allow pride to make them uncomfortable, has shown us the whole-hearted affection that you so seek in us. She, even unbeknownst to her, has captured the central power of the Cross of Christ and its central place in our romance with you. That you would allow him to die, and he would long to die, in our place, to lift us from our disgrace and give us a brand new life, deserves the highest, holiest, most expensive display of our hearts! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

 

Watching for the Son of Man

David Sulcer

Passage: Mark 13:28-37

Prayer: Father, help us to watch for Jesus with the same focus and faith the early disciples watched for the signs of Jerusalem’s demise to take place. For as much as its fall was a vindication of Jesus’ life, so too, His soon return will be a vindication and finalization of His plan. Help us to remain gatekeepers who never lose sleep in the night hours so that we will not be caught unaware. Help us to remain ever vigilant and ready to meet you when your arrival is at the gate, when the fig tree blossoms, and the long march of history closes out the old for the new. When the owner of this old world comes to refurbish it and restore it to its original splendor and glory! To be a watchman in the night is only reasonable because before the new day arrives all we have to live through is a prevailing darkness. And it will take all we have to not allow the slumber, such dark hours tempt us with, to give in to. Remind us, dear Jesus, that since your light has become our light, that we are children of the day even though we live presently in the night. We shine, therefore, with a hopeful brilliance to those yet grouping and stumbling. We beckon them to come to the house that is ever bright with love and faith, so that the family we presently enjoy will grow even larger. Then when you come again, as master of your house, you will need to extend its walls and rooms with the expansive grace of your long sought after arrival! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Hope in the End

Mike Ferrante

Passage: Mark 13:14-27

Prayer: Lord, throughout history and even now in our world today, we are hit with devastating stories of people rising up against people.  Peace that people once had was taken away from them.  The war on Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple, the Crusades, the Holocaust, the jihads of our modern day…  Our world is filled with abortion, slave trade, communist and Islamic persecution.  Yet through it all, Lord, when our worlds have come to an end, we know that you are victorious.  Through every storm, the Church has overcome!  Your bride is continuing to be gathered from every wind, and your people have not lost heart, not just in your return but also in your present and continued victory over evil through your death and resurrection.  You are still in the lead! You are still winning, and one day you will make it all right according to your justice and mercy.  Have your way in the lives of those who are hurting today.  Bring justice to the one that has no voice!  Bring power to overcome evil in the darkest parts of our world and communities!  Be the victory for your people today, O Lord! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Ponder:  What world event or system is Jesus calling you to pray about and act upon today?