Daily Digest
Food for the Soul
Food for the Soul
Matthew 26:17-30
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”
23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 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.”
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “You have said so.”
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
So much is happening in this passage. We could focus on the miracle of Jesus’ foreknowledge about the place and preparation of the Passover meal. We could focus on Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. But I want to focus on Jesus giving his body and his blood.
The Passover meal had a script. There were specific questions, answers, prayers, and rituals throughout the celebration, including the food eaten and the wine drunk. Matzah, or unleavened bread, was eaten three times during the ceremony. The last time, called the ‘afikomen’, was the last thing eaten during the celebration and represented the lamb’s sacrifice in Egypt on the night of the Passover when God redeemed his people from slavery. It was when distributing this bread that Jesus said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” I can imagine the atmosphere there. There would already have been tension from Jesus’ proclamation that one of them would betray him. Then, he goes off-script and essentially equates himself with the sacrificial lamb that brought redemption. I imagine the disciples were stunned, confused and curious all at once.
Then Jesus took the cup of wine. This was the third cup (out of 4 ordinarily drunk) and was known as the ‘cup of redemption’. Jesus said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[ covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Again, the atmosphere would have been electric as he implied that his blood would bring redemption. The fourth cup, which Jesus and his disciples did not drink that night, focussed on the future, when all living creatures will praise God’s name. Jesus said he would drink wine again “new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Jesus, your boldness and genius of timing and meaning are stunning. As we approach Easter this year, I thank and praise you that you are the sacrificial lamb. Thank you for giving your body and your blood to redeem me. I look forward to that future when all will praise you.
Written by Megan Cornell
Exodus 12:21-28
21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. 23 When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.
24 “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. 25 When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’ ” Then the people bowed down and worshiped. 28 The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.
Matthew 26:1-4
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.
1 Corinthians 5:7b
7b For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
We know from Exodus the historical significance of the Passover Lamb. But jumping from animal sacrifice to human sacrifice is no small leap. Jesus, the once only human sacrifice, made so we could all be spared from death. This is huge! At some point we all face physical death, but Jesus made it possible for us to be spared eternal spiritual death. The sacrifice of this Lamb deserves great consideration and respect. Just as the first Passover lamb bought life, so the death of Christ gives each one of us the chance of Life.
Jesus there is nothing for me to say but “Thank You”. Thank you for your sacrifice, your blood and pain spent for me. Thank You for your love and compassion. Help me to never take this for granted. In your name I pray. Amen
Written by Christine Knight
Daniel 7:13-14
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Luke 22:66-71
66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”
Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He replied, “You say that I am.”
71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”
These two scriptures speak to the identity and authority of Jesus Christ. In Luke, we see Jesus standing before the Jewish council, boldly proclaiming His identity as the Son of God. He is mocked, beaten, and questioned. But our Saviour remains steadfast in His faith, knowing that He is fulfilling the prophecy of the Messiah from Daniel.
In Daniel, we see an incredible vision of the Son of Man coming before the Ancient of Days (Our Heavenly Father) and receiving dominion, glory, and a kingdom that will never be destroyed. We can remain steadfast with this passage as it speaks to the ultimate triumph of Christ over all earthly powers and kingdoms, and His eternal reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Together, these two scriptures reveal the identity and authority of Jesus as the Messiah and the eternal ruler of everything! Through His suffering and death, Jesus fulfilled the incredible prophecy of the Son of Man from the book of Daniel, and through His resurrection and ascension, He secured His place as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As believers, we are called to follow His example of faithfulness and endurance, trusting in His ultimate victory and looking forward to the day when He will return in power and glory to establish His kingdom on Earth.
Lord Jesus, we come before you with gratitude and thanks to You, our Lord and Savior, who stood before the Jewish council and boldly proclaimed Your identity as the Messiah and Son of God. Help us to follow Your example, remaining steadfast in our faith and trusting in Your plan. We pray that You would help us to live in anticipation of Your return, seeking to honour and serve You in all that we do. We ask for Your guidance and strength as we strive to follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Written by Sven Bessesen
Matthew 27:11-14, 27-44
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
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27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Convicted by a corrupt government, condemned by an angry mob and forsaken on the cross, Jesus Christ endured the ultimate suffering to save humanity from sin and death. As we read the account of his trial and crucifixion in Matthew 27:11-14 and 27:27-44, I am confronted with the magnitude of his sacrifice and the depths of his love for us.
Despite being innocent of any crime, Jesus was handed over to the authorities and subjected to a sham trial. He was falsely accused, beaten and humiliated, yet he remained silent, fulfilling the prophecy that he would be led like a lamb to the slaughter. Even as he was led to the cross, he bore the weight of our sins on his shoulders and prayed for the forgiveness of his executioners.
As I reflect on these passages, I am hit with the magnitude of God’s love for us.
Lord, let me never take this gift for granted, but instead, may I live each day with gratitude and a deep sense of awe and wonder at the incredible sacrifice that was made for mankind on that day.
Written by Ps. Justin Ware
John 12:12-16
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
What sort of King is Jesus to you? The crowd clearly didn’t get it. They thought Jesus was a mighty political leader, a King that would lead them out of Roman oppression. Even after all Jesus’ teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven being a kingdom like no other (see Matthew 25), they still held to their own agenda. Jesus riding in on a donkey should have been a dead giveaway. Be He was not the King they wanted – which became heartbreakingly clear only one week later.
What sort of King have I made Jesus to be in my life? Do I expect Him to take away all my troubles and make life easy? Am I shocked and disappointed when He doesn’t answer my prayers the way I want Him to? Do I rail against Him when He calls me to love and sacrifice and deny myself for the sake others? Or is my life filled with perpetual worship and wonder at this King who willingly sacrificed His life for me – because He values me so much?
Jesus, may praise and love and wonder and worship flow without ceasing from this grateful heart. Be my King – whatever You say I will do.
Amen
Written by Boudy Van Noppen
Isaiah 53:4-6
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
This Easter it is good for us to reflect:
We are all like sheep who have strayed away. We have all left God’s path to follow our own. None of us can point fingers at others, we are all guilty.
HOWEVER, God made a way. Himself dying in our place, the sacrificial perfect lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Who takes away my sin, your sin …
Today and every day is our celebration day. Every Easter we remember the sacrifice and freedom that Jesus paid for us. It truly is a day to REJOICE!!! We are no longer lost in our sin, but forgiven, set free and redeemed. Shout for joy – Isaiah 51:11 “So the redeemed of the LORD will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion; Everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
Lord, thank you for Jesus. He alone could pay the penalty for our sin. We rejoice and thank you again and again. We rejoice in the cross that “death has lost its sting”.
Written by Ps. Sue Botta
I think it is remarkable how many times ‘our’ and ‘we’ are used in this passage: “our weaknesses he carried”, our sorrowsweighed him down”, “our rebellion”, “our sins”, our own paths. The writer is making it very clear that Jesus, the Messiah, suffered in our place, because of our sin. He contrasts that with the result of the suffering. “He was beaten so we could be whole”, and “he was whipped so we could be healed”.
Look at the equation here. Jesus was weighed down, punished, pierced and crushed for our sins (all negative for him) so that we could be restored, whole and healed (all positive for us). Any mathematician will tell you that the equation doesn’t make sense. But God’s long-held plan was to step in and take all the negatives to save us because he loves us and wants relationship with us.
I recently heard that the word ‘atonement’ was made up from ‘at one-ment’. This expresses that our relationship with God, broken by sin, could be restored so that we could be ‘at one’ with Him. God himself suffered to bring about that restoration.
Heavenly Father, this Easter, help me to remember that equation – your suffering because of my sin brought about my wholeness and ‘at one-ment’ with you. Thank you for loving me so much.
Written by Megan Cornell
John 11:20-27, 38-44
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
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38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Have you seen the “Back to the Future” movies? Where people go back in time changing something in a previous generation which will mean that now everything in the present—and the future—can be different. It’s a kind of nostalgia, not for the past as it was, but for the present that could have been, if only the past had just been a little bit different. That is here in vs. 21 in Martha’s ‘if only’ to Jesus. She knows that if Jesus had been there, he would have healed Lazarus. And she knows that it had taken Jesus at least two days longer to get there than she had hoped. Lazarus has already been dead for three days, but perhaps … he might just have made it … if only …
Jesus challenges her to exchange her ‘if only …’ for an ‘if Jesus …’.
If Jesus is the Messiah, the One who was promised by the prophets, the One who was to come into the world …
If He is God’s Son, the One in whom the living God is strangely and newly present …
If He is resurrection-in-person, life-come-to-life …
How often do you live in the ‘if only…’ view of life?
How often do you live in the ‘If Jesus…’ view of life?
Father, help me to keep a constant focus on Jesus – particularly when I am tempted to view life with nostalgia.
Written by Ps. Richard Botta
John 10:14-18
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Having grown up in church and heard this passage on the Good Shepherd all my life, it’s taken a little while for me to get past the familiarity and see the some of the richness of what Jesus is saying here.
Firstly, Jesus says “I am “THE” good shepherd” – not I am “a” good shepherd. There are plenty of good shepherds (leaders) in this world – ones who will try to care for people as best they can. But there is only One who is worthy to be called THE good shepherd. One who will completely and unselfishly lay down His life for His sheep. Always.
In our culture, the word ‘good’ has almost become synonymous with ‘ok, but not quite great’. In this sense, Jesus is more than just a good shepherd, He is extraordinary! There is no one else like Him. Even the people that you know who are the most likely to look out for your interests are flawed humans tainted with selfishness.
Jesus, THE good shepherd, lived, died, and now lives again only for the good of His sheep. His death on our behalf, as remarkable as it is, isn’t even the full extent of His selfless love! The Bible says that He now ever lives to intercede for us, to pray for us and care for us from heaven.
Thank you, Jesus, for your extraordinary, selfless, endless love towards each one of us. No matter what comes at us in this life, we can know that THE good shepherd is looking after us both now and in the age to come.
Written by Shelley Witt
That is hard to wrap my head around, that the God of the universe EVER intercedes for me. He is devoted to good on my behalf!
Luke 9:28-36, 43b-45
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, q which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
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43b While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
How could they not understand?
We’ve just heard how God revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Messiah. Now Peter, James and John have seen Jesus shining in glory, talking with Moses and Elijah, and heard God’s voice telling them to listen to Jesus, because he is God’s son. Jesus has talked openly about what happens next: Jesus being rejected, betrayed, handed over and killed by their leaders and being raised back to life.
We tend to shake our heads in disbelief at their lack of understanding. We, of course, understand what they didn’t. We know that Jesus was taking the penalty for our sins (1 Peter 2:24) … or maybe he was redeeming us from slavery to sin … of maybe he’s disarming the powers of this world by nailing our sin to the cross (Colossians 2:13-15) … or maybe his resurrection is the beginning of God’s promised renewal of all creation … or maybe its all of these things and more. Colossians 1:15-20 says Jesus was reconciling all things. All God’s plan for his people and his world come together in Jesus’ extraordinary death and resurrection. Maybe I understand less than I think I do.
They couldn’t understand because they couldn’t see it (9:45). Jesus was going way beyond what they expected Messiah would do. But their big mistake was that they were too scared to ask.
Jesus, open my mind to understand even a bit of what you did for me, for all your people, for your world on the cross. And when I see that, show me more. I thank you, I worship you, I stand in amazement at the enormity of what you did. Please give me words that are simple and clear to speak into the lives of people around me that will allow them to be part of what you did too.
Written by David Cornell
Luke 9:18-27
18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”
19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”
20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”
21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
Here Jesus is challenging the disciples about their understanding of who he was, what ‘Messiah’ meant and what it meant to follow him. A meaty passage!
After being with Jesus for nearly three years, Peter realized that Jesus was the Messiah. But Jesus warns the disciples not to tell anyone that truth. Why? The Messiah that the Jewish people were expecting was a warrior who would relieve them of oppressive Roman rule and establish an earthly kingdom. If they had started to proclaim to everyone that he was the Messiah, Jesus certainly would have had many followers, but not with the motivation or commitment he was looking for.
After Peter’s pronouncement, Jesus immediately explained to the disciples that he would have to suffer rejection, shame, and death. Then he challenges them to “take up their cross and follow him”. What a challenge this must have been! He tells them that, rather than the victorious warrior they expected Messiah to be, he would be killed in the most shameful, denigrating and painful manner known. And he is asking them (and us!) to be prepared to suffer the same!
Why did Jesus do this? I think because he wants us to “worship the Father in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). He wants full commitment and self-sacrifice from us, not half-hearted engagement.
I am blessed to live in a comfortable house in a comfortable neighbourhood in an affluent country, with family and friends around me. I have to ask myself – am I willing to give all of that up for Jesus if he asked me to? Am I willing to proclaim my faith in Him publicly – something which definitely says I am ‘politically incorrect’ in the eyes of society today? Am I willing to suffer shame, loss and even death for Him? Am I willing to surrender everything to God?
Lord Jesus, thank you for your willingness to suffer for me. Thank you that you don’t ask anything of me that you haven’t already experienced yourself. I want to be totally committed to you. Please help me to” take up my cross” daily, and please forgive me for the times I haven’t done that. Thank you for your reward of eternal life. Amen
Written by Megan Cornell
A heart’s challenge when we look at the cost of the cross.
Mark 16:14-20
14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
“Their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him.” This verse shocked me. This group of disciples had been through so much with Jesus. Survived storms, seen people healed, freed from demons, caught huge numbers of fish, seen people raised from the dead. But in their fear and disappointment they had forgotten all Jesus’ words that he had to die but would rise again. Possibly they didn’t want to get their hopes up by believing this amazing news.
He had to pull them into line.
How disappointed Jesus must have felt to see how quickly the disciples had lost faith and belief in him.
But incredibly he stuck by them. In fact, he passed his work and message to them. It was a great responsibility, charging them with sharing the message of the gospel to all.
Jesus never gives up on us.
Even if we wallow in unbelief, he will always give us another chance.
This is very comforting when I think of family who seem to have turned away from him. He does not turn away from us. Ever. Like the father who looked out for and celebrated over his lost son, God longs for everyone to return to him.
His Spirit will intervene to change and soften hearts.
Dear Heavenly Father, you are a God full of compassion and understanding. Thank you that you never give up on me, and you call me back even when I stubbornly refuse to listen to you. Praise you! Amen
Written by Claire Moore
I think of this scripture and how our mindset of what we think is so strong. They envisaged an army of Gods people overthrowing the Romans, however Gods kingdom is one of servanthood and a transformation of the inside out.
This transformation allows us to live whole and healed spiritually in a broken world.
Mark 16:9-13
9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
There will always be people who will not believe. The twist in this passage is that those who didn’t believe were Jesus’s intimate disciples and followers.
I admit I have been like these followers and been sceptical of testimony of what Jesus has done in another’s life or words he may have spoken to them. To my shame I am as sceptical as the disciples that day and would have been amoung them. Scepticism can be healthy but discounting or denying what Jesus is doing and the move of the Spirit can leave us the poorer.
Oh Lord, help my unbelief. Keep my heart soft toward you and the moving of your Spirit even when the unbelievable happens. Amen
Written by Suzie Hodgson
Mark 16:1-8
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
Whenever I read about the death and resurrection, I am struck by how ordinary this part of the story starts out. These 3 women who knew and loved Jesus were going to do what needed to be done to his dead body. They weren’t sneaking up to the grave to check if it was empty, or to see an angel. Because God is the God of all things including the unexpected. What these women encountered defied all imagination, and yet although they were terrified/unsettled/confused they were clearly convinced they had received a word from God. This reminds me I need to be open to experiencing God in new and unexpected ways. Although I live in a world bound by the laws of nature etc, the God who created those laws, who wants to be in relationship with me and you, can move above and beyond the expected to achieve His ends- even defeat death.
Great and Mighty Heavenly Father, help me to keep my mind open to you, to see you at work today and to know the miracle of your power in my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Written by Christine Knight
Mark 15:42-47
42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.
Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council asks Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body and bury it in his own tomb. Pilate’s surprise at the swiftness of Jesus’ death helps us understand how brutal his beating and crucifixion was. Nevertheless, Pilate grants Joseph’s request and Jesus is laid to rest in the tomb.
This passage reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. He gave His life so that we might have eternal life. Even though Jesus was crucified like a criminal, He was given a proper burial by a devoted follower.
This passage also reminds us of the hope that we have in Jesus’ resurrection. Just as He was laid to rest in the tomb, He rose from the dead three days later, showing that He has power over death and offering us the hope of eternal life.
Let us give thanks for the sacrifice that Jesus made for us and for the hope that we have in His resurrection. May we also follow the example of Joseph and serve Jesus with devotion and reverence, even in the face of opposition.
Heavenly Father, we reflect today on the crucifixion of Your son, Jesus. As we read in Mark, we are reminded of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross.
We give thanks for the love that You have for us, shown through the ultimate act of giving Your son for the forgiveness of our sins. We pray for the strength to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, to live a life of love and service to others, as he did.
Lord, we ask for Your comfort and guidance as we face the challenges and hardships of this world, knowing that through Your sacrifice, we have the promise of eternal life with You.
Amen
Written by Sven Bessesen
Mark 15:33-41
33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”
36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.
37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 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!”
40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me” and he breathed his last. The temple curtain was torn in two. Other Gospel accounts recall an earthquake, the sky growing dark and the dead rising from their tombs.
Clearly this was an unusual and significant event. But what was the significance of Christ’s cry? The earthquake? The curtain? The dark sky? And I’ve heard people ask: Why the zombies?
Living in Australia in 2023 as I write this, my experience with the supernatural is pretty limited. I have experienced maybe a dozen things in my life that seem significant or special that can’t easily be easily explained through rationality, logic or science.
So, its easy to dismiss the Bible today when it reports significant supernatural happenings, because of the assumption that the supernatural isn’t real. But if Christ really was who He said He was, and if in that moment on the cross, the wrath of God that was due to all of mankind for all time really was poured out on him – If the bondage that sin has over the world, separating us from God, was truly broken – it shouldn’t be surprising at all that there would be an overflow from the spiritual realm into the natural realm.
Lord, Your existence and presence is both natural and supernatural. Your love, grace, mercy and forgiveness do not just exist spiritually, but they are real and tangible. Lord, I thank You for Jesus – the very embodiment of Your being – who died in my place, for my sin and who rose again to life for me.
Written by Ps. Justin Ware
Mark 15:21-32
21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.
27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
He refused to drink it. I’m moved to tears when I consider a merciful sedative was offered to Jesus at the time of His greatest pain, yet He refused it. It is as if he would bear every last drop of my sin – not leaving anything unfinished or left over for me to bear. All my sin He carried and paid for – in full. Isaiah prophesied this when he wrote, “He bore the sin’s of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-12), and Leviticus 4 was a picture of the transfer of all our sins to Jesus, our sin offering.
The question is, why do we sometimes live with a cloud above our heads? As if we are ‘sort of’ forgiven, but not really. Two possibilities come to mind… 1. We still feel guilty because we are still guilty. Repentance from sin means an about-face – a turning away and turning to God. While we are still “dappling” in the kiddy-pool of sin, we will not experience the freedom from guilt and the peace of heart, mind, and soul that Jesus freely offers. 2. We have not forgiven ourselves. Jesus has forgiven us, and we have embraced a new lifestyle of repentance and following Jesus, but somehow we feel that beating ourselves up for our past mistakes – like that might make it better – is the right thing to do. But Jesus bore it all – every last drop. He took your sin, so you wouldn’t have to. So start to live that way – starting today!
“I’m clean, clean, clean – clean before my Lord. Like a spotless lamb, I’m blameless in His sight. With no trace of wrong left to right. I’m clean, clean, clean!” (Bob Hartman – Petra)
Thanks Lord, Amen!
Written by Boudy Van Noppen
Ephesians 6. He was fully armoured knowing who He was in His Spiritual armour – Able the withstand and “stand”. Help me to stand strong knowing whose I am.
Mark 15:16-20
16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 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.
How awful to think how Jesus was treated by these soldiers, who were in positions of authority by the Governor of Judea. They taunted, humiliated and mocked Jesus before crucifying Him.
It reminds me that no matter what position of authority we hold, as a parent, a husband, a wife, a leader, a worker, a manager, a friend, etc; how we treat people is so important. Jesus taught us to be kind to those who were blind in their sin, He taught us to love, He taught to believe the best of other people, He taught to have eyes for those who are broken and downtrodden, He taught us to care…
Jesus in this moment could have spoken one word and all those soldiers would be dead. These soldiers were blind to who He was, they abused the authority they had and have been written into the history book of the Bible forever.
He could have demonstrated His power and authority, but He came for a purpose, to die for You and Me. To lay His life down.
Lord Jesus, help to always love, care, and be merciful to those who are blind. Help me Lord to speak and respond like you. In your name, Amen.
Written by Ps. Sue Botta
Mark 15:1-15
1 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.
2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”
5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
6 Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.
13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.
14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
What an amazing story – power plays everywhere. Pilate not comfortable with Jesus not responding, the Chief Priests working from a base of envy – ah such a normal human context. All the time, Jesus could stand with a sense of security, surety, that God was with Him, and no matter the outcome(s) God could be trusted.
What happens when people have it in for us. What happens when we are unjustly accused, when lies are told about us to others and it is affecting our livelihoods even threatening our life. It is all too easy to think Jesus, the divine Jesus, had it all in control. But we should be thinking here of Jesus, the human Jesus, not the superhuman Jesus, the human Jesus. The One who walks through this situation as we are to walk, modelling to us His ways.
Father – when others do what they can to destroy us, in reputation or even physically – give us the grace to stand as Jesus did – secure in You, safe in You!
Written by Ps. Richard Botta
Mark 14:66-72
66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 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.”
71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
This is a heartbreaking story. Peter’s famous angry denial that he did not know his beloved friend Jesus is a grim reminder of what fear can do to the human heart. When confronted with his fear of what might happen if he was known as a friend of Jesus, Peter chose to lie to save his own skin.
Additionally, only days before this event, Peter had vehemently denied Jesus’s prediction that all of His disciples (including Peter) would ultimately disown Him. How humbling for Peter.
Before I get too down on Peter, I need to recognize that I am often unaware of what my heart is capable of when confronted by my own fears.
Denial of the truth to save our own skin is a common human response, and I have certainly fallen into that trap at times. Just think of how quickly a child is prepared to lie when they think they are going to ‘get in trouble’.
Spiritual maturity not that we have moved beyond the capability of sinful thoughts and actions. Spiritual maturity is recognizing just how capable of sin we still are and owning the truth, no matter how painful it may feel to admit our weaknesses.
Lord, I thank you for your acceptance and forgiveness in the midst of our failings. May I have the courage to own the truth of my own weaknesses and allow Your grace to meet me there.
Written by Shelley Witt
Amen
Thanks Shelley, I like that definition of spiritual maturity. A measure of our awareness of our spiritual need.
Mark 14:53-65
53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 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.
55 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. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’ ” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
60 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?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 “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.”
63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 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 darkest and cruellest event in history since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. Here we have a man, who has come to bring restoration to the world, who lived a perfect life, demonstrating for all how to live life. This passage recounts the way he was put on trial and condemned to death.
On my reading of this passage this morning, I am struck by verse 62. Jesus may have generally been silent like a lamb led to the slaughter, but here he plainly and undeniably spells out who he claims to be, and it is this claim that they grab on to – for someone to claim to be equal to God was completely unacceptable to the people presiding over this trial.
We might see Jesus’ death as a tragic death of a good man, but here he spells out why he was so good – because he was and is the messiah – the one who brought the kingdom of God to Earth and enable access to heaven for all people. This was more than a tragedy, but a complete abomination of all justice.
But the good news is that it was always God’s plan to allow him to die, because after this dark night, on the 3rd day he rose again, conquering sin and death, proving that he was who he claimed, appearing to hundreds of eyewitnesses, many of whom laid down their own life while holding to their testimony of his resurrection!!
Lord Jesus, you are the one we worship, your death was horrid, but we will praise you eternally, because it was not in vain.
Written by Ps Justin Ware
Mark 14:43-52
43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.
51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
Jesus was betrayed by one of his disciples. One who had walked with him for nearly 3 years. By one who had shared meals, stories, laughs and tears. Judas calls him Rabbi (teacher) and identifies him with a kiss. A greeting of brothers.
His response to this and to those coming after him with clubs and swords is interesting. He says he hasn’t come to lead a rebellion and that this is all happening to fulfil scripture.
Jesus appears to be incredibly focused in the midst of such a sad and scary situation. It is a scary situation, Mark the writer, tells us that an on looking man ran off so scared that he left his clothing behind (Mark 14:53).
Jesus is focused on his purpose and calling, on the crucifixion and his role as Saviour. He is not focused on his offence, on getting his own back, in his rightness or his rights. He knows what he has to do and how that has to come about. He’s certain of His Father’s way.
Jesus, help me be more like you. Give me greater clarity of my purpose and calling. Help me to fix my eyes on you. To be less concerned with my rights and more concerned with what you would have me do. Help me to trust and obey as you did.
Written by Ps. Zoe Stewart
Mark 14:32-42
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
37 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? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41 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. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
I am struck Jesus’ attitude to his mission: ‘your will be done, not mine’. Even when he fully knows that God can do anything, Jesus is still committed to God’s plan. It indicates to me that whilst God could remove every challenge and pain in my life, he doesn’t. When it comes to God’s grand plan for our lives, there are some things more important than only safety, comfort and convenience. God has a path set for Jesus to walk and there are challenges on that path. God could remove those challenges (anything is possible for God) but God doesn’t because there is something more important just around the corner. Jesus is feeling the pressure, but he is also focused and conscious of what might happen. Jesus knows it will involve suffering and has committed himself to a time of prayer as he waits for ‘the time to come’. The disciples are either misunderstanding what is going to happen or are distracted or aren’t very motivated – they keep falling asleep! Read the room guys: Jesus could do with some support and encouragement!
Jesus, help me to build my prayer habits – so that I can be prepared for tough times, so that I can follow your path faithfully, so that I can encourage others in their times of challenge, and so that I can better resist temptation when it crosses my path. Thank you that you care for me. Thank you that you restore me and heal me. I also acknowledge that your ways aren’t always easy. I want to be strong to walk your paths and live in your plan. Amen.
Written by Sam Stewart
Mark 14:26-31
26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:
“ ‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.
I can understand and empathise with Peter here. It’s one thing to proclaim your relationship with Jesus when you’re surrounded by others who believe and when you’re engaged in church activities. I think it’s pertinent that the disciples have engaged in what would become the act of communion and have then sung a hymn with Jesus just before He tells them that they will deny Him. In that context, it seems crazy to think that they would do such a thing. They were already living for Him, most of the disciples had given up their livelihood, lifestyles and everything they knew to follow Jesus. How could they not be willing to claim their closeness to Him? Yet when push comes to shove and the context becomes much more serious, Peter denies he has been close to Jesus at all. I wonder how many of us also feel this tension. We might be willing to truly live for Jesus in a myriad of ways – sacrificial giving of our time, energy or finances, following His call when it doesn’t make sense to us, or making decisions that are counter cultural yet honour God. Yet sometimes it can feel that the safest or easiest choice in our own lives is to downplay our affiliation to Christianity, the church or God himself. Maybe this is because we don’t know what the consequences will be if we proclaim our faith, even though we are so blessed to live in a nation where our life is not on the line for what we believe. I’m sure each of us has been in a situation where proclaiming our faith would cost us in some way. Peter knew who Jesus was, yet still faltered in the face of serious danger. How amazing that Jesus did not give up on Peter! In fact, He used Peter mightily to build the early church. How grateful Peter must have been that Jesus did not count him out!
God, even though I love you and want to live for you, I can think of times where I have not been outspoken or have been quiet for fear of how I would be perceived because of my faith in you. I am so grateful that you do not count me out. Thank you that you are a kind and gracious God, and that you continue to use all of us for your purpose. Help us Lord to live as you have called us to, as people who live for you in every way. Amen.
Written by Madelaine Tarasenko
Amen – but for the grace of God we all go forth.
Mark 14:22-25
22 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.”
23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “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.”
Mark is a non-stop action book! So much is reported in the first 7 chapters alone. So far, we have discovered that Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 1:11), the Messiah (Mark 1:8). He teaches with authority (Mark 1:22, 1:38) and he performs miracles of every kind – healing (Mark 1:32-34; 1:41-42, 3:5, 7:31-37, 8:22-26), delivering people from evil spirits (Mark 2:23-27, 5:1-18), calming the raging seas (4:41), walking on water (6:45-56), multiplying food (Mark 6:30-44, 8:1-13), and even raising people from the dead (Mark 5:21-34). Moreover, Jesus has come for the sinners, and he has the authority to forgive sins (Mark 2).
In Mark 8 Jesus asks Peter a question, “who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” From Mark 8 onwards Jesus describes and shows what it means for him to be the Messiah. He reveals that the Messiah, the rescuer, is the ultimate suffering servant. He predicts his own death (8:31, 9:31, 10:32-34), and speaks of true discipleship as self-denial (8:34-38). In Mark 14 as the disciples share Jesus’ last Passover meal with him in Jerusalem, he makes his final teaching about his death. He makes it plain. He says to them about the bread “Take it; This is my body” and about the wine “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many …I will not drink again from the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God” (14:25). Jesus is going to die soon, and his death and resurrection will usher in the new kingdom of God on earth.
Jesus the Messiah was able to do the impossible, yet he chose to die for us. To rescue us. The Kingdom of Heaven has been ushered in, on earth, through Christ. And it is an upside-down place where the last shall be first and the first shall be last.
Jesus, please help me today to die to self and to follow you with all that I am and all that I have because you have paid the ultimate sacrifice for me. Thank you. Amen
Written by Ps Zoe Stewart
Mark 14:10-21
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
12 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?”
13 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. 14 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?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 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.”
19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”
20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 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.”
This passage reminds me that Jesus is in control. He knows what the disciples will face when they enter the city to prepare a room for the Passover. He knows that one of His disciples will betray him. In this passage, Jesus demonstrates that He is in control of all things. We can be reassured that no matter our situation, we can trust that God is in control.
God, thank you that you are in control of all things. Thank you that you go before me and are with me in all things. Please help me to trust in you, to rely on your words and promises, and to follow you even in times of uncertainty. Amen.
Written by Ps. Andie Molteno
Amen, thanks Andie
Mark 14:1-9
1 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. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
3 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.
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
The woman in this passage of Scripture shows how much she loves and wants to honour Jesus, her saviour, by pouring out expensive perfume on Jesus. It is estimated that the perfume was worth one year’s salary so it was a very extravagant thing to do and Jesus did not stop her. No, despite what the disciples thought, Jesus said that this woman would be remembered for all time because she had done something wonderfully significant for him.
I am struck by how incredibly brave this woman must have been to anoint Jesus in this manner surrounded by his disciples and other guests. She did not know how Jesus or any of the others would react to her way of worshipping but she pushed through her doubts and feelings and did it anyway. I love that Jesus allowed her to come close to him and pour the perfume over him. He knew her motives – pure love and gratitude I’d say. Jesus meant the world to this woman, her actions prove it. Jesus saw the woman’s act as one of beauty and significance to him personally. How special is that? What believer doesn’t want to do something significant for Jesus? And the tip in this passage is that, “She did what she could.” So my prayer today would be that we would be brave like the woman in this passage and recognise our opportunities to worship and honour Jesus.
Lord, thank you for the example of the woman with the alabaster jar. Help us to honour and worship you the way she did by putting you first in our lives. Amen
Written by Ps. Ainslie Woods
Mark 13:28-37
28 “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. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 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.
35 “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 rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”
It’s easy to get distracted by life. To not pay attention each day to what God wants to say to us or who He has put in our lives for us to bring His love to them. We go to work, look after the family, do the shopping, clean the house – all good things to do. We squeeze God into the moments that are left over from all the things we have to do.
Jesus is reminding us in this passage to remember, to pay attention, to look into His face – so that we will not miss His return. This is a good way to think of every day. Am I paying attention to what God wants for me today? Have a chat with God each morning – what does He want you to know about the day ahead and what does He want you to do today? Bringing His love to each and every person you encounter across a day is a great place to start.
Living today and every day like Jesus is going to return in the next few hours is an excellent way to make sure you are chatting to God, reading His word and paying attention to His voice.
Dear Lord, thanks so much that You are a personal God. You care about what is going on in our lives and in our minds. You pay attention to us. Help us to pay attention to You today. To notice Your voice and to listen. Fill us with Your love and help us know how to show that love to the person in front of us. Amen.
Written by Therese Manning
Mark 13:14-27
14 “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. 15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.
20 “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. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
24 “But in those days, following that distress,
“ ‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 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.
It’s sometimes hard to remember the bigger picture in the day-to-day of living. The bigger picture is that this world is not forever, that one day Jesus will come again. And when He comes again, He will not come as He did before, unannounced and as a vulnerable baby. This time He will come in all His fearful glory. However, we do not know when this will be. It may be tomorrow, or it may be in thousands of years.
How do we live with this information? On the one hand it is right to make plans for the future, to save money, to build things, to take the time to learn skills, to grow long-term relationships and to work hard, with the understanding that we could be here a long time. But on the other hand, we don’t know what’s coming tomorrow, or even if we have tomorrow. Today is a gift and it’s important to live in the thankfulness and urgency that comes from that. What am I putting off that I would do today if I knew that’s all I had?
Thank you Lord that we do not need to live in fear, desperately holding on to time, for you promise an eternity of walking with you. But equally thank you for the gift of time, thank you for today and help us to take the opportunities to love and grow that You have waiting for us this day.
Written by Rhiannon Mellor
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Phone: +61 2 9875 0300
e-mail: info@c3carlingford.org.au
PO Box 2744,
Carlingford NSW 2118
7.00PM - Fridays in school term,
for students in Years 6-12
Carlingford High School Hall,
547 North Rocks Rd, Carlingford 2120
9.30AM and 5.30PM
Carlingford High School Hall,
547 North Rocks Rd, Carlingford 2120
Best access for the 5.30pm service is via Roselea Way
We gather worship and work, on the lands of the Darug and Guringai people and wish to acknowledge them as the traditional custodians. We pay our respects to first nations elders past and present.
Thank you Megan for showing us some of the depth here in this passage. There’s always so much more to see in the layers of the bible.
Thank you, Megan.
It’s amazing to see how God’s redemptive plan connects throughout the Bible!
God bless you multiple. Amen
Love it Megan, knowing the historical background makes all the difference and gives us the amazing richness of God’s Word and His intense
relationship with us.
Wonderful