Grace for the Journey
The path to the cross includes a multitude of images
Mark 14:10-31
Once Jesus is in Jerusalem, much goes on as he journeys to the cross. So there seem to be several distinct different threads or stories happening amongst each other in our passage today. Perhaps they are more related to one another than might first appear.
Mark tells us that Judas would give up Jesus to the authorities. Then he tells us that Jesus himself made preparations to recognize and partake of the sacrificial lamb of Passover.
The blood of the passover lamb served to bring salvation to each household in Israel, to save them from the angel of death. While grace isn’t really an explicit content subject in the story, we can understand there is some kind of grace at work in that story. Eating the flesh of the sacrificial lamb was a participation in a grace of God to deliver the people of Israel. It’s notable that this salvation isn’t about the culpability of sin. (There were other animals sacrificed for Israel’s atonement from sin, but that is not what is happening at Passover.) The sacrificial lamb of Passover stands in for the helplessness of the people of God.
Judas betrays, Peter denies, and the disciples abandon.
Peter’s falling is preceded by his own pomposity. Rather than focus on his own dedication to Jesus (what he can actually control), he instead compared it to others (I will never do what others will.) Self-comparison is the fuel of failure. Later, as Jesus walked with Peter on the beach after the resurrection, Peter compared himself again (to the disciple whom Jesus loved). Jesus responded, What’s that to you? You…follow me.
Mark 14:10-31
Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to give Jesus up to them. When they heard it, they were delighted and promised to give him money. So he started looking for an opportunity to turn him in.
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, the disciples said to Jesus, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?”
He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city. A man carrying a water jar will meet you. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The teacher asks, “Where is my guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?”’ He will show you a large room upstairs already furnished. Prepare for us there.” The disciples left, came into the city, found everything just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
That evening, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. During the meal, Jesus said, “I assure you that one of you will betray me—someone eating with me.”
Deeply saddened, they asked him, one by one, “It’s not me, is it?”
Jesus answered, “It’s one of the Twelve, one who is dipping bread with me into this bowl. The Human One goes to his death just as it is written about him. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays the Human One! It would have been better for him if he had never been born.”
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. I assure you that I won’t drink wine again until that day when I drink it in a new way in God’s kingdom.” After singing songs of praise, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus said to them, “You will all falter in your faithfulness to me. It is written, I will hit the shepherd, and the sheep will go off in all directions. But after I’m raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else stumbles, I won’t.”
But Jesus said to him, “I assure you that on this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
But Peter insisted, “If I must die alongside you, I won’t deny you.” And they all said the same thing.
Prayer
God,
As I begin this new day, I want to do so with a humble heart, mindful of the grace that flows through the story of your sacrifice and redemption.
Forgive me, Lord, for the times I have betrayed you, denied you, or abandoned your teachings. Help me to recognize my own weaknesses and to rely solely on what you provide for the journey. Keep me from comparing myself to others, but instead, to fix my eyes on Jesus, even as the lives of others point me to him.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.