He Looked Around at Everything
Mark gets detailed on us.
Let me get a bit more personal than I usually am when writing JD. I have to admit that this time around though Mark, he is surprising me a bit. I’ve read through Mark many times. And in recent years, I’ve somewhat “relegated” it to a fast-paced, detail-less gospel. It is indeed fast-paced. But it is not detail-less. I’ve tried to note that in the last couple of weeks. And again today…
He looked around at everything.
That’s how Mark ends today’s passage: Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. After he looked around at everything, because it was already late in the evening, he returned to Bethany…
No speeches. No confrontations. No miracles.
After all the shouting and celebration, Jesus simply looks.
What do you think he was looking at? He’s been to the temple many times before. What do you suppose he noticed this time? Have you ever visited a place with new eyes — maybe for the last time? Walked slowly through a house or apartment you’re leaving? A school or campus you know you're graduating from — but that shaped you deeply?
It’s an image of quiet inspection. Jesus walks into the temple — the religious center of Israel, the beating heart of God’s people — and looks around at everything.
Not in a rush. Not reacting. Just seeing. Taking it in.
Sometimes the holiest thing is not to act quickly, but to look carefully.
In Mark, before flipping tables or rebuking scribes, Jesus looked. Before healing or teaching, Jesus took into account of what’s before him. Before establishing a whole new and transformed way of sacrifice and salvation, he pauses…
Maybe today, we’re invited to do the same. To slow down. To look carefully — at our own lives, our surroundings, the systems we’re part of. And to ask: what does Jesus see here? …in this temple?
Mark 10:1-11
When Jesus and his followers approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives. Jesus gave two disciples a task, saying to them, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter it, you will find tied up there a colt that no one has ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘Its master needs it, and he will send it back right away.’”
They went and found a colt tied to a gate outside on the street, and they untied it. Some people standing around said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them just what Jesus said, and they left them alone. They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes upon it, and he sat on it. Many people spread out their clothes on the road while others spread branches cut from the fields. Those in front of him and those following were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessings on the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest!” Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. After he looked around at everything, because it was already late in the evening, he returned to Bethany with the Twelve.
Psalm 118:19-29
Open the gates of righteousness for me so I can come in and give thanks to the Lord!
This is the Lord’s gate; those who are righteous enter through it.
I thank you because you answered me, because you were my saving help.
The stone rejected by the builders is now the main foundation stone!
This has happened because of the Lord; it is astounding in our sight!
This is the day the Lord acted; we will rejoice and celebrate in it!
Lord, please save us! Lord, please let us succeed!
The one who enters in the Lord’s name is blessed; we bless all of you from the Lord’s house. The Lord is God! He has shined a light on us! So lead the festival offering with ropes all the way to the horns of the altar. You are my God—I will give thanks to you! You are my God—I will lift you up high! Give thanks to the Lord because he is good, because his faithful love lasts forever.
Prayer
God,
Help me not to rush past what you see. Teach me to notice — to pause, to observe, to pay attention to what’s happening around me and within me. Before I try to fix, to teach, or to respond, help me to look as Jesus looked — with care, with patience, and with love.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.