Mark 14:10-21 | Exodus 12:1-11
Don’t miss the parallels between the preparations Judas (unknowingly) makes for the sacrificial Lamb of God and the preparations the disciples make for the Passover meal at which a lamb will be sacrificed.
It’s unfortunate. A lot of the story is unfortunate. It shouldn’t happen or have to happen. But it does.
Jesus came to save the world, a hopeful enterprise. But some elements of the story seem hopeless. Some of Jesus’ darkest words come out today - “It would have been better for him if he had never been born.”
Mark 14:10-21
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.”
Exodus 12:1-11
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month will be the first month; it will be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole Israelite community: On the tenth day of this month they must take a lamb for each household, a lamb per house. If a household is too small for a lamb, it should share one with a neighbor nearby. You should divide the lamb in proportion to the number of people who will be eating it. Your lamb should be a flawless year-old male. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You should keep close watch over it until the fourteenth day of this month. At twilight on that day, the whole assembled Israelite community should slaughter their lambs. They should take some of the blood and smear it on the two doorposts and on the beam over the door of the houses in which they are eating. That same night they should eat the meat roasted over the fire. They should eat it along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Don’t eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over fire with its head, legs, and internal organs. Don’t let any of it remain until morning, and burn any of it left over in the morning. This is how you should eat it. You should be dressed, with your sandals on your feet and your walking stick in your hand. You should eat the meal in a hurry. It is the Passover of the Lord.
Prayer
God,
There are some days where it does seem hopeless, or at least unfair. What choice does the lamb who is chosen to be sacrificed have? That’s unfair.
Did Judas have a choice? The scriptures seems to say that he didn’t. That seems pretty unfair.
Did your son, Jesus have a choice? Honestly, I kind of cling to the idea that he did. That he would choose to endure what he did seems more aligned with my hopeful understanding of your love.
Even then, it doesn’t seem fair.
God, I know I am not you. I don’t have your insight or vision of what’s ahead (or behind). So help me to do my best today to live within what may be unfair. Give me hope beyond the current moment. And help me to move into situations with compassion, just like you did in Christ.
By your spirit and in Christ,
Amen.