Daily Bread for Oct 24, Mar 14

Today’s reading is Mar 14.

Mar 14:1-2 mentions the developing plot to kill Jesus. Mar 14:22 indicates the leaders were hesitant to move forward during the feast for fear of creating an uproar. With the massive number of travelers in Jerusalem for the Passover and overcrowded conditions throughout the city, the potential for riots was always lingering just under the service. Pay close attention as this body of supposedly wise spiritual leaders allows their resentment and animosity at Jesus to overcome their common sense.

Jesus is anointed for burial in Mar 14:3-9. During the incident, we read in verse 7, that there is a time to minister to the poor and a time to focus on Christ. What Jesus is teaching the disciples here is that their relationship with Him comes first. Feeding the poor, caring for the elderly and any other good work the church may do is secondary to how it relates to and exalts the Creator. A church that emphasizes social action, interpersonal relationships, self-improvement or any other activity more than it does Christ is missing the point. Jesus establishes that time with Him, and knowledge of Him are to be the highest priorities in the lives of His followers. He is to be given priority over all our possessions (the alabaster jar) and everything we do (feed the poor), even the "good" things we do.

This level of commitment to Christ can be difficult and is only achieved with the help and presence of the Holy Spirit who has yet to be poured out. Peter, still in his infancy as a believer, believes he can do it on his own as do the rest of the disciples. Jesus warns them about what is to come (Mar 14:26-31).

The first indications that the disciples are not yet empowered to do the things they are called to do occurs in the Garden of Gethsemane when they are unable to stay awake (Mar 14:32-42). Meanwhile, in the dark hours of a very dark night, we witness a model of perfect prayer and submission to the Father (Mar 14:36).

The disciples want to help Jesus as He is being betrayed and arrested (Mar 14:43-50). One of them wants to defend Him as if He could not defend Himself. Jesus needs neither their assistance nor their efforts at protecting Him. He had just told them He was going to be arrested and crucified. Now, their instincts lead them to try and prevent this from happening.

There’s a profound lesson in this vignette, one concerning the church and those who feel they need to protect and defend it. The Scriptures tell us the church will be persecuted and hated. As we see this becoming a reality, day by day, some think they should draw their swords and cut off the ear of the evil oppressors (Mar 14:47). Jesus would say to those who take it upon themselves to preserve the church, “Put away your sword (Mat 26:52)!" God is perfectly capable of preserving His church and tells us He will do so. We, as believers, would do well to remember that our mission field is--everyone, even those who oppose the church, perhaps them even more so (Mat 9:12).

Jesus is given a hearing during which, despite their best efforts, the council is unable to come up with any tangible evidence of wrongdoing (Mar 14:53-59). Ironically, they pass judgment on Him for speaking the truth (Mar 14:60-65).