March 25 | Mark 14:53-65

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DAILY READING

Mark 14:53-65

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REFLECTION

Jesus' True Identity

by Pr. Dave Mann

Throughout much of the gospel of Mark, Jesus warned people NOT to reveal his identity to others (Mark 1:43-45; 8:29-30; etc.). This is often referred to as Jesus’ messianic secret. 

However, in the brief conversation between Jesus and Caiaphas, the high priest, Jesus clarifies his identity. Caiaphas poses the question, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”  Jesus’ response is simple and straightforward, “I am.” Not “I am he,” or “I am the one.” He answers with “I am.” This short answer is a sure ticket to condemnation by the Sanhedrin because it is a direct reference to Moses in conversation with the living God at the burning bush. Moses wants to know the name of God so that he can tell the Israelites who is sending him. You can read about this incredible encounter in Exodus 3. But note especially verse 14, “God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’“ This is the divine name of the eternally pre-existent YHWH.

If that is not enough to shock the Sanhedrin, Jesus adds for good measure another reference to a well-known passage in the Hebrew Scriptures, “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” This is a clear claim to be the “son of man” in Daniel’s vision in 7:13-14, a Messianic passage, "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. 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."

In just a few words, Jesus makes two proclamations that he is the Messiah, and more than that he claims the divine name YHWH for himself. This is plenty enough for Jesus to be charged with blasphemy, putting himself in the place of God. This would indeed be a valid accusation, except for the fact that it is true!

Unlike earlier passages in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus here speaks claiming his divine, messianic identity. Jesus is therefore condemned to die on the cross. No more secrecy. Just clarity. Jesus’ mission takes him to the cross.

PRAYER

Thank you, Jesus, for your faithfulness to your mission through the cross. Thank you for the clear revelation of your true identity as the Messiah and the eternal YHWH. The completion of your journey to the cross demands my soul, my life, my all. Amen.

March 24 | Mark 11:1-11

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DAILY READING

Mark 11:1-11

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REFLECTION

Hosanna!!

by Elaine Pierce

"He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering."

(Isaiah 53:1)

Jesus is always portrayed as a handsome man, isn't he? He has long, wavy hair, and the artists depict him as compassionate, strong and "holy" looking. Take another look at the verse above from Isaiah. He tells us that the Savior has "no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." That certainly isn't the Sunday School version of Jesus I grew up with. Even on more contemporary shows, like The Chosen, the actor who plays Jesus is a strong, handsome man.

In today's passage, we read the familiar words that we repeat on Palm Sunday: "Hosanna!" Crowds line the road to Jerusalem, and Jesus is greeted as if he is a conquering hero. He might not have been physically attractive, but he had a presence that drew people to him. He drew large crowds as he preached, healed and taught. People were excited to see him come to Jerusalem, where many, including his disciples, thought he would usher in a new kingdom. Finally, they would be rid of the hated Romans, and they would have peace and freedom.

We all know that Jesus had a different plan, and he was obedient to his Father. He knew that the crowds who were cheering him and spreading palm branches at his feet would soon be screaming "Crucify him! Crucify him!" He knew that his disciples would desert him, and that they would be confused, lonely and afraid.

Jesus didn't deserve the cross. We did. But because he paid the price, we have life today, life tomorrow, and life for all eternity. Our Savior is certainly not conventional, is he? He bids us to come and follow him. He doesn't promise fame and fortune or ease and comfort. He asks us to trust him, and to take up our cross, and follow him.

Shout Hosanna today, and thank God for this incredible gift.

PRAYER

What a gift! What a Savior! Lord, we shout Hosanna, and we worship you. Forgive us when we forget your goodness, when we go our own way. Help us this Palm Sunday and every day to love you, to follow you, to serve you. We pray in your strong name, Amen.

March 23 | Mark 14:32-42

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DAILY READING

Mark 14:32-42

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REFLECTION

Crushing Overwhelm

by Mary Alice McGinnis

The Garden of Gethsemane was a unique place. It was near the temple mount on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives. The surrounding area grew groves of olive trees.

The name Gethsemane is formed by two Aramaic words—“Gat,” which means press and “Semen,” which means oil, ointment, olive. So literally, this garden was named Olive Press.

This is where Jesus came to pray. He came to this place where olives were pressed, crushed for their oil. And He was feeling pressed, indeed crushed in His spirit.

He said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”  

Think of a time when you felt overwhelmed. Was it the pressing weight of responsibility? Fear of failure? Illness? Injustice? Betrayal? Hurt? The haunting regret of things you have done? Maybe habitual sins that are crushing you? Circumstances beyond your control? Things beyond your ability to fix?

But why was Jesus pressed and overwhelmed to the point of death? Wasn’t He the one who commanded the waves to be still? Wasn’t He the one who fed the five thousand? Wasn’t He the one who healed the sick? Wasn’t He the one who raised a little girl back to life? Wasn’t He the one who called Lazarus from the tomb after being dead for three days?

Jesus’ sense of crushing sorrow was not because He faced physical torment or things out of His control. He could have called upon all His divine power, or the angel armies of heaven, at any time. Yet, He said His SOUL was overwhelmed.

Remember the things that have caused you to feel overwhelmed? Take all those things that have brought you overwhelming sorrow and picture them being put into a box and placed on a scale. How heavy are they? Now add them to all the miseries of this entire world. From the beginning of time until the end of time. How heavy are they now?

Jesus saw it all. All the injustices, all the pain and suffering, all the ways our hearts have turned against God, the weight of all our sins, from the fall in the Garden of Eden until the day He returns. He knew the path that was before Him if He followed His Father’s will. He knew the depth of this crushing weight would result in death and abandonment from God.

Isaiah 53:5 says, “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.”

The crushing weight of sin and its destruction would be placed entirely on Jesus, as part of the Father’s will. In anguish, He cried out, “Abba, Father,” He said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me.” 

He knew His Father’s love for Him, that is why He called Him Abba—daddy. A loving Dad would do anything for His beloved Son, right? Yet God the Father did not take this “cup” from Him.

Acts 4:12 says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

There is then a shift. While crying out to His Father in anguish, Jesus remained faithful. With His request of “another way” going unanswered, and without the support of His disciples, He humbled Himself and submitted to deepest desire of God's heart, saying: “Yet not what I will, but what You will.”  

Jesus anguished prayer of obedient surrender translated into immediate action. He resolutely came to His disciples and said, “Rise! Let us go!” His Father DID answer His prayer by giving Him the strength to fulfill what He came to do.

"During the days of Jesus' life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission." (Hebrews 5:7)

PRAYER

Thank You Jesus that You did not choose another way. What incredible love, what amazing sacrifice, what unbelievable mercy. You chose to give up Your life, and to take upon Yourself the crushing weight of my sin and shame, and that of this entire world. You felt the depths of Your Father’s abandonment in my place, so I could be redeemed. How can I ever thank You? Teach me to follow You with willing obedience, humble submission and resolute action toward what You desire.