Monday, week five: Who’s your friend? (Devotions for Lent from the Gospel of Mark)

Jesus has called himself the “Son of Man” half a dozen times already. 

This time he says the Son of Man will be betrayed and killed. Then after three days, the Son of Man will rise again. His disciples have no idea who or what he is talking about. Worse than that, they are afraid to ask him anything about it. Although Jesus has given them his own power and authority, they failed to heal a convulsing boy. Maybe that failure has something to do with their silence on the matter. So, as they journey through Galilee, they talk to one another, but not to him.

They arrive back at Capernaum, the Galilean town where Jesus first cast the unclean spirit out of the man in the synagogue. Capernaum is the town where he healed Peter’s mother-in-law of her fever. In this town the crowds first gathered and from here his fame began to spread.

They enter the house and Jesus discovers that while he has been talking about his own death and walking along in silence, his disciples have been arguing with one another about their greatness. Jesus is facing the certainty of his suffering and death, and they are having a fight about who among them is his best friend.

Jesus says they know nothing about friendship. They think Jesus’ power and notoriety are going to land them in a palace somewhere. They think friendship with him will be glitzy and glamorous. They think his empire will make things easier for them.

Jesus seizes the moment. He sits them down and breaks the news to them. Friendship with him doesn’t make anything easier. Friendship with him means putting others before yourself. It means putting everyone before yourself.

Friendship with him means humility, service, compassion. Friendship with him means noticing the people no one notices. Friendship with him means extending welcome. It means crossing boundaries and challenging your own prejudices.

Jesus says that when you’ve done that, you’ve welcomed God.

Text for the day:

Mark 9:30-37

Things to think about:

Our prejudices are in our blind spots.

Things to do:

Welcome somebody you wouldn’t ordinarily gravitate toward.

Jesus, help me welcome others as you have welcomed me.