Good Friday: Ending it all (Devotions for Lent from the Gospel of Mark)

On the day of Jesus’ baptism, a schism opened in the heavens and a voice came to Jesus,  “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

On the first Friday of Jesus’ ministry, he entered the synagogue, the world of Jewish men, and cast out an unclean spirit. They said of him, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!” He then crossed the street, entered a home, the world of Jewish women, and lifted up a woman sick with a fever. As the Sabbath ended, the whole city gathered at his door.

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus couldn’t have been alone if he tried. Everyone wanted him. Then he crossed every boundary and entered every forbidden realm imaginable: sickness, religion, law, nature, gender, age, profession, ethnicity, geography. He has healed everyone and he has done all things well.

Now, on the last Friday of his ministry, he is tried, convicted, whipped, and crucified.  He dies, despised by everyone.

Now a new schism opens. The seventy-foot-high curtain in the Temple, separating the outer courtyard from the Holy of Holies where the ark of the covenant containing the stone tablets of the ten commandments is stored, rips from high in the air all the way to the ground, never to be mended again.

As the Sabbath begins today, instead of being surrounded by friends and people clamoring for his gifts and attention, Jesus is alone in a tomb. But he is not finished.

He is still crossing boundaries and entering forbidden realms. This time, he enters the heart of the empire. He enters the seat of power that keeps every citizen in his or her place. He enters the places the empire uses as a threat to everyone who might think of stepping out of line. He enters intimidation, trial, shame, torture, fear, and death itself.

While the world rests, he is at work.

Text for the day:

Mark 15:1-47

Things to think about:

Love and healing shatter barriers and boundaries.

Things to do:

Find something in common with everyone you meet.

Jesus, although we have done the worst, continue to do your best.

Friday, week four: Take heart (Devotions for Lent from the Gospel of Mark)

Finally Jesus gets a break.

The crowds have dispersed. He puts his disciples back in the boat and watches them set off for home. He stays in that deserted place, climbs the mountain, and prays.

He has an expansive view of Galilee and the lake. He can see the progress they make as they paddle the small boat toward the opposite shore. Evening falls and a wind picks up. By the moonlight, Jesus watches them struggle and strain against the elements. He recalls an earlier time on this same lake, when their boat was being swamped and they feared for their lives.

He descends and heads toward them. By early morning, he is within earshot, coming to them across the sea itself, miraculously buoyed atop the waves.

They know he has command of the wind and the sea, but when they see him walking on the water, they are frightened beyond belief. They are sure it a ghost coming to finish them off.

Then they hear his voice. “Take heart. It is I. Do not be afraid.” He nears them and climbs into the boat. The wind and the sea cease their raging.

They, however, do not take heart. They are not encouraged, nor calmed. If they had understood anything about him and his power, that understanding is now lost. He has done things beyond miraculous, entering the realm of the fantastical and magic. He has multiplied bread and defied the laws of the physical world.

Put plainly, they have no idea what to make of the one who now sits in their small boat.

When they reach the other side, they disembark, and Jesus resumes him ministry, picking up right where he left off.

Text for the day:

Mark 6:45-56

Things to think about:

Jesus does spectacular and unimaginable things.

Jesus’ power extends beyond the physical world.

Things to do:

As you hear the news today, imagine Jesus on the rough sea asking the world to take heart.

Jesus, in the midst of our fear, encourage us all.

Friday, week three: Storms and faith (Devotions for Lent from the Gospel of Mark)

Don’t you care that we are dying?

The disciples’ question isn’t so different from ours. When we face our most challenging and frightening moments, we too wonder where Jesus is and how he can allow such things to happen.

Don’t you care that we are suffering? How can you sleep at a time like this?

To add serious insult to the disciples’ injury, Jesus is present, sleeping through their trauma. Don’t we also wonder if Jesus notices or cares about us?

Jesus stills the storm, but there is more to this story than Jesus’ authority over nature. There are two less obvious places to find relief and hope.

First, Jesus is in the boat. That’s cause for reassurance. Whatever danger the disciples face on the sea, Jesus is in it with them. They may be freaked out and terrified, but Jesus is with them. They are not alone. He has made exceptional claims, exhibited extraordinary power, and is with them in the storm.

Second, Jesus is asleep. That’s cause for celebration. The disciples might be terrified, but Jesus isn’t fazed. He’s so calm that he has no problem falling asleep. Jesus isn’t scared at all. If he isn’t scared, why should they be?

Storms come. Storms go. Faith calls the disciples to see what isn’t so obvious. Faith calls them to remember Jesus is with them. Faith calls them to trust in the calm presence of Jesus when they are freaked out and terrified.

Jesus isn’t nearly as interested in the storm as he is in the faith of his disciples. He calms the storm so they can focus on his question, Where is your faith?

Text for the day:

Mark 4:35-41

Things to think about:

This is the disciples’ experience. It says something about the lives and the possibilities of those who are trying to draw near to Jesus in faith.

Things to do:

Wake Jesus up. Ask him for what you most need.

Jesus, help me to see reassurance and joy in my troubles.