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Opening Prayer
Spirit of Christ, form us into the likeness of Christ, so much that we will never retaliate against those who seek to harm us and more than not retaliate, will forgive. Amen.
Scripture: Mark 14.12-26 (ESV)
12And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 13And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 15And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us." 16And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
17And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." 19They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, "Is it I?" 20He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."
22And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." 23And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
26And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Devotional Comments
This passage presents us with a contrast, a contradiction. A specter is lurking in paradise. A venomous serpent hides among the flowers. A thorn is concealed behind the rose. Judas is not just a historical figure. Have we not each played the Judas? Have we not betrayed a friend, a truth, someone or a people suffering injustice, or God, if not by outright word, by ignoring the other? Have we not each betrayed ourselves, potentially in innumerable ways, even in ways we are not aware? Thankfully, Christ, even knowing his betrayer, offers Judas meal. Jesus invites Judas to the table of intimate fellowship. Jesus is host to the betrayer guest. Judas was offered in such invitation healing of the darkest part of himself. We are offered the same. That within us with the potential for great harm to another, and so to ourselves, at the Table of Christ sits in the Presence, being invited to meal and offered healing. But, Judas walked out. What shall we do?
Suggested Psalm Reading: Psalm 2
Spiritual Exercise
Reflect on ways you might need to ask forgiveness for disloyalty? Pray that you will always be a man or woman of faithfulness, even under pressure to compromise and be disloyal to another, God, or yourself.
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