Mark 14:17-21

Find a way to separate yourself from whatever’s going on around you so you can fully enter into today’s passage. if you haven’t read the introduction to Mark’s Gospel, read it here.

Read Mark 14:17-21 imagining Jesus speaking and noting any emotional response you may have.

Depending on Jesus’ tone of voice and body language his words in this passage could illicit a variety of responses, and for the disciples this is a moment of “great distress.” Together they have been part of the community of Jesus for three years and have traveled, eaten and worked together, but now Jesus says that one of them is a traitor. Their shock is immediate and obvious, but it is the next words of Jesus that matter most: “…how terrible for the one who betrays [Jesus]. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”

How do you imagine Jesus saying these words? Is he angry? Eerily calm? Something else?

Read Mark 14:17-21 again imagining Jesus saying those words with great sadness.

If Jesus is life, then walking away from him is death both in this life and beyond. Jesus’ invitation to follow him and experience the kingdom of God is open and available to all, but not everyone will accept it. Jesus made it crystal clear that along with the joy and fullness of life found in him his followers will face difficulties and will need to sacrifice certain expectations. Not everyone has the foresight to see that life in the kingdom is far superior to any earthly desire or expectation. Sadly, for those who reject the abundant life of the kingdom, it would be better to have never tasted life at all.

How do you respond to this?

Is there anything more important to you than Jesus and life to which he calls you?

Spend some time talking this over with Jesus. Be completely honest with him.

Now consider asking Jesus to give you a sense of what it would be like to follow him without reservation and experience the abundant life of the kingdom of God. Take a few moments to be silent.

If you sense Jesus nudging you toward a specific action, write it down and make a plan for taking a first step.

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Are you finding these meditations to be helpful? If so, please forward them to a couple of friends.