Category: Lent devotions

Posted in Lent devotions

Crickets

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Tuesday, March 16. Photo by Kristina Flour on Unsplash.

And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, β€œAre you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, β€œYou have said so.” And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, β€œHave you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. (Mark 15:1-5)

Jesus has little to say when he’s questioned by Pilate and accused of many things by the chief priests. He really doesn’t even answer Pilate’s question. He simply acknowledges being called the King of the Jews. After that, not a word.

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Could be worse

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Monday, March 15, 2021. Original art by Susan Zendt (c) 2021.

And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, β€œYou also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it, saying, β€œI neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, β€œThis man is one of them.” But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, β€œCertainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, β€œI do not know this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, β€œBefore the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept. (Mark 14:66-72 )

This scene from the passion reminds me of Rizzo’s solo in the movie Grease, “There are worse things I could do.” People commit violent, abusive, heinous crimes every single day that seem a lot worse than Peter’s, “I don’t what or who you’re talking about” denial of Jesus. I also think of the opening narration of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, “In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit.” These dedicated detectives are not going after people like Peter.

But didn’t Jesus say, “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33)? I can’t find much wiggle room in that statement.

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By the fire

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” for Sunday, March 14, 2021. Photo by Tron Le on Unsplash.

And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. (Mark 14:54)

A crackling blaze in the hearth feels so good on a chilly night. Camping just doesn’t feel right without flames flickering in a fire ring. A stressful day melts away with a glass of wine as a few logs burn in your backyard fire pit.

As he shakes off the shock of Jesus’ arrest at Gethsemane, Peter waits just outside the high priest’s house, innocently warming his hands around the fire with the guards. What was going through his mind? Did he regret fleeing the scene just a few moments ago? Did he think he would have another chance to fight alongside his master? Was Peter still determined to die rather than turn his back on Jesus? Was he trying to hear what was going on inside?

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King of the hill

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotions for Saturday, March 13, 2021. Photo by Alfred Aloushy on Unsplash.

And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, β€œWe heard him say, β€˜I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, β€œHave you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, β€œAre you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, β€œI am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” And the high priest tore his garments and said, β€œWhat further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, β€œProphesy!” And the guards received him with blows. (Mark 14:53-65)

Someone didn’t do their job. After all the plotting and planning to get their hands on Jesus, they can’t find anyone to testify against Jesus. Without two witnesses, the law of Moses says they can’t do anything. They can’t even find anyone who knows how to lie. What a joke.

Jesus just stands there. He doesn’t say a word while these guys make fools of themselves. Finally the high priest just asks him, “Are you the Christ?” Jesus simply says, “I am.” Then he adds, “Oh, and by the way, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

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The naked guy

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Friday, March 12, 2021.

And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked. (Mark 14:51-52)

I have always loved this unusual scene from the passion. It seems like a totally random cameo in the gospel of Mark. I know who streaked across the stage at my high school’s spring chorus concert, but we don’t know anything about this young man. Everyone else had a reason to be at Gethsemane that night. Everyone but this guy.

Unless, it was Mark.

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Run!

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Thursday, March 11, 2021.

And they all left him and fled. (Mark 14:50)

Gunshots. Screaming. Crowds running for the exits.
Someone yells, “Fire!” Smoke begins filling the room. Everyone starts pushing their way towards the door.
A tornado siren pierces the night. A family quickly heads down the stairs into the basement.

When the disciples realize Jesus is not going to fight the crowd wielding swords and clubs and he’s not going to run away, they quickly flee the scene. Jesus said this moment would come. The scriptures painted a picture of this scene. Just like that, they were gone. In an instant, Jesus is no longer with his friends, but is in the hands of his enemies.

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Every day at the temple

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Photo by SPOTSOFLIGHT on Pixabay.com.

And Jesus said to them, β€œHave you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” (Mark 14:48-49)

Since the temple wasn’t a formal place of teaching like the synagogue, I think we would call what Jesus was doing at the temple “street preaching.” People gathered around Jesus to hear him teach about the widow giving more than all the others, his sheep who know his voice, the greatest commandment and the resurrection. He also instructed them to watch out for the teachings of the scribes, who were in it for themselves.

Why didn’t the chief priests and scribes and elders just grab Jesus at the temple? Sometimes it was the crowds. Jesus was just too popular. Sometimes it was Jesus’ teaching. Some who were supposed to arrest him were instead fascinated by his words. It might have been fear. Jesus had quite a temper when he cleared all the animals and moneychangers from the temple.

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Fighting for Jesus

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Tuesday, March 9, 2021.

But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. (Mark 14:47)

Judas has led the mob, armed with swords and clubs, to Gethsemane, where Jesus has been praying. He kisses Jesus and they seize him. Suddenly, things get rough. Someone starts swinging a sword, a voice cries out in pain, blood spurts, an ear goes flying, and we have the first casualty of the passion.

Mark’s description is brief and to the point, as it usually is. Other gospels fill in the details. But I’ve still got a lot of questions. First of all, some of the disciples were “carrying?” When Jesus had sent out his disciples to do ministry, he told them not to take food, luggage, money, not even extra clothing. But he never mentioned weapons, so I guess they though that was OK.

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Hold on!

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Monday, March 8, 2021. Photo by β€πŸŒΈπŸ™Œ في ΨΉΫŒΩ† Ψ§Ω„Ω„Ω‡ on Unsplash.

And they laid hands on [Jesus] and seized him. (Mark 14:46)

So many have been waiting to get their hands on Jesus.

Mary waited nine months to hold her son in her arms. Who knows how long Simeon waited to see the Christ? When Jesus was so busy he didn’t even have time to eat, his own family wanted to seize him and take him home, thinking he was out of his mind (Mark 3:21). A woman who had been bleeding for years crawled through a crowd just to touch the hem of his garment to be healed. Somehow, Joseph and Nicodemus got their hands on Jesus’ corpse after his death, so they could place it in a tomb. Thomas wanted to get his hands on Jesus, so he personally could be sure that Jesus had risen from the dead.

But now there’s this group, a mob with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Led to Gethsemane by Judas the betrayer, they are finally able to lay their hands on Jesus. At last, they have him!

Just think how many people stand in line for hours to shake hands with an author, a celebrity or a favorite sports star. It’s a moment you’ll never forget. You might even get a picture with that person, too. You’ll show it to your friends and post it on social media, too.

Are there still people waiting to get their hands on Jesus? There are those who want his healing. There are others who want some evidence that he is real. A selfie with Jesus would go viral!

How ironic. One of the reasons Jesus became flesh and blood so he could get his hands on us. Jesus’ hands touched a leper and healed him. Jesus touched the eyes of the blind so they could see. Jesus’ hands washed the feet of the disciples to teach them what it meant to love each other. Jesus held children and blessed them. He laid his hand on a dead girl and she came back to life. When Peter sank and cried out for help, Jesus grabbed his hand. When a well-meaning disciple cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Jesus reached out his hand and healed him. And Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

I feel pretty good about the fact the Jesus is willing to do so much to get his hands on me. I don’t have to work so hard to get my hands on him!

Heavenly Father, thank you for your son Jesus, who came to get a hold of my life and never let go! Amen.