Category: Lent devotions

Posted in Lent devotions

A kiss is just a kiss

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Sunday, March 7, 2021. Photo by Derek Thomson on Unsplash

Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. (Mark 14:44-45)

It’s night. It’s dark. The betrayer Judas has led a crowd armed with swords and clubs to a place where he knows Jesus will be with his disciples. Without a photo, a sketch or a wanted poster, how will they know which one to apprehend? Which of these Jewish men is Jesus?

Judas has it all worked out. “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and take him away. ” An innocent greeting would now deliver Jesus into the hands of his enemies.

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Swords and clubs

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Saturday, March 6, 2021.

And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. (Mark 14:43)

What a frightening moment! Jesus disrupts the disciples sleep as an armed mob approaches, led by Judas “the betrayer.” Jesus knows why they are there. The disciples will soon find out. They have come to arrest Jesus. It’s time to bring his ministry to an end.

They come in hot. They must have expected Jesus and the disciples to put up a fight. They are prepared with both numbers and weapons to apprehend the Messiah. Jesus had spoken about this moment. He said that ever since John the Baptist showed up, “the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12).

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It’s time

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Friday, March 5, 2021. Photo by Amanda Jones on Unsplash.

And [Jesus] came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” (Mark 14:41-42)

You haven’t eaten since midnight. You woke before your alarm, got dressed and headed to the hospital. The nice person at the desk got you checked in and got your copay. The pastor stopped by to pray with you. You’re just waiting when you hear your name being called. It’s time. It’s your turn. Soon your procedure will begin.

The meal is finished, the waiting is over, the prayers have all been spoken, and now “the hour has come.” It is time. Time for Jesus to be apprehended by those who have wanted to arrest him for a long time. Time for Jesus to be handed over to those who want no less than his execution. It’s time for Jesus to find out what pain, suffering and death are really all about.

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Fast asleep

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Thursday, March 4, 2021. Photo by The Creative Exchange on Unsplash.

And again [Jesus]  came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (Mark 14:40-41)

Three times, Jesus prays. Three times, he finds his disciples sleeping. They are supposed to be keeping watch. They are supposed to be praying, too (v38). But it’s late. It’s been a long day. They were drinking at the Passover. They just couldn’t keep their eyes open.

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Make it go away

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Photo by nrd on Unsplash.

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And [Jesus] said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:32-39)

This must have been such a hard moment. Jesus is distressed, troubled and filled with sorrow. He throws himself on the ground in prayer, asking, “Is there some way I can get out of this?” In other words, “I don’t want to do this, Father!”

How do you feel about Jesus’ prayer? Are you surprised that Jesus had second thoughts about his mission? Or can you empathize with him? When’s the last time you just wanted it all to go away?

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Sit here while I pray

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And [Jesus] said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” (Mark 14:32)

Gethsemane is a quiet place among the olive trees on the Mount of Olives. For Jesus, it’s a place of prayer. For the disciples it’s a place to wait.

Have you ever asked someone to sit and wait for you while you prayed? I’ve never done that. Has anyone ever asked you to sit and wait while they prayed? I’ve never had that experience.

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You will let me down

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Monday, March 1, 2021. Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Peter said to [Jesus], “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same. (Mk 14:29-31) 

Jesus’ words, “You will all fall away” (Mark 14:27) must have touched a nerve in Peter who quickly respond, “Not me. I don’t know about these other guys, but I’m all in. You can count on me. I will not fall away.” Peter is just being Peter. When Jesus spoke of dying in Jerusalem, Peter was the one who rebuked him. Peter thought he could walk on water, too. Peter didn’t want Jesus to wash his feet. Peter is the “hold my beer” disciple who’s got it all figured out.

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Scattered

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Sunday, February 28, 2021. Photo by Saad Chaudhry on Unsplash.

“And Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away, for it is written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee”‘” ( Mark 14:27-28).

Imagine you are a shepherd, quietly watching your flock grazing on a hillside. It would be so easy to doze off in the warm afternoon sun and gentle breeze. But something catches your eye, the sheep begin to bleat and you rush to intercept a coyote rushing towards a lamb. You jab at him with your staff but feel his teeth sink into your leg. You grab a rock and try to smash his head but he’s decided it’s not worth it and runs off. You’re down, you’re bleeding and bruised, and the sheep have all run down the hillside into the valley. Once you wrap some cloth around that wound, it’s going to take some time to gather them all up again.

Jesus lets his disciples know what is about to happen to them. It’s going to be a rough night. The chief priests and scribes are going to make their move. They have Judas to help them find Jesus. He’ll be taken away while the disciples all escape to safety. These were the words of the prophet Zechariah (Zech. 13:7). Now we know he was talking about Jesus.

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The green room?

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Saturday, February 27, 2021. Photo by Dawid Matyszczyk on Unsplash.

“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Mark 14:26).

The Mount of Olives is east of Jerusalem, across the Kidron Valley. Jesus often traveled this route, to rest, pray or continue on to Bethany just a couple of miles away. As the name suggests, the hillside was once covered with olive groves. By Jesus’ time you would also find the tombs of kings, prophets and David’s son Absalom. Today, there are over 150,000 graves on that hillside.

Jesus staged his triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives (Mark 11:1). He also taught about the end times here (Matthew 24:3ff). From this unique vantage point, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). It may also have been the site of Jesus’ ascension into heaven (Acts 1:12).

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