Mark 16:1-8 Empty! He is Risen! In Mark’s account, we have only the women going to the tomb. They bore witness to his death, they alone bore witness to his burial, so it stands to reason that they alone go to attend to the body and act as first witnesses to his resurrection. As they…
Month: April 2019
Lent 2019Day 46: Mark 15:42-47
Mark 15:42-47 He was Buried Today is known as Holy Saturday. It stands between the cross and the resurrection. The cross is God’s ultimate identification with humanity, and the resurrection is the promise of the future. In the cross we find reconciliation, but in the resurrection we find victory. Today stands between those. This is…
Lent 2019 Day 45: Mark 15:21-41
Mark 15:21-41 The King is Dead So much could be said. I hope today you will reflect on the cross of Christ. I would perhaps recommend you reread today’s passage as a lectio divina, a divine reading. It’s a way of meditating and praying on the passage that comes from the early centuries of the…
Lent 2019 Day 44: Mark 15:1-20
Mark 15:1-20 King of the Jews Despite the predilection of some to place the blame for crucifixion upon the Jewish Leaders, the inescapable fact is that the Romans are the ones who crucified him. And so, the Jewish Leaders hand him over to Rome. Pilate’s reluctance may have been a true desire not see someone…
Lent 2019 Day 43: Mark 14:66-72
Mark 14:66-72 Denial The denial that Jesus predicted comes to pass. This is a sobering passage and a reminder of who we all are when it really comes down to it. We like to think we would never do such things. We like to imagine that it’d have been different if we had been there,…
Lent 2019 Day 42: Mark 14:43-65
Mark 14:43-65 Contrasts Today I just want to highlight two contrasts in this scene. In the first, Jesus is betrayed with a kiss. The greeting reserved for those who know each other closely and deeply, the type of greeting between long friends, this is the tool of betrayal. Much has been made about the kiss…
Lent Day 41: Mark 14:27-42
Mark 14:27-42 Unkept promises It is perhaps somewhat telling that, at least according to tradition and a few ancient sources, John Mark, the so name author of the Gospel of Mark (though there is no named author for any of the Gospels within the text, nor throughout the New Testament), wrote his Gospel from listening…
Lent 2019 Day40: Mark 14:12-26
Mark 14:12-26 A Proposal Much of what occurs in this passage follows the traditional Jewish Passover meal of the time. Due to a quirk of history (providence), there were two traditions of Passover at the time Jesus came into Jerusalem. One would have celebrated Passover on Thursday, the other on Friday. So Jesus is able…
Lent 2019 Day 39: Mark 14:1-11
Mark 14:1-11 Anointing Jesus is anointed at the house of Simon the Leper. This is a familiar passage, but there are three things I’d like to highlight in it. The alabaster jar/box carries deep significance related to a woman’s wedding. As part of the dowry, or possible just before the ceremony itself, the woman would…
Lent 2019 Day 38: Mark 13:1-37
Mark 13 Buckle up, it’s a long one Abomination unto Desolation The last time I wrote or spoke about this passage, my words were largely misunderstood. That being the case, though, I do not think that I should somehow avoid talking about such a passage. With that in mind, I’m going to dive right into…
