40 Days Reading & Response

Holy Week Reading - Day 1

4/14/2019

The Gospel of Mark - Chapter 14: (we're nearing the end of the story now -- the last week of Jesus' life)
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.” 3 Meanwhile . . .

Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. 4 Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. 5 “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly. 6 But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? 7 You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted when they heard why he had come, and they promised to give him money. So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

The Last Supper
12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you?” 13 So Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with these instructions: “As you go into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ 15 He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.”16 So the two disciples went into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there. 17 In the evening Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 As they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me.” 19 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one?” 20 He replied, “It is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me. 21 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!” 22 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. 25 I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.” 26 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

About today's contributors: The following comments come from the River Youth Group.
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We were struck by Jesus' apparent calm about his impending betrayal and death. We wondered what emotions could be seen in his face and heard in his voice as he spoke to the disciples? Here's what some Youth Group members had to say:

"Is Jesus worried? Why do you think Jesus continues to act so calmly even though he knows one of his twelve disciples will betray him?" (Avery, Grade 6)

"Jesus knew he was going to be betrayed yet he took it so calmly. He was completely prepared for what was to come." (Caleb, Grade 7)

"It was a bit odd seeing Jesus accept his death by one of his closest friends. To just see him nonchalantly tell everyone and then give out bread and wine was rather surreal . . . I wish I could approach disastrous events with such calm and composure." (Lincoln, Grade 9)

"Why doesn't he sound sad when he says one of you will betray me?" (Kate, Grade 6)

"If he knows the future, why doesn't he do anything?" (Avril, Grade 10)

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Please take a moment to consider these questions and post a comment. We'd love to hear from you!

13 Comments

Melinda

4/15/2019 02:54:37 am

Thanks youth group members! I too was struck by Jesus’ disclosure not because I thought he was calm per say but more so wondering what was Jesus’ intention of telling everyone that he was gonna be betrayed and the betrayer was among them. And immediately following this disclosure, the next thing he does is share a meal with his followers. That seems quite strange to me. I don’t know if I would have he resolve to keep moving like that.

I was really struck by the contrast between Mary Magdalene’s breaking of expensive perfume which is an act of such generosity and then the betrayal of Judas and then again another act of generosity. The betrayal is book ended by acts of love and deep appreciation.

While his resolve and like you all are saying calm is very apparent. I found myself wondering why tell them that someone is going to betray him? What would that knowledge do for them? Why was this important for him to say?

Dan K

4/15/2019 05:05:11 am

River Youth Group, such interesting questions! Yes, it struck me as well.

I’m not suggesting that this is the answer, but this came to my mind and I wanted to share with you. One potential explanation is that Jesus has died to himself, and is solely following God’s will. Borrowing from Caroline’s sermon, “it is what it is”, and he knows and accepts this reality; he surely knows that it is NOT what “should be”.

Clearly, his ability to remain calm is super-human, and enabled by the Holy Spirit.

I pray that we can all experience more of God’s peace and wisdom as we navigate challenging situations in life.

Jasmin

4/15/2019 06:19:45 am

Great questions! They really made me think. What struck me was the fact that somebody who is closest to Jesus had to betray him in order for Jesus to die. That seems as though pain upon pain is being piled on Jesus. While Jesus seems calm, my heart breaks for Him.

As we think of surprises from Jesus during these 40 Days, we may often expect them to come through from people who are closest to us or people who know us the best. But what I like about the woman (who wasn’t named) with the alabaster jar and how she poured the oil on Jesus’ head was that she surprised Jesus by taking care of Him. It is obvious that He was touched by the act and loved the surprise. It must have been a moment of relief that someone was thinking of His needs at that moment instead of Jesus having to prepare everything.

Chris

4/15/2019 08:32:50 am

I really resonate with what you said, Jasmin. Having heard of Jesus' plan, which he told people of over and over, no one seems to say, Jesus, what can I do for you at this moment? What do you need?

Kevin

4/15/2019 09:13:15 am

Thumbs up to this one.

Sara

4/15/2019 06:28:38 am

Thanks River Youth Group for those great questions!
I wonder if the calm that Jesus seems to have is stressing a point to Judas and the rest of the disciples. Maybe he’s demonstrating that their actions, failings, even betrayal doesn’t change His care and love for them.

Jamie

4/15/2019 07:44:40 am

Really great questions from the Youth Group!

Ben

4/15/2019 08:05:03 am

Thanks for the questions.

I feel I have been surprised and challenged in the last month to be less like those judging the unnamed women and her response to Jesus.

Maybe it is due to growing up as one of three very competitive siblings but I tend to judge, categorise and rank everything and everyone.

I have learnt this month that starting for a place of judgement always creates disconnection. Especially if that judgement is about who is good and who is bad. Instead true understanding and connection is dependent on empathy and taking the time to listen.

Okay, well maybe I'll allow one more judgement...

Caroline, Sundays talk was awesome - really helpful. Thank you.

4/15/2019 08:45:30 am

A big thanks to Caroline for yesterday's message - I had never before heard the story told as you did, highlighting the unnamed woman's understanding of the plan Jesus had been trying to explain, and the disciples' refusal to believe it. Their criticism of her, and suggestion the money could have been used to give to the poor instead, sounds like the constant woman-shaming we're so accustomed to. The fresh perspective really helps me to understand better who God is, and how to better discern people's motivations, particularly as they apply to responses to and expectations of women.

I think of this passage when I hear people say God doesn't exist, that the scripture was simply written as a story by humans, etc. First, Jesus' plan is to be tortured and killed (rather than honored). A (lowly/unnamed) woman anoints his body for burial, and he rebukes his male followers for their criticism of her. One of his disciples betrays him, but the author doesn't offer any words of judgment for Judas. The man claiming to be the son of God says he is sacrificing himself for the good of people (not the other way around). And as the Youth Group notes, Jesus is calm and composed, and loving throughout it all. The story is so un-humanlike, it is a challenge to appreciate and relate to.

4/15/2019 09:12:06 am

Thanks Youth Group, you asked some really good questions about Jesus and his demeanor while facing certain death (and a pretty painful one). Jesus's calm approach to his future knowledge of events seems different than one of complete resignation. That's a difficult line for me to discern.

In the past few weeks, we see that none of the 12 disciples have really understood what he has said and some even argued about the place of power they would have in this new kingdom. It seems to me that Judas finally realized that Jesus is not leading them to overthrow the Romans or whoever is ruling over them at this time. In a sense, Judas seems to understand what Jesus is NOT. And the unnamed woman realizes what Jesus IS. At points in my life, I have come to some stark realizations as to what Jesus is NOT and I have experienced some disappointments because of that. These 40 Days have really encouraged me to discover who Jesus IS.

John

4/15/2019 02:20:43 pm

Wow—thanks River Youth Group and commenters here. So many powerful things to think about.

Makeba Pinder

4/16/2019 03:37:42 am

I agree with Avril! Sometimes, I wished Jesus would have done something to stop Judas, and the religious leaders. But that was not his fate....Living out your fate is hard....

Christina

4/16/2019 04:50:36 am

Alabastar Jar lady -her perfume offering of years worth of saving - is sticking with me a bit more for some reason. Im wondering if her diligent confidence had something to do with Jesus remaining so calm.

reading & response

Holy Week Reading - Day 1

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