Sabbath rest

Mark 15:42-47

The Burial of Jesus

When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.

Joseph of Arimathea

Waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God

offered what he had

- an empty tomb.

He wrapped the body in a linen cloth

sealed the tomb

and continued to wait.

Did he have the slightest inkling

of how God would usher in the kingdom?

Or were his actions those of a defeated hope?

Joseph of Arimathea

by doing what he could

and giving what he had

unwittingly,played a part

in the greatest story ever told.

But first....sabbath rest.

Prayer

God may we be willing to do what we can and to give what we have, especially when we cannot imagine the outcome. For your kingdom.

Nine o'clock in the morning

Mark 15:25-27

It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left.

The day started early

Forced to carry the instrument of torture

through streets thronged with revellers,

some sporting post Passover hangovers

some just winding their way home

some heading to jobs that would not wait

And others who knew a good spectacle was promised

By nine o'clock, the excitement was over

the procession had stopped

And all that remained

was the sorry business of dying.

Three criminals

hoisted up as a warning to others

Left to die

as the party moved on.

Prayer

God, may we not move on too quickly to the next thing but stay awhile by your cross today.

Betrayal

Mark 14:17-19

When it was evening, he came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?”

One  of you will betray me...

Surely not I, Lord?

Surely not I?

Betrayal lives in us

Betrayal lives

deep in the recesses

of all we keep hidden

Betrayal lives in us

when we take the easy option

and settle for a quiet life

Betrayal lives in us

when we refuse to speak up

and let our voice be heard

Betrayal lives in us...

And Christ on his way to the cross

embraces our betrayal

simply placing it

within the sphere

of forgiveness 

and grace

that was God's response

to hatred and evil.

One  of you will betray me...

Surely not I, Lord?

Surely not I?

Prayer

God, may we accept that betrayal lives in us along with the forgiveness found in your response to evil.

Denial

Mark 14:66-68

Peter Denies Jesus

While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.” But he denied it, saying, “I do not know or understand what you are talking about.” And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed.

Jesus was under no illusions

He knew how fickle we can be

The lengths we will go

to save ourselves

consequences be damned.

He knew

and yet he continued

Continues

To hold out

Love

Forgiveness

Grace

No illusions

Just arms opened wide

to embrace.

Prayer

God, as we recognise our many failings, may we remember our beloved status. Known and loved by you.

Desertion

Mark 14:50

All of them deserted him and fled.

Deserted

Left alone

with those who sought to harm him

those who came for him

mob handed.

Suddenly the garden,

a place of retreat

became a place 

of sinister shadows

filled with malevolent soldiers 

and guards

and frightened friends

cowering in the darkness.

And when we imagine

that we would have stuck around

stood our ground

not melted into the darkness

we are reminded

that it was for us

and others like us

that Jesus endured

alone in the garden.

And we too 

are included in that statement

All of them deserted him and fled.

Prayer

God when we are tempted to trumpet our loyalty and our bravery, confront us with our willingness to be with the crowd and even your friends who deserted you. And, God, forgive us.

In remembrance...

Mark 14:3-9

The Anointing at Bethany

While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”

What she has done ...

Gifting her precious ointment

Sensuously pouring it on Jesus' head

Not minding those

with whom he dined

Overcoming her fear

with love so pure

it could not be denied

Stepping into the line of fire

because it was now or never

will be told...

Told with scorn

Told with wonder

Told with derision

Told with awe

Embellished

Diminished

Repeated in myriad ways

in remembrance of her...

Who did this

in memory of him.

Prayer

God, just for a moment give us the audacity to do as this woman did,

taking risks to show our love. Stepping out of line and not counting the cost.

Beyond words

Mark 13:10-11

And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

So many ways to witness

Living

Working

Words

Action

Proclaiming good news

to all nations

On the midst of suffering

witnessing love.

Prayer

God, in all things, may we proclaim the good news, in and out of love.

This...

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Word!

Prayer

God you lay it out for us in terms easy to understand. You don't promise it will be easy but you make it clear that there is no wiggle room, no room for excuses. Yoir command is to love. No exceptions. Practice love, teach love, live love. That's it

Poured out

Psalms 22:14

I am poured out like water,

and all my bones are out of joint;

my heart is like wax;

it is melted within my breast;

The Psalmist

Destroyed

Yet full of hope

Feeling abandoned

Yet looking to the promise

of a faithful God

Believing

in restoration

even in th depths.

Faith in despair.

Prayer

O God, when all seems lost, draw near to us and lift us from despair to hope in you.

What shall I offer?

Psalms 116:12-13

What shall I return to the Lord

for all his bounty to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation

and call on the name of the Lord

Gratitude

For a love undeserved

And a cup overflowing

Filled with every good thing

Not earned

Not worked for

But gifted

By God who freely gives.

How can I keep silent?

Prayer

Lord let me seek and use every opportunity to praise you for your goodness and to spread your name far and wide in praise and thanksgiving in all things.

Keeper and shade

Psalms 121

Assurance of God’s Protection

A Song of Ascents.

I lift up my eyes to the hills—

from where will my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

He who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

the Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

The Lord will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time on and forevermore.

Always present

Tuned in

Anticipating need

Providing shelter

There

Whether we acknowledge or not

There

When we know it

And when we don't

When we believe

And when we doubt.

Keeper and shade 

Faithful God.

Prayer

God, ever present, thank you for you constant care and concern. May we know you guarding our everyday and glorify your name.

Promises

Psalms 102:15-17

The nations will fear the name of the Lord,

and all the kings of the earth your glory.

For the Lord will build up Zion;

he will appear in his glory.

He will regard the prayer of the destitute,

and will not despise their prayer.

How long, O Lord, before we see you

fulfil your promise

before we see the destitute

raised up from their plight

How long, O Lord, before we see

those who struggle

finding a way out of trouble

How long, O Lord

before we awaken

to the dawning

that the answer to prayer

is in our hands

Prayer

Lord help us not just to pray for those who suffer but to work for justice and to be the means of answered prayer.

Being of God

Hebrews 1:1-3

God Has Spoken by His Son

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. 

Reflecting God's glory

Part of God's very being

Higher than the Angels

Bringing the word of God,

the life giving, creative word.

Co-creator

Sustainer

Son of God

Prayer

God open our hearts to listen as you speak to us in your Son, Jesus Christ for the life of the world.

To the hills...

Psalms 121

Assurance of God’s Protection

A Song of Ascents.

I lift up my eyes to the hills—

from where will my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

He who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

the Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

The Lord will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time on and forevermore.

Disappointment

Isaiah 5:1-4

The Song of the Unfruitful Vineyard

Let me sing for my beloved

my love-song concerning his vineyard:

My beloved had a vineyard

on a very fertile hill.

He dug it and cleared it of stones,

and planted it with choice vines;

he built a watchtower in the midst of it,

and hewed out a wine vat in it;

he expected it to yield grapes,

but it yielded wild grapes.

And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem

and people of Judah,

judge between me

and my vineyard.

What more was there to do for my vineyard

that I have not done in it?

When I expected it to yield grapes,

why did it yield wild grapes?

A picture of disappointment

Of energy expended

 with no return

Of investment

that yielded no fruit

Of hard work and effort

that brought no gain.

A picture that evokes empathy

for the one who has worked so hard

and tried every which way

to bring about fruitfulness 

An empathy that brings

not resolution

but companionship

in the sorrow

of hopes dashed

and promise

snuffed out

in loss.

No light

simply accompaniment

through sorrow.

Prayer

O God, may we who are fixers lay down our tools and acknowledge when death must come to make way for resurrection.

God the word

Mark 12:24

Jesus said to them, “Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God?

When we twist the words 

to suit our own ends

When we manipulate God

to create the kind of deity

who fits our purpose

We deny fullness of life

for ourselves

and for others.

We reduce the possibility

of love and abundance

Of openness and acceptance

Of room for all.

Words spoken in love 

used to divide

Power given to liberate

used to oppress.

And God weeps at the diminishing

of those whom God calls beloved.

Prayer

God show us the real power of your word in redeeming the world and convince us of the part you have for us to play in living out your word of life.

Conflict

Mark 12:17

Jesus said to them, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.

How often do we attempt

to put words into God's mouth?

And how often do we interpret

Jesus' words to suit our purposes?

The truth is

that Jesus' way

of peace and justice

is not a road we take lightly

and not a path

we cab manipulate

to our own taste.

Following Christ

is wholehearted,

not a mish mash

of the bits we like best.

And sometimes that entails

showing respect

for those in authority

whether we are in agreement

or not.

Such is the way of the kingdom.

Prayer

God help us not to pick and choose but to be all in with our obedience to you, living peaceably with those who have authority over us.