Category: Mark

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The world will always treat Jesus with contempt. This is nothing strange. There is nothing strange, either, about the feebleness of our courage in trying times. Peter is a good example here – he turned again to the Lord.

SJA Notes

* Holy God, You are faithful, Your love is steadfast. Thank You for Your word today.

“And he broke down and wept.”

Here is Peter’s reaction after his denial of Jesus.

(we know that within this short time-frame Jesus Himself had turned and looked at Peter, Luke 22:61)

Can you imagine!

Peter was crushed, the weight of his sin a heavy burden.

He did what many of us would have done – Peter broke down, he cried his heart out.

In John chapter 21 we read of Jesus restoring Peter.

Three times Jesus asks Peter is he loves Him.

You can imagine Peter showing great emotion,

“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Jesus’ response to Peter is not to stop at the breakdown and never leave that place of heartache – But to get about the work God has for us.

“Feed my sheep.”

Whatever place we have in life, whatever job our hands have found to do, whatever out time is made up of – This command is for all of us!

* Father God,

Thank You that Jesus brought Peter back into fellowship, restored.

Thank You that in Jesus we are restored back into a right relationship with You.

Thank You Lord!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The book of Zechariah was much on Jesus’ mind at this crucial time. Jesus based His actions and understanding on the veracity and reliability of the Old Testament. What speaks to your heart and mind in this passage?

SJA Notes

* Dear God, You are all that is good in us, Your Spirit making us more and more like Jesus each day – Please teach us today from Your word.

“Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Sorrow upon sorrow.

One character with hope, the other without.

Peter was to deny Jesus, despite his protestations – And Jesus knew this.

Judas had already betrayed Jesus – An act that Jesus had foretold.

Peter was like us, weak flesh, who entered into temptation.

Judas was like us, weak flesh, who entered into temptation.

So. What was the difference?

Jesus.

In that strange and wonderful mystery of God’s providence, Jesus’ death paid the penalty for Peter’s sin, but Judas died outside the camp away from the saving work of the Son of God.

As with Peter, so with us – We have hope that though we are broken, even though we might have chosen to do the most terrible of deeds – Our hope is not in us, our hope is in Jesus!

* Gracious God,

Thank You for saving us. You chose us before we were born, even before the world was made!

Thank You for Jesus, our Saviour, our Redeemer who lives and who will at last stand upon the earth.

Thank You that after our skin has been destroyed, yet in our flesh we will see You.

Come Lord Jesus, come!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

This anointing Jesus declares is the one customary for burial. This incident appears to be the straw that broke Judas. There is much to ponder in this account of the Last Supper.

SJA Notes

* Lord God, thank You for Your word to us today, please show us Jesus.

“For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them.”

There is a hard sting in these words.

Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of believer and unbeliever alike (at least one unbeliever was there in Judas Iscariot).

The people who complained about the anointing of the King of Kings with expensive perfume had selfish and limited reasoning, which we see brought to light in Jesus’ words.

Every generation has those people in it that God’s people are commanded to do good for.

But those groupings are not excuses to disregard the ONE that gave the commands, the ANOINTED MESSIAH, the Lord’s Christ in all fulfilment.

Any good done for someone else does not give us opportunity to ignore true worship practice, humble obedience, daily spiritual disciplines.

Let us be encouraged and exhorted with our King’s words today.

* Lord God,

We see today many around us that are lonely and wounded, poor and helpless and in need of help.

Lord please give us opportunity to spread Your love to those around us, and may we take such opportunities.

Lord, please save the souls of those around us.

So that they can join with us in our great hope of glory, where all pain and sorrow and loss will be no more, the former things.

Amen.