THE WORD 4 ev 1

Read Mark 14 (click here for link)

Mark 14 is one of the most heart-wrenching passages of the Bible. Our Lord is left all alone and is abandoned by his disciples. It seem so strange that Jesus would be led away in chains like a common criminal. This was the man who calmed storms and healed the lame. This man had control over demons.

Yet, sometimes scripture also give us intriguing information as well. Who is this young man who flees, leaving his cloak behind? Some have suggested that this is a reference to John Mark, who wrote this gospel -- these verses don't occur in any of the other Gospels -- and that this is his signature placed with the Gospel to insure its authenticity. If this is so, it is yet another reminder that even those who secretly tried to follow Jesus during his Passion were run off by the violent mob that attacked the Lord, leaving Jesus completely alone, without a friendly face when surrounded by a crowd thirsty for blood. No matter who this young man may have been, he is a reminder of a host of those who followed the Lord about whom we know little or nothing. Yet their presence and support of the Lord at other times were crucial to the spread of God's Kingdom and the triumph of the Gospel.

Yes, we have all disowned him and left him at some time or another, but our Lord calls us back through grace and forgiveness. His grace and forgiveness over your sins is his victory over you. You are called into the service of God's Kingdom and the spread of his Gospel.

His peace be with you,

Pastor Aaron