This blog is based on an article I wrote for the devotional journal, Power for Today, and the meditation I gave, this past Sunday at the Littleton Church of Christ. Please read Mark 14:18-31.
The Gospel of Mark may be the least appreciated Gospel. We run to Matthew or Luke or harmonize the accounts into what I call “Marthuke.” Reading Mark on his own terms is powerful! To do that, we should see how and why he tells the stories of Jesus.
Mark often brackets his stories. Think of the first story as story “A,” while the second story is story “B.” The stories are told in A, B, A, fashion. The technical term is Inclusio. Some call this a literary sandwich. The story of the Last Supper is a case in point. Before his depiction of the supper, he tells us about Judas’ betrayal. After the Supper, Jesus speaks of Peter’s denials. Those are the brackets. In between is the high, holy moment of the bread and cup, where Judas and Peter are present. If we want to understand Mark, we need to pay attention to the brackets.
Paul told the Corinthians that the Supper came on the night Jesus was betrayed. A lot happened that night, but Paul singled out betrayal. Perhaps he did so to encourage self-examination on the part of those who so badly abused the Supper.
That’s likely Mark’s point as well. Yet, why does he tell the story of the last supper with betrayal before and denial after the supper. It may be that the first readers of Mark lived in Rome during Nero’s horrific persecution of Christians, following the great fire of Rome. Nero turned some Christians into living torches, set on fire to light his gardens. Others were fed to wild predators in the arena for “sport.” Some disciples likely betrayed fellow-disciples to save themselves and others may have denied Jesus by cursing Him and declaring Caesar as Lord. Now all of these were coming together to share the body and blood of Jesus in the Supper. They, quite literally, need to have a come to Jesus moment, for forgiveness and be recommitted.
Casual observance of holy moments is dangerous! Neither betrayal nor denial is impossible for any of us. Arrogance can lead us to the darkness of Judas’ heart, or the disillusionment that overtook Peter. While the Lord’s Supper is a moment for joy, it also provides a moment of serious reflection and prayer. Trials of faith will come for us all, ready or not. Celebrating the Lord’s Supper with awe and humility helps prepare us for the trials to come.
Below is the great hymn that most comes to mind.
Abba, Father, please give us the self-awareness and humility to know our weakness. May we take the body and blood of Jesus in this spirit, to fortify ourselves with the power of Your Spirit to faithfully withstand the trials we will face. In the name of our Messiah, Jesus, Amen.
Tim Kelley