Mark for Lent 34
Today Jesus shares the Lord’s Supper with his disciples and Peter promises that he will never reject Jesus.
The Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26.26-30; Luke 22.14-23; 1 Corinthians 11.23-25)
22During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this. It is my body.”
23Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He gave it to his disciples, and they all drank some. 24Then he said, “This is my blood, which is poured out for many people, and with it God makes his agreement. 25From now on I will not drink any wine, until I drink new wine in God’s kingdom.” 26Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.Peter’s Promise (Matthew 26.31-35; Luke 22.31-34; John 13.36-38)
27Jesus said to his disciples, “All of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say,
`I will strike downthe shepherd,
and the sheep
will be scattered.’
28But after I am raised to life, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
29Peter spoke up, “Even if all the others reject you, I never will!”
30Jesus replied, “This very night before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”
31But Peter was so sure of himself that he said, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never say that I don’t know you!”
All the others said the same thing.
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society
April 9th, 2006 at 10:05 am
We ignore our weaknesses as disciples at our peril
April 11th, 2006 at 4:19 pm
Bread Watch:
Aaah! So the bread that Jesus is sharing is a symbol for sharing himself, his own life. If Mark’s story has hammered home the theme of who eats and who doesn’t or which yeast is swallowed and which isn’t, is it because this story is about who share’s Jesus thin unleavened life and who doesn’t and who tries to sustain their life on the fat yeasty bread of the pharisees and so called ‘teachers of the law of moses’.
“But after I am raised to life, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Jesus seems to be talking about this in quite concrete terms as if he believes this is what will happen.
Peter seems pretty sure of what he is saying too. I wonder who will prove to be the more reliable witness.