Mark 15:42-47

Mark 15:42-47

All Orthodox Christians accept the burial of Jesus as a matter of most importance. We sometimes rush from the cross to the resurrection with little more than a mention of burial of the body of Jesus. We need to stop and reflect on the quiet of the moment. The noisy crowds are gone, the scheming and plotting are over, there is a helpless quiet. What we find in that helpless quiet is, in fact, inspiring.

Joseph of Arimathea a prominent member of the council is, in this quiet hopelessness, expressing his love and devotion to the Lord. He was anticipating the kingdom of God, apparently in the person of Jesus. His hopes were also dashed. But in spite of it all he was lovingly loyal. Mark mentions it because it required courage to go to Pilate. Bodies of condemned men were the property of Rome. Political figures can be more disturbing after their death if their bodies became a rallying point. Joseph took the risk of Imperial displeasure by asking for the body. Here's perhaps the lesson we most need in today's Church. Joseph anticipated nothing for his devotion; it was pure selfless love and respect and loyalty expressed in the moment of the deepest darkness. This was no crass “give to God and get more in return”. We see no seed of faith here. The monstrosity of naming and claiming God's blessing by acts of giving are completely absent. What we see here is a loving sacrifice for the sole motive of love for the Lord. The sacrifice of Joseph? That tomb was intended for himself and his family, but he gave it away. He sacrificed his reputation and status. His place in the council would be hurt by his loyalty to this lost-cause character.

So much of our faith is based on, “What's in it for me?” Can I get a place in heaven? Will God rescue my marriage? Will being a believer give me a better life? Can I obtain personal peace and affluence by means of loving Jesus? None of these questions are in the heart of Joseph.

Rather, we see, “What can I do for the one I love?” “How do I honor this Jesus whom I respect and who I believed was of God?” At the lowest moment, a moment completely devoid of any expectation of hope, Joseph loved, served, and gave. How can we, on this side of Easter, turn Jesus into some kind of divine sugar daddy? He is worthy of our all, regardless.

"Lord, help me to love You for no reason other than You. AMEN"

Mark 15:33-41

Mark 15:33-41

Even in this, the briefest of descriptions of the crucifixion of Jesus there is much to study, consider, and on which to meditate. It is amazing how we, and I must include myself, and the church can say so much and so rarely speak of the death of our Lord. The Church has, with good intentions, tried to fix the problem of the community, the congregation, and the world by teaching from every part of Scripture and even beyond Scripture while focusing so little on the cross. God have mercy on us.

That day at noon darkness fell over the land. For three hours there was a supernatural darkness. This was no solar eclipse; an eclipse will not last that long. This was no sandstorm; a sandstorm cannot produce that kind of darkness. The heart that will believe and the heart that refuses to believe sees the same event, the difference is that the heart either pays attention or the heart ignores.

To the Jews, this moment would have referred them back to the plagues on Egypt. Darkness covered the land, just as it did 1400 years before. The people in the darkness are under the curse of God. The physical universe displays the Almighty's displeasure and potential judgment. There is nowhere to hide. Here is the lesson for all people everywhere, for us, and our moment and lives. When we reject the light of the world sooner or later we are plunged into darkness. That is true for the individual, it is true for the congregation, it is true for the church and it is true for any collection of people. When we reject the light we come under darkness. When we reject the cross we are lost.

"Lord, grant to me a willingness to repent of the darkness in my life and to do that now. AMEN."

Mark 15:16–32

Mark 15:16–32

The easy way out that was followed by Pilate, Herod and a Jewish leadership was again offered to Christ. In verses 29-30 those who passed by Jesus on the cross taunted him. How dark and malignant is someone to verbally torment a man in agony? The priests who came to gloat over their victim pick up the mocking in verse 32.

In the wilderness temptation Satan offers a way to kingship on terms less painful than the will of the Father. In Matthew 16 Peter rebukes the Lord for comments of the coming cross and in that moment is identified with Satan. Again the offer is made: belief and acceptance by the people without the agony of the cross-just come down and everyone will believe. We can have no doubt the spiritual inspiration for this suggestion.

The problem is that like everything else that Satan offers it is a lie. The miracles Jesus performed had not produced faith in unbelievers. The coming resurrection would not produce faith; but rather, efforts to hide the truth. The problem that all of us with a human nature have is not an intellectual problem, but a problem of a stubborn will. A man does not believe because he sees, he sees because he believes.

We must beware when we see the shortcut, the easy path, and a way of discipleship that does not teach us the cross. No matter how clearly we may see that road if it is not the way of the cross it is a satanic counterfeit.

"Lord, keep me from the easy path, rather make me strong for the way of the cross.  AMEN"

Mark 15:1-15

Mark 15:1-15

We would like to make Pilate, like Judas, a monster. We want him to be in some ways completely different from us. If we can make him fundamentally different then we are safe in saying, “I'm not like that.” Pilate is not that all different from the rest of us. His circumstances were at the most pivotal moment in the history of the universe, that was unique. But his flaws, character, actions, and motives are not that of a monster, but of a fallen man trying, by the power of the flesh, to sort his own way out.

Simply put, Pilate’s dilemma was either he do the right thing and protect the innocent man, who was before him because of the envy of the high priest, or cave in under the pressure of the priestly delegation and order the death of an innocent man. If he opted for the first choice he would have troubles. He may have to deal with riots or with questions about his loyalty to the emperor. There would no doubt be a disturbance, which at the Passover might spread into a general rebellion. The strained relationships with the Sanhedrin and others would be further strained. If on the other hand, he opted for the second choice he would be killing one man, one more person who was innocent of the crime charged, but was a member of a group he and other Romans hated. In terms of the power play of politics it was not even close. Without a personal commitment to the holiness and righteousness the victory will always go to the side that offers the biggest reward.

Pilate is a lot like me. He may even be like you.

"Lord, change me by the power of Your Spirit.  That is my only hope to live righteously. AMEN"