The Reading
Mark 14:22-42
While they were
eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to
them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all
of them drank from it. He said to them,
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of
the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of
God.” When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of
Olives. And Jesus said to them, “You
will all become deserters; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be
scattered.’
But after I am raised up, I will go before you to
Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even
though all become deserters, I will not.”
Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before
the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said vehemently, “Even though I must
die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the same.
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his
disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He
took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and
agitated. And he said to them, “I am
deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” And going a little farther, he threw himself
on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from
him. He said, “Abba, Father, for you all
things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what
you want.” He came and found them
sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep
awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that
you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the
flesh is weak.” And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And
once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and
they did not know what to say to him. He
came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your
rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of
sinners. Get up, let us be going. See,
my betrayer is at hand.”
Like Palm Sunday a few days ago, this is the first time I am
preaching on Holy Thursday. In terms of
content and ritual, I often feel like tonight is one of the most complicated
church services of the year. We are now
in the middle of the bible’s most challenging, emotional, anxious and confusing
events. We perform rituals tonight like
the stripping of the altar, the individual announcement that your sins are
forgiven and a different communion meal, which are only done once a year. We
are a few hours away from Jesus death. We hear of Jesus betrayal by Judas, we
see his closest followers fall asleep instead of pray and we know after this,
there will be a horrific and violent march to the cross. Tonight is not exactly about reenacting Jesus
final hours, our focus is more on what rituals and laws Jesus introduced,
taught and set as an example to his followers.
In his last hours, Jesus is trying to prepare his followers
for the immediate future, for life after his death, resurrection and ascension.
Over Jesus 3 years or so of public
ministry, Jesus followers could instantly turn to him for help. If they misunderstood something, they could
ask him further questions, if they had problems healing someone or casting out
a particular demon, they knew Jesus could say “back up, I got this” and take care of it , if they were confronted
by someone with questions they could not answer, Jesus would know the answers
and respond with love and wisdom. Now, as Jesus followers start to understand,
he will no longer be with them, they wonder “who will help us”.
Tomorrow on Good Friday, we will see Jesus turn to the words
of Psalm 22, crying out “my God my God, why have you forsaken me” with his last
breathe. It seems like an odd thing for Jesus to say but keep in mind Psalm 22
goes on to describe a relationship with God centered on joy, trust, comfort and
promises which endure all things. As a whole, Psalm 22 is a proclamation that God
will never abandon us, no matter what. To help understand tonight, we turn to another
psalm, this time,124: Our help is in the
Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Now, this help will come in a few different ways. The most important is the Holy Spirit, the
presence of God in the world. Now, the other
3 Gospel’s are very clear about this.
Jesus promises that once he leaves, the Holy Spirit will come. (in John,
Jesus even goes as far as to say “it’s a good thing im leaving after my work is
completed, you will actually be better off with the Holy Spirit ”) Our need for the Holy Spirit is so urgent, post
resurrection, Jesus instructs his followers to do nothing, to wait for the Holy
Spirit before they start preaching, teaching, healing and helping. Mark does mention the Holy Spirit’s help in
the post resurrection and ascension world.
In chapter 13, Jesus advises: “Whenever
you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to
say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but
the Holy Spirit”
Our help also comes in other ways as well. I will look at
two: Rituals and a community that cares
for each other. In his final hours,
Jesus introduces and affirms rituals and spiritual practices. Jesus models the power of honest prayer to
communicate with a listening God. It is a source of comfort and strength. Jesus reminds us of the power in lifting our
voices together, the ability of music, hymns and songs to praise, worship,
encourage, express and unite a community. Jesus introduces Holy Communion and
promises to be present in and with the bread and wine. These elements were the
two most common and available part of meals at the time. Everyone would have bread and wine. This was meant for everyone.
While not in our reading tonight, we cannot talk about Holy
Thursday without a mention of footwashing (a story found only in John’s Gospel,
which we will read right before the offering). This is at the heart of being a community
that cares for each other, that see one another as human, feeling and in need. In Jesus time, footwashing was an ordinary
part of life, a sign of welcome and hospitality left to the lowest servant. If Jesus, the savior and teacher washes the feet
of his followers, there is nothing we should hesitate to do for each other.
With this simple act, we are taught to be a community of care without limits. We represent God in the world, our way of
life, welcome, acceptance, words and actions should all point to a loving God,
in other words, we have to love and care for the person no one else does.
The other significant part of being a community of care asks
us to forgive, love and accept. We see
this in what Jesus says and does not say. He openly tells his followers, “you
will all betray me” and “you will deny me”, he does not say “this failure will
be punished” or “because you left me I will leave you”. None of their actions, the denial or the abandonment
can separate them from the love of God. These things are forgiven (and
corrected, the disciples do publically confess their faith despite persecution,
they do wake up and stay awake). They fall asleep on Jesus and become the founders
and great saints of the church, the ones so many of our communities are named after.
Tonight, as we worship, we are reminded of the gifts and
tools God gives us to be church. We have
the Holy Spirit with us, the joy of ancient rituals to bring comfort and
assurance, and the examples of service, faithful living, forgiveness, welcome
and acceptance. We have everything we
need, we just have to use it.
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