3/27 Sunday

Approach: Prayerful Surrender

On Sundays I encourage you to take extra time with Jesus, prayerfully talking with Him about whatever He has been teaching / challenging / showing you this past week. Scripture is not an end in itself, but its job is to point us to Jesus. So in light of what you have read and what the Spirit has spoken to you, spend time in prayer, talking with Jesus deeply and honestly.

Today read through the the had curious and familiar stories about Jesus makes in John 13:1-20 and Mark 14:22-26,32-42. Revisit some/all of the comments that have been shared, and as you read ask God:

• “What do you want me to be hearing right now?”
• “How do these stories tell me more about who Jesus is?”
• “In light of who Jesus is, what needs to change in my thinking, attitudes, and/or actions?”

There will be no comments today. This is a day just for you and Jesus. Enjoy your time in prayer!

3/25-26 Mark 14:22-26, 32-42 (Days Two & Three)

Reflective Reading

Today and tomorrow prayerfully ask God to help you hear what He is saying in these familiar stories. Here are a few questions/ideas that may help guide your thoughts:

• Imagine you were a disciple with Jesus in this story…
  • How would you have reacted in each of these stories?
  • What kinds of thoughts and questions would have filled your head?
  • How would these experiences align with or differentiate from your understanding of Jesus?
• Now look at these stories with present eyes…
  • What do you hear in Jesus’ words?
  • What does this tell us about who Jesus is and what He is about?
  • What does this tell us about what it means to follow Jesus?
• What is eye-opening or encouraging or challenging or confusing about this passage?

Sharing Ideas

I hope you are spending some time in these Scriptures. Now we look to you to share your thoughts. Would love to hear from you!

3/24 Mark 14:22-26, 32-42 (Day One)

Reading the Passage

As we walk towards Calvary, plunge yourself deep into these familiar stories. Be present in the text, be creative in putting yourself in the room. Ask the Spirit to show you whatever it is that you need to hear today. [Today’s verses are from the NIV courtesy of biblegateway.com.]

Mark 14:12,22-26,32-42

¹² On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

…

²² While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

²³ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

²⁴ “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. ²⁵ “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

…

³² They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ³⁴ “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

³⁵ Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

³⁷ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

³⁹ Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

⁴¹ Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”