Reading Plan for Mar. 22 - 28
March 22, 2026 | Mark 14:26-31
Reflection:
Notice where the next scene all begins, “When they had sung a hymn…” The meal had begun in talk of betrayal and brokenness, but at the close of the meal, before they entered into the reality of Jesus’ ultimate betrayal and brokenness, all those present sang a hymn, most likely a psalm. Music often connects us more deeply to our faith’s core than anything else. Songs of faith ground us in good and in troubled times. What was the hymn they all sang? Did this hymn keep echoing in their ears, like an angelic earworm, throughout the night? Did Jesus sing again alone in prayer? What hymns (or spiritual songs) sustain you most in this faith journey we’re on? What hymn gets you through the watchfulness of the long night?
March 23, 2026 | Mark 14:32-42
Reflection:
The disciples show their humanity over and over again. Peter says what any one of us might have, “We’ll stick with you, Jesus, to the end!” And then, very soon, none of the disciples can stay awake long enough to pray with him. Notice in this passage how “deeply grieved” Jesus is. Not because his disciples cannot stay awake, but because the weight of the world’s brokenness is being laid upon him. What if all this grief had brought about his death there in the garden? What would our faith be like if the crucifixion had never happened? All that happened to Jesus should be a reminder of Christians’ calling to humility. Jesus could have gotten out of his fate at any point, maybe. But his humility kept him there. Even when his whole ministry seemed to be coming to a crashing halt. Humility kept him present. And great love kept him going.
March 24, 2026 | Mark 14:43-50
Reflection:
Now the betrayal comes to fruition. Notice how the betrayal comes with such an intimate act: a kiss. The kiss was normally a sign of friendship and closeness, an act that said, “We are at peace with one another.” Psalm 85:10 says, “Righteousness and peace have kissed.” There is most likely a little bit of Judas in any of us. His villainy is that of all humanity’s. The poet, Bill Brower, who taught at Princeton Seminary for decades, has a line in a poem called “Advent” that says that Jesus was born in vulnerable human flesh “to place his Father’s kiss upon our faces.” God’s desired intimacy with us, any one of us can spurn and “betray.” God still comes to us. God still comes for the Judases of the world. This is grace.
March 25, 2026 | Mark 14:51-52
Reflection:
The final detail of this passage about Jesus’ arrest has been a mystery for Bible readers and scholars for nearly 2000 years. The detail of the naked young man seems to add “verisimilitude” to the story. Maybe this person was the witness Mark talked to about these events, or maybe it was Mark. What details in the story make it all seem real to you?
March 26, 2026 | Mark 14:53-62
Reflection:
The tensions of the first 14 chapters of Mark come to a head in these verses. Every power group that Jesus has upset in his ministry now stands in a threatening and menacing ring around Jesus. He seems trapped. But there is chaos in their political machinations. They cannot get it all straight. Their case against him seems about to fall apart, but Jesus provides them, willingly, everything they need to condemn him. “Are you the Messiah?” they ask. “I am,” he replies. “And you’ll see me coming with the power of God!” Well, that did it. All his political and religious enemies are now united in their condemnation. Why did Jesus not seek to exonerate himself and get out of what was coming? Jesus knew that God was ultimately in charge in this scene, even though it was scary to trust so fully. Remember, “Messiah” in this translation is “Christos” in the Greek. It means “anointed.” Jesus was anointed by God to stand amid that courtroom chaos and speak truth. What truth would you most need to hear from Jesus yourself?
March 27, 2026 | Mark 14:63-65
Reflection:
How many times in history has this story been repeated? The innocent, when they are in the grasp of the offended powerful, are dehumanized step by step: mocking, humiliation, beatings, and death. Notice that the guards here (who are Jewish religious guards) cannot make the defense, “We were just following orders.” They seem to join in Jesus’ torture for sheer sadism. When the powerful are offended, too often they have turned to these tactics. Jesus has truly “joined us in this vulnerable flesh” as he stands for what is good and right. What word of truth would the powerful be able to hear even if Jesus were able to “prophesy” for them?
March 28, 2026 | Mark 14:66-72
Reflection:
This is a pretty well-known scene: Peter’s denial of Jesus, just after Peter had said, “I will never desert you!” The drama in this story builds on the classic rule of three. (Think of Goldilocks and the Three Bears!) Peter’s first denial would have been bad enough, but then there comes the second. And, as if this weren’t more than enough, there comes his third opportunity to say, “Hey, I’m with Jesus!” Then, after his third denial comes the revelation and the great reversal: Peter is shamed and deeply remorseful. But this is how fear works. Fear keeps any one of us from doing what we know we should. We cannot rewrite Peter’s story…but we can remember it. Whenever we are called to live up to what is right and good and loving, we can ask God, “What am I to do?” and “Lord, give me strength.”