Word@Work 163 - Mark 14:1-2-
Published: Thu, 07/10/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 14:1-2 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. "But not during the Feast," they said, "or the people may riot." (NIV)
This episode takes place on the Wednesday of Holy Week. The cross is just two days away, and the religious conspirators still have no plan. Like all worldlings, they are people-pleasers ... more concerned with how others will respond to them than with what is true. They have even admitted between themselves that the arrest and death of Jesus will have to be a sly trick.
It is assumed that religious authorities have right on their side, and that integrity is their hallmark. Alas, history has not shown that to be true, especially when the real Jesus gets in the way of political ambitions. A tell-tale sign of fleshly scheming is trying to appease the popular vote. Small church congregational government and large church synods are equally at risk; and even more so when spiritual sounding arguments become part of the justification for decision-making. "Not during the feast", showed no deference to the Lord - it was not about the dignity of worship, but rather the risk to their power if the Romans had to control a riot they had started.
This is a reminder of the need for integrity, without fudges or scheming. It is also a reminder of our responsibility to pray for church leaders and officials ... that their decisions may be truly in the Spirit and not in the flesh ... and that the real Jesus will be worshipped for who He truly is.
Prayer: Father God. In these days when popular opinion vies with Your Word, help me to pray for those in religious authority that they may decide in accordance with Your Word and honour Jesus despite whatever the world may say. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
This episode takes place on the Wednesday of Holy Week. The cross is just two days away, and the religious conspirators still have no plan. Like all worldlings, they are people-pleasers ... more concerned with how others will respond to them than with what is true. They have even admitted between themselves that the arrest and death of Jesus will have to be a sly trick.
It is assumed that religious authorities have right on their side, and that integrity is their hallmark. Alas, history has not shown that to be true, especially when the real Jesus gets in the way of political ambitions. A tell-tale sign of fleshly scheming is trying to appease the popular vote. Small church congregational government and large church synods are equally at risk; and even more so when spiritual sounding arguments become part of the justification for decision-making. "Not during the feast", showed no deference to the Lord - it was not about the dignity of worship, but rather the risk to their power if the Romans had to control a riot they had started.
This is a reminder of the need for integrity, without fudges or scheming. It is also a reminder of our responsibility to pray for church leaders and officials ... that their decisions may be truly in the Spirit and not in the flesh ... and that the real Jesus will be worshipped for who He truly is.
Prayer: Father God. In these days when popular opinion vies with Your Word, help me to pray for those in religious authority that they may decide in accordance with Your Word and honour Jesus despite whatever the world may say. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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