My friends, welcome to Holy Week! When I set out on January 1st with this act of devotion, I had no plan other than to reflect on Mark until I ran out of Mark to reflect upon. We are a week away from Easter, and I realize that my last Markan devotion will be on […]

Kangaroo Court! And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against […]

The Hour has Come! And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he […]

the sound of music! And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, 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 […]

Connection! And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This […]

Mark Sandwich Anyone? It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” And while he was at […]

Holy Apocalypse! Today, I give you Jesus’ apocalypse teaching in one large chunk! The Greek word ἀποκάλυψις (apokalypsis) refers to an unveiling or unfolding of things previously not known and which could not be known apart from that unveiling. So why are we so obsessed with figuring it out? “But when you see the abomination […]