Today’s scripture: Mark 14:53-65 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (Ben Lamb):
My great-great-grandfather worked for the King of Sweden in the monarch’s royal forests during the early- to mid-19th century. According to oral family history, my ancestor accidentally killed one of the king’s deer. As a penalty, he was banished from the country with only a 24-hour grace period or else he, too, would be killed. There was not enough time to plan a careful escape, so he and his wife decided on the following: he was to take two of their sons and come to America. Eventually, she and the rest of their family would join them.
In my mind, I can picture it: a grown man on the deck of a ship, flanked by two teenage boys; they’re waving good-bye to the rest of their land-bound family for who knows how long. Nobody knows for sure where the three of them will end up. But one thing’s for sure: they’re on a journey of no return. (For a number of reasons, the rest of the family was never able to come to America nor see each other again, so the father finished raising the two boys — one of whom became my great-grandfather — by himself.)
Jesus faced a moment in his own life where he reached a “point of no return” of sorts. But, there’s a huge difference between my ancestor (and other humans) and Jesus. Jesus willingly walked into his moment. He could have pointed out that the accusations against him were either outright lies, or contradictory among themselves. I have no law degree, but it seems to me that he would have had a rather strong case for a countersuit, as well, as he walked out the door.
Yet, Jesus guided the people in charge of the situation into the key question and the subsequent response that would cement his point of no return: “…Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I am…” After that moment, there was no turning around for our Savior. He could have opted out at any time of course; in fact, he did ask — in the Garden of Gethsemane — if there could be another course (Matthew 26: 36-44). But Jesus continued on to his point of no return. He did all of that for us!
Thought for the day: What point of “no return” do I need to examine in my own life today?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.