David J. Collum

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THE LONGEST DAY...WHICH IS YOURS?

Mark 14:1 - 72


Some days are longer than others. What has been your longest day?

By that I don’t mean the first day of summer. I mean the day which seemingly never ended. The day where events came at you, one after the other, and each event was critically important.

There was a movie in 1962 titled, The Longest Day. It is an epic war film based on Cornelius Ryan's 1959 non-fiction of the same name about the D-Day landings at Normandy on June 6, 1944. That certainly was a long day.

Consider this day for Jesus, this day some Christian traditions call Holy, or Maundy, Thursday.

·      Verses 1-2…it starts with the goal: kill Jesus and do it before the Passover.

·      Verses 3-9…Jesus is anointed…for burial. He is not taken back by his impending death, he will not be a failed Messiah who is overtaken, rather he is the one in control.

·      Verses 10-11…the plot of betrayal is hatched.

·      Verses 12-21…Jesus reveals the plot but not the person (so they would neither stop Judas, nor be surprised when it happened)…all is within Jesus’ control.

·      Verses 22-25…Jesus shares the first Lord’s Supper, and in John’s version he has washed their feet, including Judas’…he is not frazzled…he is modeling discipleship.

·      Verses 26-31…Jesus predicts Peter’s betrayal, while they all promise they won’t betray him.

·      Verses 32-42…the disciples cannot stay awake as Jesus endures the agony of the Garden.

·      Verses 43-50…Jesus is betrayed and arrested…on his terms…there is to be no violence.

·      Verses 51-65…there is the mock trial where he the world’s scorn for Jesus is on display.

·      Verses 66-72…Jesus’ day ends as he predicted…with Peter’s denial.

Ten separate events. You and I could ponder each. You and I should ponder each. 

I am struck by the man Jesus—his character and his strength—it is utterly amazing.

His strength comes from the Father whom he serves. 

God’s strength comes when our efforts, whatever they may be towards, are grounded in serving Him.

Mark has been introducing us to Jesus. He has been showing us what it means to follow him. Certainly, he is showing us the way of the Cross. Today however, I can’t take my eyes off of Jesus.

What do you see in Jesus, as you look upon him in this, one of his longest days?