Friday, March 21, 2008

LAST MOMENTS FLY BY

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: MARK 14:41

Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

LAST MOMENTS FLY BY

In last week's devotional, the two disciples had prepared the Upper Room for Passover. I imagined their last comment to be, "I have a feeling this is going to be a very important evening with Jesus." They had no idea how important.

It seems life happens in slow motion and then, wham, life spins at lightening speed. It must have been like that for all involved in Jesus' life. I bet they thought they had many years with Jesus. Years to learn. Years to help him spread the good news. They thought they had years, when they only had hours.

Lazarus, Martha and Mary did not know they would never again have Jesus as a guest in their home. Those that followed Jesus, to hear him speak or to be healed, had no idea they would never hear Jesus tell another parable or see Jesus perform another miracle. Mary never realized the pain her heart would shortly feel. They thought they had years, when they only had hours.

The Last Supper. Praying in the garden. The betrayal. The trial. The cross. The grave. The resurrection. Life spinning at lightening speed.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

How would you live your life if you knew you had -- not years -- but hours? What regrets do you think Jesus' friends had? The disciples? Mary?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Dear Risen Lord, Easter is such a time of emotions. The elation of sharing the Last Supper. A lonely prayer. The chaos of an arrest and trial. The sound of a hammer on nails. The tears shed at the foot of the cross. The confusion of an empty tomb. The joy and triumph of a risen savior. Thank you, God, for sending your Son. Thank you, Jesus, for taking my sins. …… Amen

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