This is the longest chapter in Mark. I suspect that whether Mark witnessed this part of Jesus’ story first hand or was taking down dictation from Peter, the memories were heightened because of the trauma associated with Jesus’ last few days of life before His crucifixion and resurrection. Mark has a lot of details to share with us. So, we are going to take three days to study this chapter, learning more and more about the Lord we love and have pledged to serve.
One of the words that stands out to me in this section is “poured.” We first encounter this word at a dinner Jesus attended. A woman at that meal did something totally out of the ordinary. She took extremely expensive perfume and ” … She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head” (vs 3). It was a lavish gesture. Scholars speculate that it was probably the most expensive thing she owned. She didn’t just dribble a little bit. No, she poured it all out on Him! Jesus praised her for this outpouring and said we’d still be talking about it today. And we are.
The second use of the word is devastating in its severity. I wonder how much the disciples understood at this point when Jesus, at the last supper, took up the wine: “And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many” (vs 24). Like the perfume, Jesus wasn’t going to suffer a small cut of some kind. No, His blood would be poured out as a sacrifice. He would be the Lamb that was slain and slaughtered taking our punishment on Himself. Even a little bit of blood makes me queasy. Blood is meant to stay inside my body, thank you very much. I don’t want to see it. I can’t imagine the blood He allowed to be spilled – for us!
Oh that we would pour out ourselves for Him in our service to Him, in our love expressed toward Him, and in our obedience to His Word. Let’s live “poured out” lives and watch how He fills us with His own Spirit and life within!
My verse: Mark 14:24 ” And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.”
My response: Even a little bleeding bothers me, Lord. And You bled so much it poured out of You – a life sacrifice given for so many of us. It’s appalling and yet necessary and so very, very beautiful an expression of Your love for us. Thank You, Lord Jesus, thank You.
