Mark 14:17-21

That evening, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. During the meal, Jesus said, “I assure you that one of you will betray me—someone eating with me.”

Deeply saddened, they asked him, one by one, “It’s not me, is it?”

Jesus answered, “It’s one of the Twelve, one who is dipping bread with me into this bowl. The Human One^[b] goes to his death just as it is written about him. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays the Human One! ^[c] It would have been better for him if he had never been born.”

^{[b] [c]} Or Son of Man

Mark 14:17-21, Common English Bible (c) 2011

Two disciples have gone ahead and prepared the Passover meal (see yesterday’s reading).  “Jesus and the Twelve” arrive that evening.  If nothing else, this tells us that there were more than twelve disciples!  Jesus’ disciples have always included the unnamed.  Whenever neither name nor gender is given, I’m inclined to think a woman is faithfully, boldly following Jesus.

Are they “deeply saddened” because one among them would betray Jesus?  Or because Jesus will be betrayed?  Are they saddened by their own doubts, their own level of willingness to remain with Jesus if things turn out badly, their own shaky commitment to his way of life?

When it comes to faith and life, what deeply saddens you?

-Teressa Clark, 2019

Lenten Reflections 2019:  Following Jesus from the Mount of Olives to the Tomb ~ Day 26