No Facades

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

NO FACADES

Mark 14:1-2

14:1 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2 "But not during the Feast," they said, "or the people may riot."

NIV

Doesn't appear to be anything in here that is real exciting for a devotion, as it is merely an account of some activity or rather thoughts of the chief priests and the teachers of the law. But it does tell us something about the human nature which resides within us all. Even though they hated Jesus and want to kill him, to rid themselves of his influence over people who they have had control of for so many years, they were very concerned about what people thought of them. Even though Jesus was teaching what surely was opposed their system of religious self-righteousness and the people were certainly more attracted to what Jesus was teaching them what the chief priests of teachers of law were imposing upon the people, they still needed to look good in front of the people. Of course if Jesus was out of the way, then they could regain their followers. But it was all about looking good, looking religious, and looking righteous in the eyes of others. That may be the truth in here for us. Surely we do not have thoughts about wanting to kill Jesus, he was already killed, but of course we know that was God’s plan. Yet are our thoughts mainly dominated by what people will think of us or by what would Jesus do? Do we act all righteous and holy in front of others, so they will approve of our life, while within our thoughts are of self-gratification? Do we present one image and live another? Sure we are not plotting to destroy Christianity as those chief priests were, but are we more concerned about what other think of us then doing what Jesus thinks of us. He knows we are sinners, even in our religious activities, it seems we want others to think we are free from sin, that we do not sin anymore, now that we are saved, justified, sanctified and holy and whatever other adjective we could cover ourselves with. Jesus knows we are sinners and he died so our sin could be accounted and atoned for. Sure we should not go about looking to fine new and exciting ways to sin, that would be simply wrong, but we should not only see ourselves as Jesus does, but allow others to see us for we are, not who we want them to see. The phrase, “You are not who you think you are, you are not who I think you are, but you are who you think I think you are” says it all about that human nature within us. But that should not be the way it is, we should be open and transparent living life together as fellow believers in Christ. Jesus tells us to confess our sins one to another that we might be healed, admitting the truth, acknowledging who we are and our need for Jesus. No facades.