Lent Devotional April 2, 2026

Scripture

Mark 14:12-25

12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 So the disciples set out and went to the city and found everything as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

17 When it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.”

22 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Devotion

The Rev. Dr. Carolyn Fenner Moss ’88/’22

Jesus has returned to Jerusalem to shouts of “Hosanna” and “Alleluia.” Now, the season of Passover begins. The time to remember what God has done for the people of Israel is affirmed and celebrated. Jesus sends the disciples out to find a place to gather together, and just as he said, it’s available, so the table for Passover is prepared.

We know what is to come, but the disciples had to be feeling really good, no troubles. The room was there just as Jesus said, and they prepared everything. And what does Jesus say? Not “this is great” or “good job”; rather, Jesus says: “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”

Whoa. Jesus, that was not on script! Where did that come from? And yet, the meal continues. The bread is blessed and broken. One of the cups is filled and shared with all at the table, including Judas, who a few short verses earlier was noted to have taken money from the chief priests to betray him. Jesus partakes of the Passover meal with all of his disciples, even the one who will betray him. That may just give us pause to think about who God is—what the character of God is that Jesus would sit at table, break bread, share the cup with one who would betray him so seriously that Jesus will end up dying on a cross.

As you journey through this day and perhaps attend or lead a Maundy Thursday worship time, consider once again how great and deep, how rich and strong the love of God is for creation—for you and for me as revealed through the life, the imminent death, and—even more astoundingly—the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Prayer

God, we give You thanks and praise this Maundy Thursday for the gift of Jesus Christ, who through His life, death, and resurrection has offered and continues to offer us a restored relationship with You. May we never take that gift for granted. In Jesus’ name. Amen.