Blacksoil

   In Mark 14, Jesus allows himself to be betrayed, arrested, falsely accused, spit on and beaten. The whole book of Mark up to this point shows Jesus acting with power and authority. Author Henri Nouwen notes,  “After years of teaching, preaching, healing, and moving to wherever he wanted to go, Jesus is handed over to the caprices of his enemies. Things are now no longer done by him, but to him.” (And it gets worse- next Jesus is flogged, crowned with thorns, mocked, stripped, and nailed naked to a cross.)

   Can following Jesus include facing evil’s attacks? The gospel writer John sees some who followed Jesus right into the attacking hands of evil doers. In Revelation 6:9-11 John sees those who died being faithful to Jesus, crying out, ‘How long, O Lord until you demonstrate your justice? How long until you judge evil doers and avenge our blood?’ And the answer given to them is intended not only for them, but for those who are still following the Lamb. The answer given is “until more martyrs are killed.”

   Darrell Johnson, faculty at Regent College, writes “this fifth seal is revealing one of the Church’s roles in the world: to declare the good news of Jesus’ reign that the Lamb is on the throne. And then to choose to absorb the suffering that comes when His reign collides with greed and pride and racism and nationalism. (His Kingdom clashes with other kingdoms, flushing out evil and meeting resistance). The mystery is, that in absorbing the suffering the Kingdom comes.”

How is it that any Jesus follower is able to endure suffering?

-Julie R.