We read in Mark chapter 14 starting in verse 22, “As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.”

²³ And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 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. ²⁵ I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”

²⁶ Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. ²⁷ On the way, Jesus told them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,

‘God will strike the Shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered.’

 As the death of Jesus nears, He reminds His followers of the verses in Zechariah chapter 13 starting in verse 7, where God says, I will “…strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn against the lambs. ⁸ Two-thirds of the people in the land will be cut off and die,” says the Lord.  “But one-third will be left in the land. ⁹ I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

God is talking about those who call on the name of the Lord. Those who turn from their sin and instead turn to the Lord. Those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and believe on the name of the Lord to save their souls. In order to be purified from sin, God will bring them through the fire and purify them. Once you call out to Jesus to save you from your sin and lift you out of your shame, He purifies you.

When Jesus is struck down by the religious leaders, His followers scatter. They ran from Jesus, they ran from the religious leaders, they ran from the Roman soldiers, and they ran from their faith in Jesus. Even though they ran from Jesus, He did not run from them. Each time they sinned, He forgave their sins.

Jesus showed great love and compassion to them while on the cross. He asked for forgiveness for those that crucified Him, (Luke 23:34). He also asked one of the disciples to take care of His mom after His death, (John 19:26). While we may wander or even run from Jesus, He will never leave us or forsake us.

Let’s pray. Thank You for dying on the cross for us and loving us, exactly as we are. Help us to be an example of Your love to everyone we encounter. Lord, help us to grow in You each day. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.