Mark 14:1-31

Imagine what it would be like to know you had just hours to live. How would you spend your time? Who would you spend it with? What would you do? Where would you be?

Jesus knew his death was looming. He'd always known it. It was why he came to earth in the first place. But now, it wasn’t years or months or weeks or even days away. It was within sight.

Think of all the things Jesus could have done in those final hours. As the Son of God — actually God himself, in a human body — just imagine the astonishing displays of power that were possible. Imagine the breathtaking “last stand” he could have staged.

In those final days and hours — just as in the whole of his life — Jesus wasn’t thinking of himself at all, which would have been a reasonable and natural thing. He was thinking of his Father, committed to loving, trusting, and obeying him fully. He was thinking of humanity, committed to loving, rescuing, and redeeming them fully. He was thinking of you. He was thinking of your neighbor. He was thinking of every person you’ve ever seen, met, or known. He was thinking of every person who has ever lived.

He was loving God with his whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. He was loving his neighbor — all of them — with the love of God.