In 1 Samuel 18 David and Saul’s son Jonathan become close friends. David becomes a might warrior and is given accolades by the people. Saul becomes jealous at David’s success. His lyre playing no longer brings Saul comfort because he is afraid of David’s success through God’s favor.

Saul promises his daughter Michal to David if he defeats the Philistines. He is hoping David will be killed in battle.  David is more successful than any other and becomes famous in the land.

In 1 Samuel 19 Jonathan warns David that his father is trying to kill him. Jonathan defends David before his father and mends the rift between them. While David is in battle Saul became tormented again. David returns to play for Saul but Saul tries to kill him. David runs away and Michal deceives her father to allow David to escape.

Saul sends messengers after David but this time Samuel protects him putting the messengers into a frenzy. Saul himself goes to get David but falls into a frenzy as well.

Everything is going against Saul. It is clear that David is blessed.

Mark 14 opens with a woman coming to Jesus and pouring costly ointment over his head. This upsets the disciples. Jesus defends what she has done saying she has anointed him for burial. Judas Iscariot goes to the chief priests to find an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Jesus and the disciples meet for the Passover meal. Jesus proceeds to break bread and give a cup telling them that this is his body and blood of a new covenant. He tells them that one of them will betray him and all of them will desert him. Peter insists that he will remain faithful but Jesus predicts that he will deny Jesus three times before morning.

After the meal they go to Gethsemane to pray. Jesus asks Peter, James and John to stay awake with him. Jesus asks his Father to let things take place differently but accepts God’s will. The disciples could not stay awake. Jesus wakes them and they start to leave. Judas meets them and betrays Jesus with a kiss of greeting. The priests arrest Jesus. His disciples run away.

Jesus is taken to the high priest and Peter follows at a distance. Three times people accuse Peter of knowing Jesus and three times he claims not to know him. Jesus stands on trial before the high priest but refuses to testify on his own behalf. The high priest asks Jesus if he is the Messiah and Jesus says yes. The high priest charges him with blasphemy and the guards beat him.

It is hard to read the events that lead to Jesus’ death. We realize that we most likely would be like the disciples, unable to stay awake as Jesus prays, running away when Jesus is arrested, denying that we know him. Every day we fall asleep in our faith, we run away from situations where we are challenged to be like Jesus, we show in our disbelief that we don’t really know him. And yet, Jesus still loves us.