Mark 14

[Josh]

Post your comments/ questions/ discussion starters on Mark chapter 14 as replies to this post.

[Josh]

Mark 14:24-25 (New International Version)

24"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. 25"I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."


So, what do you think? In verse 25 is the day Jesus is referring to the final resurrection (yet future) or the age of the Church (now, with us in communion)?

[Josh]

Mary Anoints Jesus for His Death

1Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2"But not during the Feast," they said, "or the people may riot."
3While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.

6"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

I'm going to make this text my main text for tomorrow's Easter teaching with a focus on comparing and contrasting the actions of Jesus' women followers vs. his male followers during Jesus' final week.

I find it fascinating that Mary, alone among everyone else, really seems to understand what is going to happen to Jesus. I have a theory on why that I'll explore in the teaching.

On a side note, the early church commentary on this passage cited the Song of Solomon in reference to this story:

Song of Solomon 1:3,12

Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;
your name is like perfume poured out.
No wonder the maidens love you!

While the king was at his table,
my perfume spread its fragrance.

They saw Mary as a type of the church in it's love affair with Jesus.

[Josh]

bump.

[Josh]

Jesus’ reaction to Mary in the above story is that she has performed a kalon ergon: a good work, a pious practice, like almsgiving.

What was the significance of the anointing? It was in preparation of Jesus’ death.

Jesus has already foretold his death, and what has been his disciples reactions to this news so far? Denial in various forms: confusion, resistance, insisting that they will fight, but not acceptance.

How is it that Mary seems to understand Jesus’ purpose and the others don’t?

What had just happened to Mary in the previous week? Lazarus, her brother, had fallen ill and died and Jesus purposefully did not come to heal him. Mary and her sister Martha had been devastated and had voiced their frustration to Jesus that had he been there their brother wouldn’t have died. Jesus then wept, but proceeded to raise Lazarus from the dead.

I theorize that Mary had heard from the disciples some of the things Jesus had said about his coming death. But when she went through the very emotionally wrenching experience of her brother Lazarus’ death and resurrection, she learned something that the other disciples were unable to understand- namely that Jesus knew what he was doing in the face of dead and impossible situations.

And so, taking him at his word about his impending death, and knowing it was drawing close, she took a step of faith to affirm to Jesus that she knew what was coming and he would not face it alone.

I love Jesus' delight in her act of extravagant love. I think we don't think enough about how we can be a delight to Jesus/ how we can move the heart of our Father, etc..

[Josh]

I also think it's interesting that this event seems to have been Judas' "last straw" before deciding to hand Jesus over to the authorities.

This seems to have been a crossroads event, where one disciples exerted great faith and another categorically denied walking by faith any more.