Mark 14

What a dramatic chapter! Jesus has his last days and is arrested.

The chapter takes place at the time of the Passover. This is fitting because Passover marks the Exodus from slavery. Jesus is inaugurating the Final Passover from death to Life - The Resurrection. The religious leaders are still trying to find a way to arrest Jesus. They want him dead. He upsets their system.

 

A woman anointed Jesus. Anointing came at two times in Jewish life; after death and when a king was proclaimed.  The woman makes a lavish act (which upsets others) and Mark shows that Jesus is to die and that he is king. Note Jesus interacts with a woman and is with a leper. He breaks useless traditions, which is why the authorities hate him. They are the caretakers of useless traditions.

 Judas Iscariot enlists, for profit, to betray Jesus by getting Jesus caught away from the crowds who love him.

 Jesus then prepares for a Passover with the 12.  He reserves a large upper room locally.  Remember, Jesus is like a Passover Lamb. He will be sacrificed for the sins of the people.  Jesus tells the assembled that one of them will betray him.

Jesus takes, blesses, breaks, and gives (remember the feeding miracles?) the Passover meal. He says the bread is his body and the wine is his blood. We call this night The Last Supper.

Moving out of town, Jesus tells Peter (his best friend) that Peter will even betray Jesus. Peter disagrees strongly. At a place called Gethsemane, Jesus prays. He is troubled but tells God that, while he doesn't like the thought of death, he wants to do what God's want. His friends are no help. They fall asleep even though he asked for their support.

Judas arrives with a gang of thugs to have Jesus arrested. Jesus shows how weak they look since they could have gotten him any day when he was teaching in town. They had to find him in secret because they were afraid of the crowds who liked Jesus. Upon arrest, all the apostles run away. The one man in linen (who runs away naked!) is thought to be a younger Mark, the Gospel writer.

Jesus faces religious court (not secular.) A comedy ensues. Everyone lies about Jesus but they can't keep their stories consistent so no one can come up with a charge worthy of anything let alone death. Jesus is silent. Then HE gives them a reason for death. He agrees that he is God's son. Blasphemy! Now they have a reason for death.

In the meantime, Peter, the runaway, disowns Jesus three times. He is miserable when he remembers that Jesus said that he would do just that.