Review: 1) Book written by Mark, relation to Peter. 2) Theme is Jesus as a servant. 3) We are in the last week of Jesus' life. 4) Likely Wednesday (Apr 1, 33AD, crucifixion then Apr 3, 33 AD, or Mar 29, 33AD, crucifixion then March 31, 30AD). Thursday nt is the Passover meal. Friday is the crucifixion.
Mark 14:1-11 (NIV) Now 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."
3 While 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.
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5 It 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. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
· Apparently the leader's intelligence is not good. They do not follow Jesus back to Bethany. They really don't know where he when he is not surrounded by people
· Also, they wanted to avoid the feast, because of all the pilgrims. It was never the intent of the Jews to crucify Jesus during the Passover, 14 Nisan, or the feast of unleavened bread, which overlaps
o Apparently, Judas' offer was too good to refuse
· But an important is related here. The time frame is out of chronological order, which is not unusual in an eastern culture
o (John 12) It is Saturday, 4 days prior, Jesus is in Bethany, it is evening, dinner of after dinner (reclining)
o This fits with Mark's words "while he was in Bethany," referring to a previous event
· Who is the woman? From John, we learn that the woman is Mary, sister of Lazarus and Martha. Additionally, she anoints Jesus' feet as well as his head (a common way to honor a person during a festive occasion)
o What do we know of Mary? She loved Jesus. She put priority on the relationship. She listened to Jesus. Now, she sacrifices something of great worth to express her devotion
o By the way, Martha served the meal. Lazarus sat at the table
· Verse 3, says they were reclining at the table of a man …, a woman came …
· What is the response of the men to the act of the woman?
o Indignation
o Not logical
· What does Jesus call it?
o John 12:3b (NIV) And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
o Mark 14:6 (NIV) "She has done a beautiful thing to me"
o I've always felt that men don't appreciate beauty to the same degree as women. That our logical, practical, accomplishment-oriented view of life hinders us from understanding the subjective aspects of life. We do appreciate beauty. We do enjoy creation and we wonder at God's handiwork, but sometimes we miss out on the smaller pictures of beauty that are around us
· Who gets the most upset about the waste of money?
o From John we learn, that Judas is the most vocal of the group
· And Mark's point for putting the story in at this point is what?
o This becomes Judas' reason for betraying Jesus -- but WHY?
· Most likely just greed
· Maybe in a greedy way, he wanted to be part of a kingdom where he was rich. Jesus was wasting money, and obviously doing nothing to establish the kingdom. God's plan was not his plan
· Judas' focus is on the physical, earthly part of life: the seen, the material, the temporal
o Judas does not learn from Jesus' teaching
o Judas' act is what changes the Sanhedrin's timetable. Judas also fulfills a role required by Roman law that requires a initial formal indictment with an accusation to be brought before the Roman governor. Judas also is required to be a prosecuting witness. Unfortunately for the Sanhedrin, Judas' death prevents him from fulfilling those roles in the civil trial
Mark 14:32-41 (NIV) They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41 Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
· It is obvious that Jesus is in much pain, he makes that clear to his disciples, yet what happens? And what does that tell us about ourselves?
o His closest disciples, his best friends, fall asleep
o They are weak -- of course, the Holy Spirit has not been given yet. Although, Paul, who has the Holy Spirit makes the same exact argument regarding the flesh
o We will fail God. When we do, we need to get back up, repent of our sin, ask forgiveness, and seek God wholeheartedly once again
· What do you think of Jesus' prayer request?
o It is very human
· It is a most terrible and terrifying moment of Jesus' life
· Jesus pleads for mercy
o Jesus argues that everything is possible for God, so God can somehow save him from the upcoming suffering -- But God doesn't -- Why?
· Because Jesus' suffering and death gives life to us. There is a much bigger purpose
Mark 14:41-52 (NIV) 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
48 "Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.
51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
· Interestingly, Peter boasts too much, prays too little, and acts too violently
· Only Mark records the story of the young man. Not sure when he joined in. Maybe he heard the crowd. Maybe he followed the disciples. Not sure why the story is included, except that is the author also fleeing the scene with the disciples
Mark 14:53-65 (NIV) 53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.'" 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"
62 "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
63 The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. 64 "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.
· There are a number of things that are wrong by Jewish law (Fruchtenbaum, 2005)
1. According to Ex 23:8, no arrest could be affected by a bribe
2. There were to be no steps of criminal proceedings after sunset
3. Judges and Sanhedrin members could not participate in the arrest
4. There were to be no trials before the morning sacrifice
5. All trials were to be public; secret trials were forbidden
6. Sanhedrin trials were only to be held in the Hall of Judgment in the Temple Compound (they actually will hold a third trial here at the break of day to legitimize themselves)
7. The proper procedure: first the defense; then the accusation. The judges who argued for innocence were to speak before the ones who argued for guild
8. While all judges of the Sanhedrin may argue in favor of acquittal, all may not argue in favor of guilt
9. On the basis of Deut 19:15, there were to be two or three witnesses, and their testimonies had to be in perfect agreement
10. There was to be no allowance for the accused to testify against himself
11. Based on Lev 21:10, the high priest was forbidden to tear his garments
12. The charges against the defendant were not to originate with the judges; the could only investigate charges brought to them
13. When the charge was blasphemy, guilt could only be established if the defendant had actually pronounced the very name of God
14. A person could never be condemned on the basis of his words alone
15. The judges verdict could not be announced at night
16. In the cases of capital punishment, the trial and the verdict of guilt could not occur at the same time. They had to be separated by 24 hours
17. Voting for the death penalty had to be done by individual count beginning with the youngest judge so that the younger could not be influenced by the elder
18. A unanimous decision for guilt showed innocence since it was impossible for a minimum of 23 men or a maximum of 71 men to agree without plotting
19. The sentence could only be pronounced three days after the guilty verdict
20. A person condemned to death could not be beaten or scourged beforehand
21. Judges were to be humane and kind
22. No trials are allowed on the eve of the Sabbath or on a feast day
· There are actually two verdicts
o In the religious trial, the charge was blasphemy. There were actually three religious trials, the first ended in failure, the second is recorded here, a third is recorded in the hall of judgment
o In the civic trial, the charge was sedition . There were also three trials, first with Pilate ending in failure, then with Herod (when Pilate learned he was a Galilean) -- also a failure, and finally with a trial before the people (six times Pilate tries to release him, and three times the people ask for him to be crucified).
· Six years later Pilate is exiled to Gaul where he commits suicide
· The details provided by the gospel writers are amazing. They are just what you would expect from eye witness accounts. On the surface, they sometimes don't agree. But when you piece the picture together you see a story that completely agrees
o Our savior lived and died, just as the scriptures describe, for us
