Jesus prepared to die: sermon
A sermon on Mark 14:1-31.
This section of Mark has its frustrations for me. There are 6 verses about the woman anointing Jesus. There are four and a bit verses describing the actual Lord’s Supper. I want to know more! There are five verses describing preparations for the Passover land. There are twelve verses about betrayal, denial and falling away. This is not the balance I would have made. What is Mark saying with this distribution of themes.
Jesus will face his trial and death alone
1) Judas will betray him
a. 14:10-11 – Jesus betrays Jesus to the chief priests for money. This will allow them to arrest Jesus without causing a tumult. (see 14:2)
b. 14:17-21 – Jesus knows that Judas, a disciple sharing food fellowship with him, will betray him. Jesus’ betrayal
It is written (14:21) – ie God’s will.
But Judas will be held responsible. “Woe to the man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed” (14:21)
2) Peter will deny him (14:26-31)
a. Jesus quotes Zechariah 13:7 to indicate that the shepherd of Israel would be killed and the sheep scattered. Even Peter would betray him.
b. But Jesus will go ahead of them into Galilee (14:28). He will live. He will shepherd them.
3) All will fall away (14:27)
All of this must bring to mind Isaiah 53:4-7 esp. v6
The Context is the Passover
The Passover was recalled at the great and archetypical act of redemption by God.
a) The Coming Passover Mark 14:1-2
We are near Passover. There are lots of timing notes in this section. That it was around the time of the Passover matters. A new “Passover” is coming.
b) Preparations for the Passover Mark 14:10-16
Curiously there is more about the preparation in Mark than about the meal. Jesus had obviously organised everything in a way that meant there was no public negotiation for the upper room. Men carried wineskins. Women carried water in jars. The man could be recognised without speaking. Preparations could be done in a way that avoided strife.
The meaning of Jesus’ Death Anointing (3-9)
Mark 14:3-9 Jesus is anointed – the significance of the act is drawn out in two ways.
1) Jesus is anointed with an expensive perfume by a woman
She pours it over his head. A Messiah is an anointed one. The woman probably didn’t see it as anointing a Messiah but Mark means us to see that is the anointing of the Messiah.. Jesus is anointed on the head. On other occasions, it was his feet. (Lk 7:38; Jn 12:3)
That this was done by a woman and women, not the disciples, were the first witnesses of the resurrection is significant. Men are betraying – a woman is recognising.
2) Some said: “this is a waste”. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.
Jesus contradicts this.
a) It is a beautiful thing.
b) This is a unique moment in history – I (the Messiah) am with you now but not always.
c) She has anointed my body for burial. Again, probably not the woman’s intention but Jesus knows his death is imminent.
· What she has done is significant –
· it will be told in memory of her in the whole world – wherever the gospel is preached.
· The act is a summary of the gospel. The king dies.
Supper (22-26)
This description of the last supper is the briefest of the four that we have (Matt, Luke, 1 Corinthians).
There is
a) Breaking bread. Beginning of the meal.
Jesus blessed God (gave thanks) and broke the bread as a part of the fellowship ritual. His comment is: “Take it; this is my body.”
Jesus’ broken body made possible the eternal sharing of “meal” fellowship with him.
Many elements of the Passover meal are not included.
b) The cup of blessing which was at the end of the Passover meal.
Jesus’ interpretation of this element of the meal is 24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many”
By the shedding of his blood, Jesus re-establishes God’s relationship with his people.
c) A hymn which ended the supper.
It is easy to forget that the context of all of this is a fellowship meal
o People gathered around a table to remember that they were God’s family because he had saved them from slavery.
o Now, although it may not look like it, we gather for table fellowship that includes Jesus and are reminded not just of a past event alone but of the living reality of fellowship with Jesus and all those he saved.
25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
· This is a farewell speech – Jesus will not drink again before his death.
· It is a commitment speech – Jesus is going to do what he has to do.
· It is a promise speech – A messianic fellowship meal with Jesus will continue in the Kingdom of God.
This section of Mark tells us about the Messiah/King who is the suffering Servant. His death makes possible an eternal fellowship around his table.