GOSPEL READING
THE GOSPEL OF MARK
The Passion
As we read through the story of the Passion I will be making a number of references to the other Gospels, especially the Gospels of Matthew and John. All four Gospels clearly tell the same story with the same sequence of events. Yet how they tell the story and the message they give is different for each Gospel. Comparision with the other Gospels will therefore help us to see what is distinctive about Mark's account.
For many centuries, Christian devotion about the Passion has come from a harmonisation of the Gospels, reading the four accounts together as one story. The Stations of the Cross and the Seven Last Sayings of Jesus would be good examples of this. We have the benefit today that we can appreciate just how the one story of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus has been handed down to us in four different ways so that we can learn from the differences.
Betrayal and Anointing: Mk 14,1-11
We begin by reading through these verses where as we saw in the overview Mark has formed a sandwich. The inner verses tell of the anointing (14,3-9), the outer of betrayal (14,1-2; 14,10-11). We can therefore go straight on to our reading.
The Chief Priests and the Scribes: 14,1-2
Verse 1 is packed with information, all of which sets the scene for what follows.
The verse opens with a specific reference to time. This is unusal for Mark but the time will be mentioned reguarily during the Passion story. We can look forward and see how the next reference to time also marks these first eleven verses as a passage on its own.
What is very important in this first verse is the announcement of the coming feast of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, two feasts which had become combined as one. This is the background for all that happens from here to the end of the Gospel as is seen in 15,42. Check that this is the only Passover feast in this Gospel.
Of the many possible references to the Passover, take a look at Deuteronomy 16,1-8 and Exodus 12,3-20. What do they tell us about this feast. Why is it so important that the Passion of Jesus took place at Passover time?
The second part of the verse speaks of the chief priests and scribes as the representatives of official Judaism who have been plotting against Jesus since 3,6. Jesus' awareness of this plotting has been evident as well: 12,7-8, for example.
The reference to treachery in this verse has echoes from the Psalms: see Ps 10,7; 35,20; 52,2.
Verse 2 then recalls the comments made in 11,18. What is the effect on the story at this point? What is the deeper meaning here?
There is much of importance here so it would be good to take a look now at my response.
The Woman: 14,3-9
It is as well to begin by noting those who are not named in this incident, as well as the two who are. This is in contrast with Jn 12,1-8. Where is Jesus at this time (11,11)?
What do we know of this woman? What are we told about the oil and its container? What are we to make of this?
Anointing on the head is performed on kings, 1 Sam 10,1 or 2 Kings 9,6. We will be seeing the importance of the King of the Jews as a title in the next chapter (15,2).
Verses 4-5 indicate a strong reaction which enables Jesus' positive teaching to arise from this. Mark just says "some", look at Mt 26,8.
For the poor in verse 7, look at Dt 15,11. Jesus then gives a true interpretation of her actions in verse 8. How has Jesus re-interpreted her actions?
Verses 9 are then an extraordinary commendation of the woman by Jesus. Count the "Amen" (Truly I say to you) sayings in this chapter. What has she done to receive such high praise?
Judas: 14,10-11
What does verse 10 tell us about Judas Iscariot (3,19) and what does it not say? Once again, the contrast is with the Gospel of John (Jn 12,4-6). What important word for this Gospel appears here (see 1,14, 13,9, 15,1)?
What is the effect of verse 11 for the story?
Now have another look at my response.
We can now continue our reading with Jesus and his disciples at the Supper.