Mark
By Joyce Webb 2023
Chapter 14 Verse 1-11
Verse 1 After Jesus told the disciples about the things that would happen at the end of time—-in two days—-it was the feast of Passover.
Passover was the most important holy day. It required a lamb to be selected (chosen) out of the flock. It would be killed as a sacrifice.
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After Adam and Eve sinned–their punishment was death.
Their bodies did not die right then—but their bodies began to grow old—-until they died.
Their soul/spirit was damned because of their disobedience.
Death—-punishment—hell—-for sin.
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Also, after they sinned—they saw they were naked—and felt ashamed. They had not been ashamed of their naked bodies before they sinned.
God killed animals—probably two—and took their skins to cover Adam and Eve’s naked bodies.
The animal’s death—blood given—to cover the effects of their sin.
God used this as reminder to them of their sin.
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God—-in love—told them—-he would forgive their sin —- if they killed a lamb in their place. The lamb would die instead of them.
When God saw the killed lamb offered on an altar —–and the person asked for forgiveness of sin—-God forgave their sin.
They were to bring a lamb sacrifice once a year at Passover time in the spring.
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The lamb was kept for 4 days. Then it would be taken to the temple to offer in a sacrifice.
Some Jewish Rabbis explain that the 4 days represent the time that Abraham took before he offered his son Isaac on the altar.
When God told Abraham to offer his son. That was one day–Abraham got ready to go to the mountain. It took 3 days to get to the place where they were to make a altar for Isaac.
So, 4 days, Abraham and Isaac had days to think about what was going to happen. It was not going to be a quick decision, but one that they had thought about for days and were determined to obey and do it.
And so, with the Jewish families—-they had the lamb for 4 days taking care of it like a pet—-knowing that in 4 days it would be killed—-because of their sin— the lamb would die because of their sin. It was a lot to think about.
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Verse 1 At this Passover time, the Jewish leaders were planning to get Jesus and kill him.
Verse 2 Some of the leaders said, No, do not do it at this time—not on the holy days—-the people will be angry with us—-and there will be a riot.
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Verse 3 Jesus and his disciples went to a town called Bethany.
The house where they visited was the home of a man called Simon.
He had been a leper (had the skin disease of leprosy that kills)—-Jesus had healed him.
They were having a meal—-when a woman (Mary) came in with a box of perfume—very expensive perfume—called spikenard.
She opened the seal on the box and poured the perfume on the head of Jesus. (This perfume would have a strong spicy smell.)
Verse 4 Some of the men became angry—but they talked among themselves.
“Why did this woman waste this expensive perfume by pouring it on Jesus’ head?”
Verse 5 They thought it would have been better if the perfume was sold. It was worth more than 300 pence.
In Matthew 20:2 We read that a pence (penny) was paid for a day’s labor/work. So 300 pence would be equal to 300 days of work. That is about 10 months of work.
The men thought the money could have been given to the poor.
So the men criticized the woman for what she did.
Verse 6 Jesus said–” Let her alone. Why make trouble for her?
She has done a good thing.
Verse 7 Jesus said–“The poor you have with you always. You can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have me.”
Verse 8 Jesus said–” She has done what she could. She has come before (ahead of time) to anoint my body for burying.”
Remember—even though Jesus told the disciples that he would be killed—he would die. They could not believe that such a thing would happen. They still thought that Jesus would be a king over them and save them from the Roman rule.
When Jesus said that the woman anointed his body with perfume—–like the custom was to put spices on a dead body before they were buried or put into a tomb—–the men could not believe what Jesus was saying.
Jesus was again—telling them—that he was going to be buried.
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Verse 9 Jesus said—”I am telling you—wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world—what this woman has done here—will be told—-it will be a memorial (a remembrance) of her.
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Verse 10 Judas (one of the disciples) went to the Jewish priests and told them where Jesus was and how to take him.
Verse 11 When the Jewish priests heard what Judas said—they were happy. They promised to give Judas money.
Judas went away—thinking and planning how he would betray–not be loyal, or true— he would help the priests catch Jesus.