Mark - Lesson 14A

• Tonight, we find ourselves continuing through the events of what is known as the Passion week that ultimately leads us to the crucifixion of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

  • The culmination of Mark’s Gospel all hinges on what happens during this very week.

    • It points to the very thesis statement that Mark begins with in verse 1 of Chapter 1:

Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,

• At the start of this Passion week, Jesus has proven to be the lamb selected by means of His Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. (Mark 11)

  • From there, we saw Jesus as the Lamb inspected which consisted of multiple events that ranged from his cleansing and teaching in the temple to His questioning by the religious leaders of the Sanhedrin council. (Mark 11:12-Mark 12:44)

  • This teaching, questioning, and inspecting on Monday and Tuesday concluded with Jesus giving the Olivet discourse to His disciples in Mark 13 on the Mount of Olives.

    • It was there where Jesus outlined for the disciples future events which would outline the leading to the close of this present age and start the beginning of the New Age.

  • So, as we enter Chapter 14 of Mark, we will notice at the onset of the verse that, once again, Mark is moving us into another chronological starting point.

    • And the way in which he does so will be quite “Markan” centering around a particular event within the Passion week which we will read about momentarily.

    • And this event, ultimately being a signal for the arrival of His coming death.

  • As we always do, I want to outline our text for tonight as we walk through our next few verses. Here is what we will see tonight:

    • 1. Seeking an opportune moment (Setting the scene)  (v.1-2)

    • 2. A Worthy Cost (v.3-9)

    • 3. A Worthless Waste (v.10-11)

  • With that being said, I invite you to open a copy of the scriptures as we read the entirety of verses 1-11.

    • After we read through our text for tonight, we will reread our first two verses.

Mark 14:1 Now the Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest Him covertly and kill Him; 
Mark 14:2  for they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise there will be a riot of the people.”
Mark 14:3 While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the Leper, He was reclining at the table, and a woman came with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the vial and poured the perfume over His head. 
Mark 14:4 But there were some indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? 
Mark 14:5 For this perfume could have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. 
Mark 14:6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a good deed for Me. 
Mark 14:7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. 
Mark 14:8 She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. 
Mark 14:9 Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the entire world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”
Mark 14:10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. 
Mark 14:11 They were delighted when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.

Mark 14:1 Now the Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest Him covertly and kill Him; 
Mark 14:2 for they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise there will be a riot of the people.”

• Mark, like the other synoptic gospels begins to transition the reader to a new start point in the Passion Chronology.

  • What ended in the last few verses of Chapter 13 regarding Jesus’ glorious return to the earth now shifts to the moment that He has been preparing the disciples for.

    • And He does so by mentioning two significant Jewish events: The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

  • As you may know, the Passover was observed in Jerusalem and was an annual Jewish feast celebrated on Nisan 14.

    • It commemorated the Israelite’s deliverance from Egyptian oppression by way of God’s divine instruction.

    • The instruction given was to slaughter a spotless lamb and place the blood over the doorpost and the lintel. (Exodus 12:1-14)

    • That way the death angel would Passover the Israelite homes preserving them from the coming judgement and destruction of the Egyptians.

  • This Passover meal would be eaten at the beginning of Nisan 15 which is between sunset and midnight Thursday evening.

    • The Passover meal was then followed by the festival of Unleavened Bread which was celebrated from Nisan 15-21.

    • And this festival would be included in the festivities of the Passover itself.

  • Therefore, these two Jewish feasts, Passover, and the feast of Unleavened Bread, were often lumped together as “the Jewish Passover Feast” totaling 8 days.

    • So, with Mark mentioning that Passover was “two days away”, it sets up a timeline for the reader to see that Jesus’ death was drawing near.

  • We find a similar pattern in Matthew’s gospel as well, only this time after His Olivet Discourse, He lets the disciples know He was about to be “handed over” to die.

    • I mention this because right after Matthew 26:2, Matthew explains the plotting by the religious leaders to seize and kill Jesus.

    • Ultimately, although these events are dealing with man’s plan to kill the Jewish Messiah, these events are Sovereignly designed by God for His Glory.

  • I want to highlight these events and the day of the week in which these events fall on because having a proper timeline helps to have a clear chronology.

    • More specifically, it helps in providing the actual day in which Jesus was crucified versus the traditional day we recognize as Friday.

  • In prior weeks, we have been able to trace what day of the week certain events took place regarding Jesus and His engagement with people in the Temple.

    • Moreover, these transitions to a different Jewish “day” were made clear with words such as “on the following day” (Mark 11:12) or “as they passed by in the morning” (Mark 11:20).

    • However, as we approach Mark 14, it seems as if the details become a bit obscure.

  • The question becomes: “What day do we find ourselves in at Mark 14?

    • In order to better understand these events, especially the accurate date leading to Jesus’ coming death on Passover, we need to know how Jewish days were reckoned.

  • By understanding how a Jewish day was reckoned, it will provide us the opportunity to know the actual day of the week that Jesus died, more specifically what day we find ourselves in in Mark 14.

    • Although these details for some may seem unimportant, it will allow us to properly put together the entire Passion week timeline.

    • As well as understand this strange transition that Mark makes after 14:2.

    • So, in preparation for developing a proper timeline, let us review the structure of a Jewish “day” according to scripture.

  • To begin, the start and end of a Jewish “day” was established according in Genesis 1 by God’s establishment of “a day” within Creation itself.

    • In Genesis 1:5, each day of Creation began with a 12 hour period of darkness followed by a 12 hour period of light.

    • Because God, according to scripture established each day within Creation as an evening and a morning, Jews adopted this same convention for counting their days.

    • Therefore a Jewish day begins as darkness arrives, which is around 6PM and that pattern from dark to light persists for 24 hours until the next dark cycle arrives.

  • Our modern “day” differs in the fact that we count our days starting at midnight which means our day starts six hours later in the middle of a dark period.

    • So, as we can see when we compare the Jewish reckoning of a day versus the modern reckoning of a day there is a 6 hour difference.

    • To make this a bit simpler, evening/night belongs to the preceding day.

  • The next thing we need to recognize is that when Jews counted their days, any portion of that day was considered a whole day.

    • For example, if it was 5:00PM on a Sunday afternoon, it meant that Monday was only 1 hour away.

    • However, even with 1 hour left to spare on that Sunday, it still is considered a Sunday none the less.

  • So, in determining what day Mark is describing here at the start of Mark 14, we must now apply this understanding of Jewish “day” reckoning against the Passion Week, starting with the Triumphal entry.

    • Let’s begin by placing some specific events on our Passion Week Timeline.

  • According to John’s gospel Jesus entered Bethany on a Saturday in preparation for His Triumphal entry (Sunday) and stayed with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

    • John’s gospel also lets us know that the day Jesus entered Bethany that there would be six days before Passover.

    • Therefore, this would agree with John’s time table of it being 6 days before the Passover in John 12:1a as well as Mark 14 regarding the 2 days before Passover.

  • The question here becomes: “What is Mark doing here; what is he leading the reader to understand or see?”

  • Well with this information in the forefront of our minds knowing it is now “two days” before the feast it puts Chapter 14 as coming upon Wednesday.

    • In one way, we see this timeline in mind pointing to Jesus’ death which will happen on Passover which is a Thursday, not a Friday.

    • Again, to some this detail may not be an earth-shattering conclusion however, it brings up the necessity for bible students to adamantly read the scriptures for understanding and not just take “tradition” or the Pastor’s word for it.

    • Clearly, the setup is death is coming and Jesus is preparing to die. However, Mark is going to provide us background as to the setup as Jesus’ death quickly approaches.

  • It’s in verse 1b and verse 2 that we find the inner workings of a plan to capture the Lord Jesus in and around this time period.

    • Within all 3 synoptic gospels, we see this gathering of religious leaders.

    • And this assembly was more than just the chief priest and scribes, but rather the entire Sanhedrin council.

  • These men were secretly meeting to devise a plan to “stealthily” seize Jesus and kill Him.

    • One thing to note is the words “were seeking” in Mark 14:1.

    • This is an imperfect active indicative, which means that this planning of killing Jesus had been going on for some time.

    • However, this assembled group had to keep in mind the events that were on the horizon because they did not want a riot from the people.

  • This concern was quite valid in the fact that during the Passover, there was much nationalistic feeling surrounding this time.

    • On top of that, with so many people in Jerusalem for Passover, the number potentially exceeding 3 million, would have caused massive riots if Jesus, the one who garnered much attention and following, was captured.

    • Especially those who deemed Jesus to be their Jewish Messiah promised long ages ago.

  • Therefore, the religious leaders planned to postpone His capture until after the festivities had ended to preserve themselves and keep from risking their dependence upon Rome.

    • However, this delay of capture, due to fear of rioting, would simply occur at God’s appointed time.

  • Clearly, we are beginning to see how God can sovereignly use the wickedness and schemes of man to bring about His good pleasure.

    • Notice now that the scene will make an abrupt shift in verses 3-9. Check out the text.

Mark 14:3 While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the Leper, He was reclining at the table, and a woman came with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the vial and poured the perfume over His head. 
Mark 14:4 But there were some indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? 
Mark 14:5 For this perfume could have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. 
Mark 14:6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a good deed for Me. 
Mark 14:7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. 
Mark 14:8 She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. 
Mark 14:9 Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the entire world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

• After Mark provides a timeline context regarding this coming capture of Jesus by means of cooperation amongst the religious leaders, he shifts scenes to a dinner invitation made by a man named Simon the Leper in Bethany.

  • This event is where Jesus will be anointed, according to Mark’s gospel, by an “unnamed” woman.

  • This section of the text is often a topic of great debate and confusion for some.

    • However, if we remember the structuring of the Markan sandwich and how it works, we will see verses 3-9 are simply Mark going back to a previous event.

    • It is as if Mark goes back in time a few days prior to set up the discussion of this movement towards the capturing of Jesus.

  • Therefore, when we recognize what Mark is doing speaking about this dinner hosted at Simon the Leper’s home, it begins to make more sense.

    • We come to realize that this dinner at Simon the Leper’s home is not happening on a Wednesday, but rather it happened prior to Jesus’ Triumphal entry in John 12:1-2.

    • Check out what the text reads:

John 12:1 Therefore, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 
John 12:2  So they made Him a dinner there, and Martha was serving; and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.
John 12:3 Mary then took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

• • The question becomes how are we able to corroborate these events especially with them occurring at different points chronologically?

    • For a better understanding, here is a graph that shows the actions of each woman anointing Jesus with the oil. (Mary the prostitute anoints His feet, “unnamed” woman anoints His head)

  • The next question becomes: How are we, as bible students, suppose to reconcile these similar events that take place at separate points in the Passion Chronology? (John 12 versus Mark 14/Matthew 26)

    • The quick answer is we must search the context to understand the author’s intent.

    • And when we do, we see that both John’s gospel as well as Matthew and Mark are centered on two common points:

      • 1. The growing plot to seize and kill Jesus. (John 11:55-57) (Mark 14:1-2)

      • 2. The purpose of the anointing for the preparation of Jesus’ coming death and burial. (John 12:7) (Mark 14:8-9)

    • Again, we must keep in mind that trying to reconcile Luke 7:36-50 cannot be done because the first anointing from Mary, the prostitute, occurred nearly a year or so prior.

    • Therefore, what we can conclude at this point is that Mark 14 is speaking to the events regarding John’s record of a dinner in Bethany.

  • Again, the text tells us that the host of this dinner is a man named Simon who was a Leper

    • Now this becomes yet another interesting detail in the midst because not much is known about Simon the Leper within scripture.

    • It could also be assumed that perhaps Jesus has healed this man of leprosy some time ago.

  • I mention this because no leper could have hosted a social event in that condition according to Levitical Law.

    • So, I believe it’s fair to say that Jesus had previously healed this man. Simon the Leper then invites Jesus over knowing He too was residing in Bethany for the Passover and wanted to host an event in Jesus’ honor at his home and Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are invited.

  • Well, we then find in verse 3b that while Jesus was reclining at the table that “a woman” who is not named or identified came into Simon’s home with an Alabaster vial of great price and pours it over Jesus’ head.

    • Again, the text in both Matthew and Mark’s gospel doesn’t disclose the name of this woman, but it is mentioned that she brought with her an alabaster vial of costly perfume of “pure nard”.

    • And as we discovered earlier, by deduction, (Markan Sandwich) this unknown woman is none other than Mary, Lazarus’ sister. (John 12:3)

  • This alabaster jar was a small stone flask with a long slender neck and Mark is the only gospel writer that mentions that Mary broke the vial.

    • The word for “broke” in Greek is syntribo which means to shatter or crush.

    • So not only was this nard of genuine ingredients, but Mary found it worthy enough to crush the vial to the point that her most precious possession could be laid upon the head of the Lord Jesus.

  • Unfortunately, however, it seems as though there were some amongst the disciples (according to Matthew’s gospel) who found issue with what Mary had done.

    • And if we examine the Gospel records, we could potentially say that the leader of this indignant uprise from the disciples was led by none other than Judas Iscariot, himself.

    • I mention this because of what John 12:4-8 tells us in his account on the day prior to the Triumphal entry.

John 12:4 But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to betray Him, *said, 
John 12:5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?” 
John 12:6 Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he kept the money box, he used to steal from what was put into it. 
John 12:7 Therefore Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. 
John 12:8 For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

• The response from the disciples are speaking to this extravagant sacrifice that Mary has made.

  • The reasoning behind their indignation was that, to them, her waste of nard could have potentially taken care of many poor individuals.

  • They estimate that the vial of oil could have been sold for “more than 300 denari”.

  • Just to provide some context here, one denarii was equivalent to a day’s wage.

  • Therefore, this alabaster vial was the equivalent to nearly a year’s worth of wages for one person during that day.

  • What I find most fascinating is the fact that this type of alabaster vial was very difficult to break open as it was designed to only be opened once.

    • An object of this worth, in the 1st century, would be used for things such as a celebratory feast, wedding night as a type of dowry for the husband displaying her commitment to him, or burial purposes.

    • Friends, I think the text is calling for us to see that a great and costly sacrifice was made by this woman but beyond that her love for Jesus.

    • She is making a statement that the disciples seem to be missing.

    • This is an act to express her love for Him knowing what was to come for Him in a matter of hours – His death.

  • Here we see that Mary, Lazarus’ sister has emptied her life’s savings, her greatest thing of value, upon the head of Jesus.

    • He was worth the cost. He was worth it all and she wanted Him to know.

  • The question I believe the text is asking us by the Spirit is: Are you willing to sacrifice what is of much value to you for the sake of giving glory and honor to the Lord Jesus?

    • It will be costly, but it is worth it because Jesus is worthy of it all.

  • The disciples should have understood what she was doing and participated in this act of love and worship rather than being indignant bystanders.

    • This further validates why I believe this “unnamed woman” in Mark and Matthew’s gospel is Mary.

    • Why? Because an act of great sacrifice and love means that this woman has listened to Jesus for some time, she has watched Him do some miraculous things.

    • But above all she has heard His words regarding His coming death and is preparing Him for that coming moment.

• This is why Jesus, in verses 6-9 tells these men that what this woman has done is not a hindrance but is of great help to Him.

  • Jesus comes to Mary’s defense by letting the disciples know that the poor will always be assisted by them, in more ways than not, because they will be there to meet those present needs.

    • However, Jesus pushes the envelope with a contrast regarding His physical presence with them moving forward.

  • Jesus lets them know that He would not be with them too much longer in the sense that His death in which He has spoken to them about 3 times is now upon them.

    • The appointed time the Father had set was before Him, in a matter of days, and here it is that Mary, by the Spirit’s illumination, responds in a worthy way.

    • She has prepared Jesus for His burial! What a worthy service she gave to the Lord Jesus!?

  • Jesus tells the disciples in verse 8 that “She has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.”

    • Oh how we often forget! The disciples have been told time and again about His coming death, but the disciples seem to not understand.

    • But yet here is a woman, who would be deemed the least in society in that day, who sees ever so clearly what is coming for Jesus.

  • That where the disciples having been pressured by Judas Iscariot to speak indignantly towards this woman’s actions have been told that this was a great act of service.

    • Jesus speaks so highly of this moment, that He says because of her obedience and service to Jesus that wherever the gospel is preached, this woman will also be spoken of in memory of her.

    • What an honor!?

  • Do you realize that as we are covering this very text, that Mary’s service to Jesus is being made known and her memory is being mentioned regarding how she prepared Jesus for His burial.

    • So, with that great sacrifice from this woman came a great honor and reward from the Lord because of her obedience and submission to give all she had in that moment.

  • Understand that what seemed to be a great sacrifice and loss, in the disciples’ minds, was simply a response of obedience that led to a memory of this woman forever in scripture.

    • One can only imagine the rewards that have been prepared for this woman in the Kingdom.

    • Great sacrifice now leads to great reward in the future. The only question is: Are you sensitive to the Spirit of God leading you to what He is asking you to give up for His glory and your good?

    • We now move to our last 2 verses that will provide us with a heavy contrast regarding what I call a “worthless waste”.

Mark 14:10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. 
Mark 14:11 They were delighted when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.

• So it is after the disciples having missed the woman’s motivation of giving her most valued possession to pour out upon the Lord Jesus, that we find the underlying motivation of objection to her gift.

  • Secondly, we find the closing section of the Markan Sandwich.

  • As I mentioned earlier, Judas Iscariot’s heart was more fixated on the financial gain than the worth of this woman’s sacrifice.

    • I mention that because looking past Judas’ false sincerity was him seeking opportunity to profit now.

  • Scripture tells us that Judas managed the money box for Jesus’ disciples.

    • He collected donations as they came and used the money for everyone’s accommodations.

    • However, underneath those pleasantries, Judas was pilfering funds for his personal benefit and advantage (John 12:6)

  • Understanding this point of the narrative gives us a greater understanding of Judas’ role and heart in the betrayal and arrest of Jesus.

    • Jesus intentionally picked an unbeliever to be included in the group of the twelve for this very purpose and as we see, yet again, God’s sovereignty is always at work.

    • That where the chief priest and leaders were looking for an opportune moment, God in His wisdom provided an inner thread by which would draw the drama to a head.

  • Really quickly, notice what the exchange of giving Jesus up for was – money. The very thing that his heart was set on.

    • Judas has been following the Lord Jesus for 3 years. He has listened to His teaching, seen Him do many miracles and signs, yet Judas’ heart was left unchanged.

  • This is Mark’s point in these 11 verses. He is providing the building drama as to how Jesus will be betrayed and by whom.

    • God can use whomever He so chooses to accomplish His sole purposes even if that includes an unbeliever in their midst.

  • If there were a picture that perfectly explains the heart of the unbeliever, it is this one here.

    • Friends, there is no true heart change within a man or woman unless their eyes have been opened to the truth of Christ.

    • Judas didn’t understand the woman’s rationale in using her expensive ointment to anoint Jesus’ head – it made no sense to Judas.

    • To him, It was a waste of time and effort.

• What we see in these 11 verses is a huge contrast between the loving sacrifice of this unnamed woman who saw Jesus’ worth and purpose regarding His heading to the cross to die versus Judas’ having walked with Jesus but not having his eyes open to see who He was.

  • Whether Judas was still in the mindset of seeking for Jesus to establish a political kingdom in hopes for material gain or not, the reality was Judas’ desires for power and possessions outweighed His reliance and dependence upon the Person of Christ.

    • This is why the Apostle Paul says what he says about unbelievers in 1 Corinthians 2:14:

1 Corinthians 2:14 But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

• At the end of the day, what you think about Jesus and believe about Jesus will boil over in the end.

  • Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection will either drive you to your knees in trusting Him or will cause you to scoff and laugh as you walk away from Him.

    • The response will be one or the other and as we know, according to scripture, Judas’ rejection of Messiah led to a terrible end.

    • I pray that those who have not trusted in the Lord Jesus, that your eyes may be open to see the beauty of our Great God.

    • Let’s Pray.