• There is a pall hanging over this week’s chapter as the text moves from allusions to Jesus’ death to narrating his last moments before the cross. Is it more difficult to read this chapter than the others in Mark’s gospel? Why or why not?
• The chapter begins with the well-known story of an unnamed woman anointing Jesus with costly perfume. Her extravagant actions show her love, devotion, and appreciation. Why do you think this story in included here? What can we learn about the woman, Jesus, and the negative reaction from others?
• Jesus has the Last Supper with his disciples. How does this account differ from the more familiar account we hear from John 13 on Maundy Thursday? It’s worth noting that Jesus sat at table with the one who would betray him (and others who denied and abandoned him.) What does this say about Jesus and his mission?
• Jesus takes his disciples to Gethsemane to pray. He pleads with them to stay up with him, but they cannot stay awake. The interplay of light and darkness, alertness and sleeping, and good and evil is strong here. Jesus is already feeling alone, and this will only increase as Thursday evening slips into Friday morning. What does this section say to us as we enter Holy Week together?
• The night continues to devolve for Jesus as he is arrested, tried, and denied. There is false testimony presented, but it is not consistent. Jesus’ enemies eventually condemn him with their words, their spit, and their fist. It is a horrible scene of injustice. What emotions are stirred in you as you read this part of the story?
• Jesus is condemned by the religious authorities, but he still has to appear before Pilate, the political figure representing the might of Rome. We’ll talk more about chapter 15 on Good Friday
No comments:
Post a Comment