Mark 14 Part 1 - The Passion Begins

We now begin the Passion of Jesus Christ in Mark’s Gospel. This long chapter has been broken up into two parts. The first part will move through the conspiracy to kill Jesus to the denial by Peter foretold. After Jesus prepares our hearts for The End, he enters his own cataclysm. We’ve heard this story so much, listened to the Passion read in Church during the Triduum, and prayed over the mysteries in the rosary. A meditative read of the Passion Narrative can breathe new life into our reflection that we might take up our cross daily and follow Jesus.  
 
Mark 14:1-2 
Passover brought large numbers of pilgrims to Jerusalem. The religious rites around the Passover remember the Exodus story and the LORD’s redemption from slavery of the People of God. Jesus’ controversies with the religious figures of his day began long before this moment. Providentially, however, the time when the Jewish faithful would begin preparations for the sacrificial lamb becomes the context for a plot against Jesus by the chief priests and the scribes. They knew the popularity of Jesus and desired for their murder to remain secretive. These first verses of Mark 14 invites us to ponder Jesus’ sacrifice within the context of Passover and see Jesus as the New Lamb whose blood redeems God’s children and draws disciples into a place of freedom and new life.  
 
Mark 14:3-9 
Mark takes us to the home of Simon the Leper in Bethany where Jesus rests on his journey to Jerusalem for the feast. The details of this story continue to capture our imagination to this day. Here rests Jesus, and a faithful woman approaches and breaks open a clay jar with costly, perfumed oil over his head. The perfume would have filled the room with its aroma. Jesus did not refuse this exorbitant gift. Rather, Jesus sees the work of his Heavenly Father in this pause before his death: “she has anointed my body beforehand for burying” (v. 8b). We do not know the intention behind the woman’s action, we only know what Jesus shares and the stinginess of the other house guests. Perhaps they believed Jesus would side with them and their expressed interest in caring for the poor. Jesus did not receive their protest with favor. He tells them to “leave her alone!” Jesus defends his disciple who, inspired by the Holy Spirit, desires to give a generous gift to him. We know from this short story (1) Jesus understands that this trip to Jerusalem will result in his death and (2) that God the Father is preparing him through these real, tangible experiences for that ultimate sacrifice.  
 
Mark 14:10-11 
Mark does not give us any specific details about the motivations behind Judas’ betrayal. We know that Judas’ betrayal follows the anointing for burial. What happened? Judas falls in with the conspiracy against Jesus and is promised money in return. Perhaps these two verses serve to sandwich the anointing story between two moves of the plot to kill Jesus. We have the priests and scribes in verses 1-2 and Judas’ break from the apostles in verses 10-11. Mark invites us to ponder an irony of the Passion, the very people hoping to end Jesus’ ministry become the very agents of his victory.  
 
Mark 14:12-16 
Jesus now takes the initiative in the Passion and directs two disciples to prepare a room for the Passover meal. We do not know if Jesus had a prearranged agreement with the homeowners, if these were family friends, or if Jesus prophesied by word of knowledge about this home. We know that families pray the Passover  in a home. Jesus will take the place at the head of the family and direct the Passover meal. Anointed for burial with plotters on the move, Jesus signals the origins of a new family from a new covenant. Like the anointing, everything falls into place with the home. The Passion Narrative propels us forward with Jesus who trusts in the plan of his Father. 
 
Mark 14:17-21 
Jesus announces his betrayal to the adamant disavowals of all, including Judas. This betrayal happened close to home, in the epicenter of a new home and family. A companion – literally, “one with whom you break bread” - betrays Jesus. He knows this. Jesus did not enter the Passion with clouded vision.  
 
Mark 14:22-25 
We have a very early account – in terms of when the documents of the New Testament were written – of the Last Supper in Mark’s Gospel. We still use the language recounted here in the Eucharistic prayer today. Jesus took the bread, blessed, broke it and said...Jesus takes a known rite for Passover and transforms it through his own person. He sees himself as the sacrificial lamb, identifies that bloody sacrifice with the bloodless thanksgiving of bread and wine. It is in this account that we read of a “new covenant” (v. 24). With every covenant in the Old Testament, a new promise is offered. In a few short passages, Jesus sums up the mission of his Passion. He lays his own life down. Jesus offers his body. Thus, Jesus is not the powerless victim of a factious plot but presents himself as a priest/patriarch of a new covenant with his new family.  
 
Mark 14:26-31 
Jesus enters the passion with his eyes upon Galilee and the Resurrection. “But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee” (v. 28). Jesus not only leads the charge towards Jerusalem, but he also leads the Kingdom into the Resurrection. He trusts in the Father. His reading of Scripture allows him to contextualize the unfurling events. Jesus knows Peter will deny him even with the fiery zeal burning in Peter’s eyes.    
 
Reflection Questions: 

1. The plot against Jesus took place on the part of religious figures. It would be easy to distance ourselves from the priests and scribes and label them corrupt. The Passion invites us to a deeper reflection. These religious figures – including, perhaps, Judas – believed they were “doing the right thing.” They justified their plot to kill Jesus with flowery religious trappings. Perhaps they believed their conspiracy against Jesus even served the common good of the Jewish people. This should cause each of us to pause and invite the Holy Spirit into our own story. Have we ever cloaked our evil actions with pious platitudes? Do we ever use acclamations of our own self-righteousness to permit us to act and speak wrongly against others?  
2. In the anointing at Bethany, Jesus reveals his concern for those who sincerely love him. Jesus never forgets the good we do for him. Jesus humbly accepted that gift and saw within it the very work of the Father’s love. How often have we dismissed the kindness of others out of a sense of false humility? Can we, like Jesus, see the hand of God at work in the charity of others towards us?  
3. The details of the Last Supper draw us deeply into the mystery of the Mass. When we go to Mass, Jesus seats us next to himself and deepens the New Covenant with every Eucharist. Spend some time meditating on the Last Supper. Imagine yourself beside Jesus. Will you accept his mercy towards you? Will you allow him to care for you?