From an educator’s view, Jesus was quite a teacher. He used stories (parables) to teach a lesson, and he repeated his lessons: give to the poor, store up treasures in heaven (Mark 10:21, the last shall be first; Mark 10:31, 10:34), blessing and healing children (Mark 9:17-27, 10:34-36). His followers were growing. He was answering questions, provoking discussions. In the midst of this, he predicts his death (for the third time).
Then in Chapter 11 we are shown his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Jesus made specific instructions on what to do in preparation: the cheering, the adulation, the praises—all while Jesus knew what he was facing.
I have to wonder what the scribes and chief priests were thinking about now. Mark doesn’t mention they were in the crowd. But the tide against him was turning. Soon after, he entered the temple and drove out those who bought and sold in the temple. At this, we are given an insight into human nature: Mark 11:18 – they “sought how they might destroy him, for they feared him.” They tried to trip him up, asking tricky questions.
Jesus continues giving hints of the future; in the parable of the vinedressers, the owner’s son being killed is parallel to Jesus being rejected and killed. I thought we were finished with the study of End Times, but here we see Jesus making predictions. He predicted signs of the beginning of sorrow: earthquakes, famine, wars. But he also gave a promise not to worry beforehand what to say when arrested (for preaching)— the Holy Spirit will tell us what to say (“The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom gave some examples of how God gave them answers after they were arrested.).
The week was progressing when he was anointed with oil—for burial. A woman broke a precious bottle of oil and poured it on his head. I think the disciples must have thought of Jesus’s death as in the distant future, after all, a short time earlier everyone was praising him, proclaiming him blessed.
Jesus leads the sacrament of the Lord’s supper at this time. I have found this to be such a deeply personal passage, Jesus leading them in communion while knowing which one of them agreed to betray him. I think he could have prevented his own death; at that point, most of the disciples were on his side! In fact, Peter insisted he would never betray Jesus. But Jesus was committed to the Father’s will, not his own.
Jesus was betrayed and arrested. In fact, they all forsook him and fled. Even Peter.
Jesus was interrogated, mocked, blindfolded, beaten. Simon of Cyrene was compelled to bear his cross on the way to the crucifixion, and then Jesus was crucified in a humiliating death. In the moment of Jesus’s death, Mark tells us the temple curtain was torn in two (symbolizing the sacrifice of Jesus blood ended the Old Testament demand of sacrifices), and the centurion said that, truly, he was the son of God.
Interestingly, women were watching the crucifixion. The only man mentioned by Mark is Joseph of Arimathea, who asked for Jesus’s body to give him a proper burial. He wrapped Jesus in linen and buried him in a tomb.
That ends our reading for this week. Spoiler alert: Easter’s coming!
Terri Robinson
P.S. I suggest you listen to the hymn “Were You There?” to go along with this week’s reflection here.
