The Gospel of Mark: The Beginning of the Passion

It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; for they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.” ~ Mark 14:1-2


Everything that has taken place in Mark has brought us to this point. All along Jesus has been pushing the boundaries and drawing attention to himself. He has had squabbles with scribes and Pharisees who are threatened by him, but until now those have seemed like minor threats.

But now Jesus is in Jerusalem and the threat is no longer minor.

Those who are against him are making the threat real.

There is a craven-ness here. The idea of politicizing their destruction of Jesus around a festival that centers on the freedom of the Jewish people.

Jesus has been trying to free people all along and they can't see that.

They can't see or understand what it means to truly be free.

They have ears but do not hear and eyes but do not see.

And so they plot and plan, falsely thinking that they are in the driver's seat.


Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen


Engagement Questions:


Easter Sunday was just over a month ago. It is still the season of Easter. As we move into the story of Jesus' Passion and the resurrection, think back to the story as you live it this Easter. What points did you miss? What points are most significant to you? Most interesting to you? Most tragic to you?


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