Mark14a (vs1-11) Notes
1 It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. |
High holy day remembering deliverance from Egypt merged with week of holiness. Peak of the Jewish holy calendar & anticipation of the Messiah. Multitudes in Jerusalem. |
And the chief priests and the scribes |
The ceremonial and legal leaders of the people. Mentioned 9x together in Mark (vs43,53/15.1) |
were seeking to arrest Him by stealth and kill Him, |
"were all this while seeking" / by decoy, bait in a trap, deceit / intent on eliminating Him |
2 for they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people." |
preferred to avoid this high Holy day for fear of an uprising of the populace / who is in charge? |
3 And while He was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, |
the 'house of dates' just 2 mi. east of Jerusalem / Simon, a popular name, prob. healed by Jesus |
as He was reclining at table, |
manner of eating: low table spread, guests lay on pillows, leaning back to table |
a woman come with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, |
Mary, sister of Lazarus (Jn12) / carved stone container of fragrant root oils ('spikenard') |
and she broke the flask and poured it over His head. |
perhaps her family heirloom - opened to be consumed, all on the Lord / w/o a word |
4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, |
Esp. Judas complained (Jn12.4-6) / greatly displeased / cannot conceive what love can do |
"Why was the ointment wasted like that? |
Looking at the oil running down Jesus' head, saw nothing but waste. [Judas wasted his life!] |
5 For this ointment could have been sold |
always another opinion! vindicated by association with humanitarian aid |
for more than three hundred denarii |
gift evaluated in money (a year's wage) -- not in love or purpose or real good accomplished |
and given to the poor." And they scolded her. |
implication: the poor are worth more than Jesus. Poor woman lashed by harsh criticism. |
6 But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? |
The Lord comes to His friend's defense: "Away! Cease! You trouble-makers!" |
She has done a beautiful thing to me. |
Jesus commended her good act as lovely, attractive, charming. |
7 For you always have the poor with you, |
Never a cure for poverty. Always the 'haves' and 'have-nots.' Nature of living in scarcity. |
and whenever you want, you can do good for them. |
This provides perpetual occasion for service. Only the 'want' (desire) need be supplied. |
But you do not always have Me. |
His time was short -- just 2 more days, and those not full or pleasant. After, another 40. |
8 She has done what she could; |
All that is expected of us. Not super-deeds, but that within our capability. |
she has anointed by body before hand for burial. |
We never know what timeliness a good deed may have. Now is always a good time to act. |
9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, |
Confident expectation of extent of evangelism. His story would be told to all humanity. |
what she has done will be told in memory of her." |
And this woman's act included in tale of His great life. What an honor to have even a brief mention in the story of the life of Christ. |
10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, |
One of the 12, hand-picked by the Lord Himself. Evil seed of the plan built in. |
went to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. |
His mind set another way. Q: What was his purpose? to promote? or pull down? |
11 And when they heard it, they were glad |
A critical piece of the 'how' to stop Jesus comes to them. Progress toward their intention. |
and promised to give him money. |
A reward offered to secure their purpose. Willing to pay to achieve their goal. |
And he sought an opportunity to betray Him. |
The conspiracy developed. Judas had now only to find the 'right' time and place to deliver. |
notes by David Teel Saturday, October 18, 2014