Day 17 of Journey through Mark: SYMBOLIC MEALS

COMMENTARY Today’s reading describes two of Jesus’ final meals. These meals both include symbolic actions that anticipate what will happen to Jesus. In the first meal, Jesus is anointed with perfume, an act that foreshadows His death and subsequent enthronement. In the second meal, famously known as the Last Supper, the symbolism goes one step further. At this meal, Jesus reveals not only that He would soon die but also why He had to die. He gives us clues about the meaning of His death. These clues come to us through a number of allusions and references back to Old Testament passages. The first clue is that the Last Supper was most likely a Passover dinner (Mark 14:16-17; Exodus 12). Passover was an annual holiday that commemorated how God had liberated the people of Israel from their slavery in Egypt. Faithful Jews celebrated this holiday by eating a symbolic dinner. Every item on the menu represented a key moment of the Israelites’ escape. In Mark 14, Jesus participates in this meal, but He transforms the meaning of some items because He wants His followers to understand that His death would be the means by which a new Passover would occur. Their sin had put them in exile; Jesus’ death would free them from their exile. Two more clues come to us in His interpretation of the wine. He says in Mark 14:24, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” The phrase “blood of the covenant” is a reference to the covenant God made with Israel in Exodus 24. That covenant had been established with sacrificial blood. Here, Jesus indicates that He is making a new covenant, a new agreement with His people, but it would now be through His blood. The phrase “poured out for many” alludes to Isaiah 53:10-12. Isaiah the prophet wrote that a suffering servant would justify many by bearing their sins. Here, Jesus implies that He is that suffering servant. Together, these allusions give us a glimpse into why Jesus had to die. Jesus freed us so we could live as covenant-partners in the kingdom with Him. His self-giving way of freeing us was by taking our sins upon Himself. SCRIPTURE MARK 14:1–31 CHAPTER 14 JESUS ANOINTED AT BETHANY 1 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.” 3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. 6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” 10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. THE LAST SUPPER 12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” 19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?” 20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. JESUS PREDICTS PETER’S DENIAL 27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” 30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today— yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same. REFLECTION 1. In Mark 14:9, Jesus promises that the woman’s act of devotion would be told “wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world.” This promise is fulfilled by the inclusion of her story in the gospel of Mark. Why do you think Jesus thought it was important for her story to be told as part of the gospel? How should Jesus’ statement influence the way we share the gospel with others? 2. Mark 14:3-5 indicates that the perfume the woman “poured” on Jesus was worth “more than a year’s wages.” Her display may seem excessive, but when we compare it with Mark 14:24 where Jesus says His blood will be “poured” out for many, her action comes into its proper perspective. He gave the best of what He had for us, so we owe the best of what we have to Him. In light of what Jesus has done for you, how are you returning devotion to Him? Are you bringing Him the best of what you have?