Readings

Mark 14:1-16

Devotion

Peace be with you!

The characters in today’s gospel reading all have a role in setting up Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, and ultimately his crucifixion, death, and resurrection. But their roles seem odd to us: a woman pouring ointment on his head, the chief priests plotting against Jesus, and Judas making a deal with the chief priests. What is the significance of the woman pouring ointment on Jesus’ head? What do the chief priests have against Jesus? Why would Judas betray his faithful leader? Why does this all have to take place?

The disciples object when the woman pours ointment on Jesus’ head, because it could have been sold and the money given to the poor (Mark 14:4-5). To the disciples, the woman is wasting money that could have been used to help those in need. However, Jesus stops the disciples in their tracks and explains the importance behind the woman pouring ointment on his head. Jesus states that the poor will always be with us but that he will not (Mark 14:7). For us today, this makes sense. We do see the poor all the time, but we have never seen Jesus in the flesh.

Jesus goes on to tell the disciples that the woman was anointing his body for burial before his death. The woman gives Jesus the honor and dignity that he deserves before he suffers crucifixion and death. The woman gives up money to give honor to Jesus. Anointing before burial was often reserved for important individuals, such as kings. The woman bestows honor upon Jesus as a way of giving him what he deserves before he undergoes the unthinkable for us.

Then we come to Judas Iscariot and the chief priests, who set the events into actions. Chief priests plot to arrest and kill Jesus (Mark 14:1), though it could not be during the Passover, because the arrest would cause a riot (Mark 14:2). When Judas comes forward willing to betray Jesus (Mark 14:10), the chief priests are able to carry out their plans.

Now, Judas does not care why the chief priests want to arrest Jesus. Judas’ only concern is himself, and the chief priests are willing to pay him money for giving them Jesus (Mark 14:11). Because of his greediness, Judas is willing to hand Jesus over to be arrested for his personal gain.

Readers cannot help but compare the woman who poured ointment on Jesus’ head with Judas. When Judas plans to betray Jesus for money, the woman who poured ointment on Jesus’ head sacrifices expensive nard to show him respect and dignity. The woman gives up money for Jesus, whereas Judas takes money for himself. The woman prepares Jesus for his burial by anointing him; Judas puts the events leading up to his death into motion.

It would be easy to mark the woman who poured ointment on Jesus’ head as a saint and Judas Iscariot and the chief priests as sinners. Each of these characters play an important role in the Passion story. As I stated above, the woman who poured ointment on his head gives Jesus the honor and dignity he deserves before he fulfills the scriptures. In the same way, Judas and the chief priests play an important role in allowing Jesus to fulfill the scriptures, even though that is not their goal. Ultimately, Jesus has to die on cross for our sins and resurrect so that he can overcome death. The woman who poured ointment on his head, Judas Iscariot, and the chief priests help Jesus to carry out God’s plan, even without their knowledge.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the woman, Judas, and chief priests who played important roles in carrying out your plan. Help us to recognize the way in which you use both those of us who are Christians and those who do not believe to further your plan, even unknowingly. Thank you for using us as you continue to unfold your plan. Amen.

Works Cited

Perkins, Pheme. “The Gospel of Mark: Introductions, Commentary, and Reflections.” In The New Interpreter’s Bible, by Leander E Kirk. Nashville: Abringdon Press, 1995.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. How has God used a tough situation in your life to continue to unfold his plan?

2. Have you ever “wasted” something extravagantly for Jesus?

3. In this time when Jesus is not physically present with you, how do you reach out to the poor? How can doing so make Jesus’ presence known in the world?

Readings

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

Mark 11:1-11

Devotion

Peace be with you!

Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem for the final time before his crucifixion took a bit of preparation, but Jesus had it planned out to a tee. While still in the outskirts of Jerusalem, Jesus sends two disciples to a village to get a colt and to bring it back to him. Roman officials commonly requisitioned animals and human labor. The fact that Jesus instructs the two disciples to say, “The Lord needs it” (Mark 11:3), tells the owners that a powerful man needs the colt. However, Jesus’ promise to return the colt immediately sets him apart from other rulers.

Now the colt is significant for a few reasons: First, the colt has never been ridden before, making Jesus the first one to ride it., which would have been an honor to an important Roman official. Jesus enters Jerusalem on a young colt as a king. Second, Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a colt fulfills Zechariah 9:9:

Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion!

Shout, daughter of Jerusalem!

Look! Your king is coming to you:

he is legitimate and victorious,

humble and riding on a donkey –

on a young donkey, the foal of a female donkey.

Jesus presents himself as the long-awaited king of Israel, the Messiah. Even though the disciples and the crowd may have missed the significance, Jesus has made it known to all that he is the Messiah. The crowd and his disciples may have acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah but as the one who will conquer the Romans as a military hero, not as the Son of God who will die for their sins and redeem them to be in a relationship with God the Father.

As we celebrate Palm Sunday, we cannot help but get caught up in the excitement of welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem. We have missed the fact that it was a small crowd that surrounds Jesus in Jerusalem, rather than the large crowd that we imagine. Either Jesus is still a bit unknown in Jerusalem, or his followers are afraid to come out in fear of the Pharisees. Plus since Jesus is entering Jerusalem during the Passover, many of the people in town are at the temple preparing to make their sacrifices.

Whatever the case, Jesus is welcomed by a small crowd with a lot of energy to cover his path with their cloaks and palm branches. The small crowd yells, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Mark 11:9-10 NRSV). Although these phrases became common to say in the Jewish culture, one cannot deny the excitement of the crowd, which Jesus would rescue them from the Romans.

Jesus carries out a well-thought plan to reveal himself as the Messiah – the one sent by God to free them from their sins. As readers, we can identify Jesus’ entrances into Jerusalem as a Messianic action. We understand the significance behind it all. Jesus is beginning to prepare for the events of Holy Week.

As we begin the Holy Week journey, put yourself in the different characters’ mindsets. Feel their fear and joy as they watch the unfolding of Jesus’ crucifixion. Ask yourself where you are in the story.

Go out into the world and shout, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Mark 11:9-10 NRSV). Welcome Jesus into your town and into your home. Celebrate Jesus’ Messianic claim. Jesus may not be a king in quite the way we expect, but he is still King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Thanks be to God!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for how Jesus entered Jerusalem as king, giving us a reason to celebrate his Messianic claim. Help us to claim Jesus as our Messiah in a world where it is easier to deny him or reject what his kingship means for us. Remind us of your glory this coming Holy Week as we walk beside Jesus and watch him be the ultimate sacrifice for our sin. Thank you for your glory. Amen.

Reflective Questions

Please answer the following reflective questions in the comments below.  Please agree to disagree and be respectful to each other. (If you have not already done so, please also take a moment, to sign the comment covenant.)  You can answer as many questions as you would like. 

1. Where are you in the story of Palm Sunday? Are you with the crowd shouting “Hosanna”? Or are you hiding in fear of the Pharisees?

2. How would your congregation welcome Jesus into your church?