Speaker: Daniel Deininger
Date: March 15, 2023
Message Summary
Mark chapter 14:1-21 begins with the announcement that the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are just two days away. The chief priests and the scribes are looking for a way to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. Meanwhile, Jesus is in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper. A woman comes to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she pours on his head. Some of the disciples criticize her for wasting such a valuable item, but Jesus defends her, saying that she has done a beautiful thing for him and that she will be remembered for it wherever the gospel is preached.
Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples, goes to the chief priests and offers to betray Jesus to them for thirty pieces of silver. They agree, and Judas begins to look for an opportunity to turn Jesus over to them.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Jesus instructs two of his disciples to go into the city and find a man carrying a jar of water. They are to follow him to a house, where they will find a room prepared for them to eat the Passover meal. They do as Jesus instructs, and that evening they eat the meal with Jesus and the other disciples.
During the meal, Jesus tells his disciples that one of them will betray him. They are all shocked and ask if it is them. Jesus tells them that the one who dips his bread into the dish with him is the betrayer. He dips the bread and gives it to Judas, who then leaves to betray Jesus.
Discussion Questions
- Why did they appear to be indignant?
- Should they have been indignant?
- Were they being hypocritical?
- Why did they criticize?
- Why did Judas betray Christ?
- Was Judas upset that Jesus rebuked him?
- Did Judas know that Jesus was going to be killed?
- What did Christ refer to this meal as?
- When did he keep this with the disciples?
- Was he aware of Judas’ plot?