Mark 14

1. Background

Jesus and His disciples are nearing the end of their week in Jerusalem.  He has confronted the Sanhedrin at the Temple and has condemned the whole institution according to their corruption of it.  The Disciples have asked when will the destruction take place and when will Jesus return to reign.  Now the stage is set for His betrayal and murder as the Sanhedrin are driven mad looking for an opportunity to kill Him.

1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.

2. What can we observe about God?

The heart of God is extravagantly generous.

There is a very clear contrast between the “woman” who anoints Jesus’ head and Judas who betrays the Son of God for money.  One vile greedy deed is compared with extravagant generosity—the two deeds could not be more polar opposite.  Even though the woman’s gift was so astonishingly good hearted toward her Master, still she received the condemnation from even the disciples. “What a waste” they said.  

And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor.

vv4-5

They suppose the exceedingly valuable ointment had far better uses than being poured on one man’s head, albeit it was Jesus’ head.  Still, they could not look past the impractical use of the gift.

（3） How does this point to the Jesus and the Gospel?

The gratefulness and generosity towards Jesus shown by the woman is what the gospel accomplishes in the heart of those changed by it.  The wondrous extravagant giving of God produces gratefulness and generosity in those who have received it themselves. Therefore it is not merely the heart of the woman we see, but God’s heart toward sinners.  From a heavenly perspective, it might seem to be a waste to pour out something so precious as the blood of God’s Son on a filthy sinners head such as my own.  Many would say it would be a great waste and grossly uneven exchange for God to received myself in the place of His Son’s death.  But such is the heart of God.  His precious blood is more than enough to purchase away my most heinous sin so that I might stand before God, more than forgiven, but justified. 

Even when He is being betrayed to death, He is still in control.

As they enter the city again together for the last time with their liberty.  Jesus seems to know every detail in the next few hours.  He knows who they should meet and where as they approach the city.

And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.  And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.  And his disciples went forth and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

vv13-15

  Such observations may be trivial and may or may not necessary point to supernatural knowledge, but the proceeding foreknowledge does. He knows who will betray Him (v18), how many times Peter will deny Him (v30), who will leave Him (v27) , and where the betrayal will take place (v42).  He knows He will be delivered to the Romans (v41) and be crucified, but most importantly He knows He will face the full wrath of God for the sin of humanity.

And he went forward a little, and on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

vv35-36

（3） How does this point to the Jesus and the Gospel?

The cup is for the ultimate purpose of why He came, to drink the wrath of God in place of sinners.  His humanity already buckling under the weight of coming judgement, still He steeled Himself to submit to God, knowing what was to come.  This is where the sovereignty and love of God ultimately meets, though the cross would mean His bodily demise and anguish of soul, still He is control and nothing is happening out of His power.  

As the Jews proceed with their mockery of a trial in the middle of the night, Jesus answers them with a brazen quote of OT scripture depicted the kind of power Jesus possesses.

And Jesus said, I am, and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

vv62

They charge Him with blasphemy because in the light of that quotation from Daniel and the combination of “I am” to add weight, Jesus has revealed Himself as deity before them. Though what first must be accomplished before they see Him in the clouds of heaven is the bloody cross.  The promises of the Gospel are being made in His blood and will be ratified through His resurrection.

4. Application

I will look to be generous in the way Jesus has been generous to me.  I know my standing in God is because of His lavish gift of Jesus on the cross.  Is it no reasonable to offer my life in service? Everything given to God and under His will is good, a far better “good” than I could plan for myself.  Even our giving doesn’t really feel like giving when giving to God who uses it it for our good.