GOSPEL
LECTURE 16
PASSION WEEK, CONTINUED

1. To present the significant events of the last week of Jesus' life.
2. To acquit with the thoughts and emotions of the disciples at this point In history.
3. To identify the distinctive teachings of Christ during the Passover meal.

 Content Of Lecture

1. Jesus' comment about the future (Chapter 13) - This is a difficult chapter because of its Jewishness and use of apocalyptic language; references to the destruction of the temple and Christ's return are intertwined. The chapter has nineteen imperatives so the propose was not to satisfy curiosity but to provide practical advice. (TN1)

A. Destruction of the Temple (13:1-4) - The disciples seem to assume that the destruction of the temple and the end of the world would be simultaneous events (Matthew 24:3) (DQ2)

B. Two Warnings (Mark 13:5-13)

1. Do not allow people to mislead you by pointing to historical events (Mark 13:5-81.

2. Be prepared for persecution (Mark 13:9-13).

C. The horrors associated with the "desolating sacrilege" (13:14-23) (TN3) 

D. Christ's Return (Mark 13:24-27)

This generation possibly referred to mankind in general, the Jewish race, or disciples of Jesus. Over all, Jesus stated that no man knows when He will return, so we should be prepared for His return at all times; His return is a certainty.(DQ4)

E. The lesson from the Fig Tree (Mark 13:28-31)

F. The Exhortation to be Ready (Mark 13:31-37)

II. Wednesday - Jesus anointed at Bethany (Mark 14:1-11)

A. This event probably occurred on Wednesday, a time of preparation for the Passover.

B. A woman (Mary) anoints Jesus with perfume valued at approximately one year's wages for a common laborer. Jesus defends her act of sacrifice as a precursor to His death.

C. This is the time that Judas reached an agreement to betray Jesus. (DQ5)

III. Thursday and Friday - The Passover Meal

A. The Passover meal is eaten (Mark 14:12-26) - The Jewish Passover was a time for remembering Moses' leading God's people out of Egypt after centuries of slavery. It consisted of several foods which symbolized their time in Egypt The bowl of salt water was a eminder of the tears shed in Egypt. The bitter herbs used to prepare the food were a reminder of their bitter days of slavery. The date paste was a reminder of the clay used to make bricks.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread lasted one week and came to symbolize the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt (they did not have enough time for their bread to rise).

Originally, the blood of the Passover lamb was sprinkled over the doorposts and lintel of the Jewish homes so the Death Angel would pass over (Exodus 12:1-15).

B. The Lord's Supper or Communion is a reminder of Christ's sacrifice. Jewish Passover and Christian communion share several similarities including a meal shared with a group. Both observances are reminders of historical events; the foods involved are symbolic of God's work in people's lives. Both deal with leaving old ways of life for new. The lamb in the Old Testament was not God's Lamb in the New Testament, His only Son.

C. After the Supper (vs. 27-31) - they went to the Mount of Olives end Jesus told them they would fell away; Peter adamantly stated he would not leave. Jesus predicted Peter's denial. (DQ7)

IV. The Arrest (Mark 14:32-52) (TN8)

A. Gethsemane - Jesus prayed; He took His inner circle of three disciples into the garden to pray. He was under tremendous stress as communicated in His words, "my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death." This stress was seen physically in the description of His sweating blood in Luke 22:44. (DQ9)

B. Jesus facing death - in the course of a few hours, He had been betrayed by one of His closest Fiends and the men with him in the garden could not even stay awake. He was alone. His relationship to His Fther was seen in the words, "Abba, Father," The familiar Hebrew term (the Engish equivalent is "Daddy:" He did not want to die but was willing to be obedient to His father. The cross was a voluntary act of obedience John 10:17-18).

C. Judas arrives (vs. 43-52) -Judas had sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (approximately $18), the average price of a slave. He kissed Jesus to identify him for the Temple guards, who had no real civil authority. There was a brief struggle but Jesus stopped it quickly. (DQ10)

Assignment:

1. Read Mark 14:53-15:47 red John 18:12-19:30
2. Read Hester, pp. 204-219 or Gundry, pp. 187-193
3. Compare Psalm 22:14-18 and Isaiah 53 to John 19:16-34. Do you notice the uncanny similarities?

RESOURCES