Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Conscientiousness
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Bible Reading
Introduction
Another Markan "Sandwich text"
Over the past weeks, we were looking at a portion of Mark’s Gospel that was primarily focused on Christ’s arrival in Jerusalem and His judgments upon the religious leaders.
Context - have looked at Christ's strong words of condemnation toward religious leaders.
We've looked at the pronouncement of judgment that Christ has given.
In , the flow of Mark’s Gospel moves from this arrival in Jerusalem and the judgment pronouncements, to focus now instead on the buildup to Christ’s crucifixion.
This new chapter begins to move us definitively towards the cross!!
3 Scenes to be considered.
Mixed in, are pictures of the inner workings of the minds of people.
There are friends, and there are foes.
Deceitfulness of sin is incredible!!!
Judas was so angered that he became self-serving, to his own destruction
Scene 1 - The Plot (vv.1-2)
The Time (v.1a)
Passover
Based on what took place in Egypt
Lamb was to be sacrificed - to prevent death of firstborn
Now approaching - the Firstborn would be sacrificed as the lamb
Feast of Unleavened Bread
The Schemers (v.1b)
The chief priests and the teachers of the law
They have targeted Christ with their attacks on Him
They have been the target of Christ's rebukes
They were open enemies
Judgment has been pronounced on them.
Pride was bound up in their heart.
They were not prepared to offer up their status
The law they knew, but they used it for selfish gain - status and power
Moral integrity was devoid of Godly Love and compassion
They refused to accept the correction that was directed at them
The plot (v.1b)
The plot (v.1b)
They wanted to kill Jesus
His confrontation of them had reached a peak
They were now more determined than ever
Not jail, not banishment - only his death would satisfy them.
But it would need to be "sly" - a stealthy way to kill him
Veiled in secrecy
The problem (v.2)
They feared what would happen
They knew what they were doing was not supported by the people.
The time of the feast - Jerusalem packed!
Huge crowds
Concerned that crowds would riot.
"They who desired nothing more than the praise of men, dreaded nothing more than the rage and displeasure of men."
Matthew Henry
In verse 1 of our text this morning, Mark begins by indicating the time that these events took place.
He says that the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away.
These two events - the Passover, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread - were events that in the Jewish calendar ran back-to-back.
The Passover feast was established when the Israelites...
The Feast of Unleavened Bread took place just after, and was there to remind the Israelites of their flight from Egypt, and the fact that they were to eat bread without yeast...
Our text tells us that the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only 2 days away.
Depending on how the calendar is interpreted, this would most likely place what is taking place here on the Wednesday.
The Instigators (v.1)
The instigators of this plot will come as no surprise to us.
They were the chief priests, and the teachers of the law.
These were the outstanding members of society!
Scene 2 - The Anointing (v.3-9)
The Place (v.3a)
The Place (v.3a)
Bethany
This was the place Jesus was staying
A few km from Jerusalem
Not a well-off city
Mostly people of poor means.
Lazarus had been raised from the dead here
Mary and Martha lived here
Home of Simon the Leper
Jesus goes into the home of a "leper"
Not ashamed of associating with those who were shunned
Probably this was a leper that Christ had healed.
Impending death - but still engaging, not withdrawing!
Continues doing the work he came for.
Reclining at the table
Christ is reclining - eating a meal
With him at the table is Lazarus, whom he raised from the dead.
- the dinner was given in Jesus' honor.
The Anointing (v.3b)
A woman
Strange sight - normally women didn't feast with.
Usually women were only servants
This woman stands in stark contrast to the men!
A motif of Mark's Gospel
Expensive perfume
Alabastar Jar - flask with a long neck / no handles
Usually the jar would be sealed to preserve the contents
Inside the alabastar jar is a very expensive perfume
Nard - aromatic oil extracted from a plant in India
This made it expensive - very expensive!!
According to verse5 - more than a year's wages
We would be shocked that a person even possessed such an expensive bottle of perfume!!
I'm taken aback at the prices of perfumes in our day from the normal Edgars store.
When I see "R2,000" for some spray to make you smell good....
But for this lady, it was worth dispensing all of this perfume onto Christ
Jesus anointed
The lady breaks the jar, and pours the entire contents of the jar on Christ
She anoints Him!!
We are not certain why - maybe because Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead...?
According to , it was Mary that anointed Jesus (Mary and Martha)
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