In Mark's fast-paced account of the life of Christ, events now become even more rapid-fire. Those who hate the Servant-Messiah sent from God begin moving quickly to destroy Him. Jesus' followers, perhaps sensing trouble, react with everything from worship to abandonment. Jesus uses every occasion to teach His disciples important truths they will need in the future.
The Passover was a very special feast day in Israel's religious calendar and was inextricably linked to what took place in the Exodus. It became indelibly entrenched in Israel's tradition and has always marked the day of redemption from Egypt. Passover began with the slaying of the Passover lamb, which had to be a lamb without blemish. Friday of Passover would have begun on Thursday at sunset. According to Josephus, it was customary in his day to slay the lamb at about 3:00 p.m. This was the time of day that Christ, the Christian's Passover lamb, died (1 Cor, 5:7; Luke 23:44-46). The Feast of Unleavened Bread began immediately after the Passover and commemorated the departure of the Israelites from Egypt (Exod. 23:15). Unleavened bread refers to the type of bread the Israelites were to take with them in their escape, which represented the absence of the leaven of sin in their lives and households.
Questions/Things to Consider:
- Describe the scene when the mob showed up to arrest Jesus. Why do you think Peter fought for Jesus one moment (v.47) and fled the next (v.50)?
- What parallels do you see between the original Passover celebration (Exod. 12:1-4), Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and the Lord's Supper?
- One of the lessons of this chapter surely must be, "let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). What warnings for your own life do you see in Peter's wretched denial of Christ?
- Jesus wrestled with God's will for His life, but willingly yielded to id. In what ways do you wrestle with God? How does Jesus' example help you?
* Notes from "Mark: The Humanity of Christ," John MacArthur, 2006.
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