This week’s readings are all from Mark chapter 14. Click here to see a full listing of each day’s reading and the full chapter of Mark 14. Full readings of each day’s smaller segments of the readings will be posted on this site during the week.
Today's Reading
Now on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” So the disciples left, went into the city, and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
Then, when it was evening, he came to the house with the twelve. While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me will betray me.” They were distressed, and one by one said to him, “Surely not I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who dips his hand with me into the bowl. For the Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.” (Mark 14.12–21 NET)
Podcast(s) for Mark 14
Mark 14, Part 1: Verses 1-27
Parallel Passages in Other Gospels or the New Testament
Passover
The Passover Seder that is practiced today was still being developed during the NT period. The OT Law commands that the Passover lamb be prepared and then eaten in the home and leaving no leftover portions of lamb and that bitter herbs should be eaten. Passover begins the Feast of Unleavened bread. In the NT period, the preparation of the lamb, for those who came to Jerusalem, took place in the Temple on the afternoon of the 14th of Nisan, and then the lamb was taken to a dwelling that had to be within the walls of Jerusalem. Jesus and his disciples have been staying east of the city on the Mount of Olives and in Bethany with friends (Simon the Leper's family), but this night they will eat within the city walls in an upper room (kataluma) before returning to the Mount of Olives.
A Passover Seder today consists of different segments of the meal, each marking some element of God's deliverance from bondage and oppression. Questions are asked (typically by children) centering on "Why is this night different from all other nights?", and the Passover and other deliverance stories are told. Unleavened bread (matzah) is eaten along with bitter herbs (maror and charzeret). Other traditional elements include a roasted egg, charoset (sweet sticky syrup or honey mixed with nuts and apples) to symbolize the brick and mortar of Egypt. In modern Seders, the Passover lamb is symbolized by a lamb shank or chicken bone, and it and the roasted egg symbolizes the freewill offering that used to be made in the Temple. Several cups of wine are consumed (four traditionally) and one is provided and left for Elijah.
Passover in the First and Second Century
It's difficult to know how much of this was in place during Jesus' lifetime. The Mishnah, written almost two centuries later but containing traditions developed in preceding period, has an entire section dedicated to the practices of Passover, mostly to do with the sacrifices and ritual issues. There are also several aspects of the meal mentioned (Pesachim 10). Here are some:
- It is stated that persons, if able, should fast the day of the meal until they can finally recline at the Passover table.
- Reclining at the meal should take place because they should eat like kings.
- A person should have no fewer than four cups of wine.
- The question "How is this night different from all other nights?" should be asked.
- A person is obligated to regard himself as if he personally was rescued from Egypt saying, 'It is because of what YHWH did for me when I came forth from Egypt (Exodus 13.8).
- After the fourth cup of wine, the Hallel Psalms should be sung (Psalms 113-118).
- If a person wants to drink more than four cups of wine, they can between the first and third cups, between the third and fourth cup, no extra wine should be taken. And nothing comes after the fourth cup, whether food or drink.
- If someone falls asleep during the meal, they can keep eating when they wake up. If everyone falls asleep, no one can eat if they wake up.
- Any portion of the Passover offering that is left and consumed after midnight imparts uncleanness.
