By the sheer length of the Passion narrative, we only look at some significant moments.

• The anointing points to Jesus as the anointed one, the Messiah. Anointing for burial is not her intent; that is how Jesus chose.
• While the chief priests are afraid to arrest Jesus, one of the twelve offers to deliver him for a small sum of money thereby changing their fear into jubilant anticipation.
• Jesus' prediction in (v.27) using an Old Testament quotation becomes reality in (v.50)
• Jesus looks beyond his death and promises that the scattered flock will be gathered again. "I will go before" may be taken as "I will lead you".
• Judas is not the only failure, "all" will fail in their measure:
  14:23 They "all" drank from the cup
  14:27 You will "all" fall away
  14:31 they "all" protested
  14:50 and they "all" ran away
• Peter's denials gradually become more serious and complete:
  - At first, he pretends innocence.
  - Then, he denies that he is a follower of Jesus.
  - Finally, he curses and swears the he does not even know Jesus.
• Jesus' mission starts with an encounter with the tempter (1:12) and ends with a final and decisive temptation: to eliminate suffering from his messianic way.
• Jesus refuses to take the drugged wine as a means to lessen the torment in order to fully drink the "cup" of suffering.
• Jesus dies in the midst of two sinners instead of James and John who had requested to "sit one at your right and the other at your left" (10:37)
• By refusing to come down from the cross, by not saving his life, Jesus brings the temple to an end (15:38) and builds the new temple (14:58)
• The rending of the curtain of the temple may be symbolic that the privilege of Israel has come to an end and through Jesus a free access to God is open to all.
• Jesus dies in total desolation: deserted by his disciples, taunted by his enemies, mocked by those hung with him and worst of all, abandoned by God.
• The presence of the women sharply contrasts with the absence of the twelve disciples.

Jesus stands as a lonely figure throughout this Passion account. His hour had come. He had to suffer alone before he could come to glory.

1. With which one person could you best relate, or with whom would you identify yourself? Why?
2. Mark's Passion account is called the greatest instruction on discipleship. Why?

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A synthesis by the Vietnamese Christian Life (Dong Hanh) Community