Nov. 22, 2024

Last week we finished Chapter 13 where Jesus was instructing His disciples on being ready for His second coming. He emphasized being ready at all times and to watch. Today we start in Chapter 14 where they are preparing for the Passover, Mary comes and anoints Jesus’ feet, and Judas betrays him to the Chief Priest.

Mark Lesson 20 Study Questions

1.    The feasts of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were held one after the other. “In popular usage the two festivals were _______ and treated for practical purposes as the _____-____ ‘feast of the Passover.’”

2.    Having an alabaster flask of very costly oil: This was an ____________ display of _________ to Jesus. Often spices and ointments were used as investments because they were small, portable, and could be easily sold.

3.    She broke the flask and poured it on His head: When a guest arrived for a meal, it was customary to ________ the guest’s head with a dab of oil. Here, this woman went much farther than the customary greeting. She poured the entire _________ of an alabaster flask of very costly oil on the head of Jesus.

4.    They criticized her sharply: It’s easy to criticize those who show more ______ to Jesus than we do. We sometimes want to define a ________ as someone who is more devoted to Jesus than we are.

5.    Jesus gave her the highest compliment: she has done what she could. God expects no more from us than what we ____ do; but beware of setting your sights so low that you believe that doing ________ is doing what you can.

6.    As a memorial to her: The disciples longed for fame and influence, but this woman found an enduring ________. She found it not by longing for a position, but simply by loving Jesus and ________ Him.

7.    Whatever Judas’ motive was, it was his motive. God used the wicked work of a ________ Satan, who used a willing Judas. God ordained that these things happen, but He did not ________ Judas to sin.

8.    None of the synoptic gospels mention a ______ at the Passover meal. Some believe that this is because they could not obtain one before the “official” day of Passover. Jesus may have wanted it this way in order to emphasize the idea that He was the _________ sacrifice.

9.    In the warning of Jesus we see a profound love for Judas. This was his last, fleeting opportunity to turn back from his evil plot. A remarkable thing to remember is that Jesus _______ both Mary and Judas. We almost want to think that He loved Mary and hated Judas, but that isn’t the case. If we miss His love towards Judas – rejected love, to be sure – if we miss that love, we miss the _______ story.

10.    Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it: When the bread was lifted up at Passover, the head of the meal would say: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the _________, who has brought forth _______ from the earth.

11.    This is My body: Christians have debated for centuries about the true nature of the bread and the cup at this supper. Zwingli taught that the bread and wine are _______ that represent the _____ and ______ of Jesus.

12.    Until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God: Jesus has not yet celebrated a Passover in heaven. He still waits for all His people to be gathered to Him and then there will be a great supper – the _________ supper of the ______ (Revelation 19:9). This is the fulfillment in the kingdom of God Jesus longed for.