The Palm Gospel: Mark 11:1-11
For the
Gospel writer Mark, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is a prophetic act. Its preparation (1-7) is steeped in imagery
from the prophet Zechariah (9:9 & 14:4).
The crowd recognizes him as King (using Psalm 118:26), although we will
see in the passion story that this is not quite right. Mark alone has the
detail that Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives for the night. The next day he will re-enter—without fanfare—and
attack the temple moneychangers.
11:1 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at
Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead
of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that
has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3 If
anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it
and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 They
went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they
were untying it, 5 some of the
bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they
allowed them to take it. 7 Then
they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road,
and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed
were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our
ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 11
Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he
had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany
with the twelve.
Or this
The Palm Gospel: John 12:12-16
John’s
version of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is brief and to the point. The “festival” is Passover. Only John mentions “branches of palm”
specifically. The only other mention of
palm branches is in conjunction with the Maccabean revolt (1 Macc. 13:51) when Jerusalem
is conquered in 142 b.c.e. Jesus is greeted with Psalm 118:25-26, to
which is added “the King of Israel.” The quotation in v. 15 is loosely based on
Isaiah 40:2, & 44:2, as well as Zechariah 3:16.
12:12 The
next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was
coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they
took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it;
as it is written: 15 “Do not be
afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s
colt!” 16 His disciples did not
understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they
remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.
1st Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
Although
the word “servant” is not used in this passage, it is considered part of the
servant tradition of Second Isaiah. Undoubtedly, an obedient Israel is the
servant of whom the prophet speaks. Christians, however, have traditionally
applied these words to Jesus. This passage speaks of the servant as confidently
responsive to the will of the Lord.
This confidence is, however, met with resistance. The ending “Who will declare
me guilty?” is ironic given the passion narrative.
50:4 The Lord God
has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary
with a word. Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who
are taught. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not
rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6 I
gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the
beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7 The Lord God
helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face
like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend
with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront
me. 9a It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me
guilty?
Psalm
31:9-16
9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; *
my eye is consumed with sorrow
and also my throat and my belly.
10 For my life is wasted with grief,
and my years with sighing; *
my strength fails me because of affliction,
and my bones are consumed.
11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors,
a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *
when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *
I am as useless as a broken pot.
13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;
fear is all around; *
they put their heads together against me;
they plot to take my life.
14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. *
I have said, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.
16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me.”
2nd Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
What follows is Paul’s classic understanding of Jesus’ sacrifice on
behalf of the world. He “did not regard equality with God as something to be
grasped,” “emptied himself,” “took the form of a slave in human likeness,” and “was
obedient to…death.” Paul goes on to anticipate Jesus’ Easter vindication.
2:5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ
Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the
form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a
slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to
the point of death—even death on a cross. 9 Therefore
God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Passion Gospel: Mark 14:1—15:47 or 15:1-39 (40-47)
Jesus predicted
(8:31), “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the
elders, the chief priests , and the scribes, and be killed.” Mark’s telling of
Jesus’ passion and death neatly follows this outline: suffering & betrayal (14:10-52);
rejection by the authorities (14:53—15:1), and death (15:2-39). People in the
story repeatedly refer to Jesus as “King of the Jews,” but Mark corrects this
with his preferred title at the end, “Son of God” (which was the title he used
at 1:1).
[14:1 It was
two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief
priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and
kill him; 2 for they said, “Not
during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.” 3 While he was at Bethany in the house of
Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of
very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the
ointment on his head. 4 But some
were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in
this way? 5 For this ointment could
have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the
poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But
Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good
service for me. 7 For you always
have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish;
but you will not always have me. 8 She
has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is
proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of
her.” 10 Then Judas Iscariot, who
was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to
them. 11 When they heard it, they
were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for
an opportunity to betray him. 12 On
the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his
disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations
for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So
he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man
carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The
Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my
disciples?’ 15 He will show you a
large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 So the disciples set out and went to the
city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover
meal. 17 When it was evening, he
came with the twelve. 18 And when
they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one
of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be distressed and to say to him one after
another, “Surely, not I?” 20 He
said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl
with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes
as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is
betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 22 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread,
and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my
body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and
after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood of the
covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly
I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day
when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 When
they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all
become deserters; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep
will be scattered.’ 28 But after I
am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29
Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.”
30 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell
you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me
three times.” 31 But he said
vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of
them said the same. 32 They went to
a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I
pray.” 33 He took with him Peter
and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. 34 And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved,
even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” 35 And
going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it
were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 He
said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me;
yet, not what I want, but what you want.” 37 He
came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep?
Could you not keep awake one hour? 38 Keep
awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed
is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And
again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And once more he came and found them
sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to
him. 41 He came a third time and
said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour
has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer
is at hand.” 43 Immediately, while
he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there
was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the
elders. 44 Now the betrayer had
given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead
him away under guard.” 45 So when
he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 Then they laid hands on him and arrested
him. 47 But one of those who stood
near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his
ear. 48 Then Jesus said to them, “Have
you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple
teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.” 50 All of them deserted him and fled. 51 A certain young man was following him,
wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran off
naked. 53 They took Jesus to the
high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were
assembled. 54 Peter had followed
him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting
with the guards, warming himself at the fire. 55
Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for
testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. 56 For many gave false testimony against him,
and their testimony did not agree. 57 Some
stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this
temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not
made with hands.’” 59 But even on
this point their testimony did not agree. 60 Then
the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What
is it that they testify against you?” 61 But
he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the
Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" 62 Jesus
said, “I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the
Power,’ and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’” 63
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still
need witnesses? 64 You have heard
his blasphemy! What is your decision?” All of them condemned him as deserving
death. 65 Some began to spit on
him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” The guards
also took him over and beat him. 66 While
Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest
came by. 67 When she saw Peter
warming himself, she stared at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man
from Nazareth.” 68 But he denied
it, saying, “I do not know or understand what you are talking about.” And he
went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. 69 And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say
to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70
But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders
again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to curse, and he swore an
oath, “I do not know this man you are talking about.” 72 At that moment the cock crowed for the
second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock
crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.]
15:1 As soon
as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and
scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over
to Pilate. 2 Pilate asked him, “Are
you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” 3 Then the chief priests accused him of many
things. 4 Pilate asked him again,
“Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus made no further reply, so that
Pilate was amazed. 6 Now at the
festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. 7 Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with
the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. 8 So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to
do for them according to his custom. 9 Then
he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he realized that it was out of jealousy
that the chief priests had handed him over. 11 But
the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them
instead. 12 Pilate spoke to them
again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the
Jews?” 13 They shouted back, “Crucify
him!” 14 Pilate asked them, “Why,
what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd,
released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be
crucified. 16 Then the soldiers led
him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters);
and they called together the whole cohort. 17 And
they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a
crown, they put it on him. 18 And
they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and
knelt down in homage to him. 20 After
mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on
him. Then they led him out to crucify him. 21 They
compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross;
it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. 22 Then they brought Jesus to the place called
Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). [The people stand] 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh;
but he did not take it. 24 And they
crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what
each should take. 25 It was nine o’clock
in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The
inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two bandits,
one on his right and one on his left. 29 Those
who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would
destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30
save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 In the same way the chief priests, along
with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved
others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let
the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may
see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him. 33 When it was noon, darkness came over the
whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 At
three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”
which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they
said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” 36 And
someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to
him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him
down.” 37 Then Jesus gave a loud
cry and breathed his last. [Silence is kept.] 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in
two, from top to bottom. 39 Now
when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his
last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
[40 There were also women looking
on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of
James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 These
used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were
many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. 42 When evening had come, and since it was the
day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of
the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God,
went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Then Pilate wondered if he were already
dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for
some time. 45 When he learned from
the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and
taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that
had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the
tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary
the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.]
The Scripture quotations (except
for the psalm) are from the New Revised
Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian
Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. The Collect of the Day and the Psalm
translation are from The Book of Common
Prayer. This format copyright © 2021,
Epiphany ESources, 67 E. Main St., Hornell, NY 14843, www.epiphanyesources.com. All
rights reserved. Permission is given to
copy for group study.
No comments:
Post a Comment