Mark 14 - Actors in the drama of the Cross

Cross has always been the focal point of Christianity.

Because of the importance of the cross...

It is previewed consistently throughout the Bible..

It is previewed moments after the fall, for the offspring of the woman would come and crush Satan’s head

It is previewed in Able’s acceptable sacrifice

It is previewed in the ark that saved 8 souls

It is seen in the ram in place of Issac on Mount Moriah

It is in view in the passover lambs who protected Israel from the Death Angel (judgement)

It is portrayed in the smitten rock that gave forth water in the wilderness to the thirsty people

The cross is displayed as the serpent lifted up in the wilderness to save the people

The cross is seen in the action of Boaz the kindred redeemer

The cross is anticipated in all Levitical sacrifices

The cross is explicitly prophesied in

Psalms 22

Isaiah 53

Zechariah 12

John the Baptist said behold “The lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”.

John in Revelation 13:8 he says the “lamb” slain before the foundation of the world.

Jesus had spoken of his death four times in the Gospel of Mark...

Being mistreated (Mark 8:31)

Being arrested in Jerusalem (Mark 9:31)

Being killed (Mark 12:7)

Arising the 3rd day, parable form (Mark 10:33)

Setting: Wednesday Night

End of Mark 13, he’s taught them about his 2nd coming and his coming kingdom...

Meanwhile, the religious leaders are planning his murder.

Mark 14:1 opens, “Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away”....that is not an insignificant statement...

It is the purpose of God, on AD 30 on the 14th of the Month Nisan …and the hour when the passover lambs were being slaughtered Jesus would die.

Most biblical scholars put it around 3pm on Friday.

Mark 14

There were three main Feaster

Feasts of Pentecosts

Feasts of Booths

Feasts of Unleavened Bread - it was 7 days long, commemorated unleavened bread in Exodus12:15-20. It was held Nisan 15-21.

God’s purpose was to have Jesus celebrate Passover with his disciples.

Many times his enemies wanted to kill him but were unable to ..

His life was sought by Herod when he was a baby and he had all of the male children killed who were two and under (Matt 2:13-15)

Early in his ministry he was preaching in the synagogue and they wanted to throw him off a cliff (Luke 4) because his teaching offended them

Jesus healed a crippled man near the pool of Bethsaida on the sabbath.

The temple police were sent to kill him in John 7