The Passion and Death of Jesus according to Mark
The final defeat as a new call
Mark 14,1 - 15,47

1. Opening prayer

Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to help us to read the Scriptures with the same mind that you read them to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. In the light of the Word, written in the Bible, you helped them to discover the presence of God in the disturbing events of your sentence and death. Thus, the cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for them the source of life and of resurrection.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.

2. A reading of the Passion and Death of Jesus according to Mark

a) A key to the reading:

Generally, when we read the story of the passion and death, we look at Jesus and the suffering he had to endure. But it is worthwhile, at least once, to also look at the disciples and see how they reacted to the cross and how the cross impacted on their lives, for the cross is the measure for comparison!
Mark writes for the communities of the 70’s. Many of these communities, whether in Italy or Syria, were going through their own passion. They were faced with the cross in many ways. They had been persecuted at the time of Nero in the 60’s and many had died devoured by wild beasts. Others had betrayed, denied or abandoned their faith in Jesus, like Peter, Judas and other disciples. Others asked themselves: “Can I bear persecution?” Others were tired after persevering through many trials without any results. Among those who had abandoned their faith, some asked themselves whether it was possible to rejoin the community. They wanted to start their journey again, but did not know if it was possible to rejoin. A cut branch has no roots! They all needed new and strong reasons to restart their journey. They were in need of a renewed experience of the love of God, one that surpassed their human errors. Where could they find this?
For them, as for us, the answer is in chapters 14 to 16 of Mark’s Gospel, which describe the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, the time of the greatest defeat of the disciples and, in an hidden way, their greatest hope. Let us look into the mirror of these chapters to see how the disciples reacted to the Cross and how Jesus reacts to the infidelity and weaknesses of the disciples. Let us try to discover how Mark encourages the faith of the community and how he describes the one who is truly a disciple of Jesus.

b) Looking into the mirror of the Passion to know how to be a faithful disciple

* Mark 14:1-9: Introduction to the story of the passion and death of Jesus

1 It was two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by some trick and have him put to death. 2 For they said, 'It must not be during the festivities, or there will be a disturbance among the people.' 3 He was at Bethany in the house of Simon, a man who had suffered from a virulent skin-disease; he was at table when a woman came in with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the ointment on his head. 4 Some who were there said to one another indignantly, 'Why this waste of ointment? 5 Ointment like this could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor'; and they were angry with her. 6 But Jesus said, 'Leave her alone. Why are you upsetting her? What she has done for me is a good work. 7 You have the poor with you always, and you can be kind 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 In truth I tell you, wherever throughout all the world the gospel is proclaimed, what she has done will be told as well, in remembrance of her.'

Mark 14:1-2: The conspiracy against Jesus.
At the end of his missionary activity, Jesus goes to Jerusalem and is expected by those who hold power: the Priests, Elders, Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians and Romans. They control the situation.... they will not allow Jesus, a carpenter farmer from the interior of Galilee, to provoke disorder. They had already decided to put Jesus to death (Mk 11:18; 12:12). Jesus was a condemned man. Now will take place that which he himself had foretold to his disciples: “The Son of Man is destined to be put to death” (cf. Mk 8:31; 9:31; 10:33). This is the background to the story of the passion that follows.
The story of the passion will show that the true disciple who accepts to follow Jesus, the Messiah Servant, and who accepts to dedicate his or her life to the service of his or her brothers and sisters, must take up his or her cross and follow Jesus. If the story of the passion emphasises defeat and failure, this is not so as to discourage the readers. On the contrary, it is rather to stress that the welcoming and loving of Jesus is stronger than the defeat and failure of the disciples!

Mark 14:3-9: A faithful disciple.
A woman, whose name is not mentioned, anoints Jesus with an expensive perfume (Mk 14:3). The disciples criticise this gesture. They think it is a waste (Mk 14:4-5). But Jesus defends her: “Why are you upsetting her? What she has done for me is a good work… she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial” (Mk 14:6.8). In those days, those who died crucified were neither buried nor could they be embalmed. Knowing this, the woman anticipates and anoints the body of Jesus before his sentence and crucifixion. This gesture shows that she accepts Jesus as the Messiah Servant who will die on the cross. Jesus understands the gesture of the woman and approves of it. Earlier, Peter had rejected the idea of a Crucified Messiah (Mk 8:32). This anonymous woman is the faithful disciple, model for his disciples who had understood nothing. This model is for all, “throughout all the world” (Mk 14:9).

* Mark 14:10-31: The disciples’ attitude towards the Cross

10 Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, approached the chief priests with an offer to hand Jesus over to them. 11 They were delighted to hear it, and promised to give him money; and he began to look for a way of betraying him when the opportunity should occur. 12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was 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 you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, 14 and say to the owner of the house which he enters, "The Master says: Where is the room for me to eat the Passover with my disciples?" 15 He will show you a large upper room furnished with couches, all prepared. Make the preparations for us there.' 16 The disciples set out and went to the city and found everything as he had told them, and prepared the Passover. 17 When evening came he arrived with the Twelve. 18 And while they were at table eating, Jesus said, 'In truth I tell you, one of you is about to betray me, one of you eating with me.' 19 They were distressed and said to him, one after another, 'Not me, surely?' 20 He said to them, 'It is one of the Twelve, one who is dipping into the same dish with me. 21 Yes, the Son of man is going to his fate, as the scriptures say he will, but alas for that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! Better for that man if he had never been born.' 22 And as they were eating he took bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to them. 'Take it,' he said, 'this is my body.' 23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he handed it to them, and all drank from it, 24 and he said to them, 'This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, poured out for many. 25 In truth I tell you, I shall never drink wine any more until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God.' 26 After the psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, 'You will all fall away, for the scripture says: I shall strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered;
 28 however, after my resurrection I shall go before you into Galilee.' 29 Peter said, 'Even if all fall away, I will not.' 30 And Jesus said to him, 'In truth I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will have disowned me three times.' 31 But he repeated still more earnestly, 'If I have to die with you, I will never disown you.' And they all said the same.

Mark 14:10-11. Judas decides to betray Jesus.
In complete contrast with the woman, Judas, one of the twelve, decides to betray Jesus and conspires with the enemies who promise him money. Judas goes on living with Jesus, with the sole objective of finding an occasion to hand Jesus over. When Mark was writing his Gospel, there were disciples who were waiting for the right moment to leave the community that was the cause of their persecution. Or, perhaps, they were waiting for the moment to draw some advantage by handing over their companions. And we today?

Mark 14:12-16. Preparation for the Paschal Supper.
Jesus knows that he will be betrayed. But, in spite of the betrayal by a friend, he lives the Paschal Supper in a fraternal atmosphere with his disciples. He must have spent a lot of money for the hall, “the large upper room furnished with couches” (Mk 14:15), because this was the eve of Easter. The city was full of people because of the feast. It was difficult to find and reserve a place.

Mark 14:17-21. The announcement of Judas’ betrayal.
Together for the last time, Jesus announces that one of his disciples will betray him, “one of you eating with me!” (Mk 14:18). This manner of speaking by Mark emphasises the contrast. For Jews, eating together, the sharing of the table, was the greatest expression of intimacy and trust. Thus, in three lines, Mark conveys the following message to his readers: the betrayal will take place at the hands of a close friend, but the love of Jesus is greater than the betrayal!

Mark 14:22-25. The Eucharist, the celebration of the Paschal Supper.
During the celebration, Jesus shares something. He shares bread and wine, an expression of the giving of himself and invites his friends to take his body and his blood. The Evangelist places this gesture of giving (Mk 14:22-25) between the announcement of the betrayal (Mk 14:17-21) and the flight and the denial (Mk 14:26-31). Thus, he emphasises the contrast between the gesture of Jesus and that of the disciples, he brings out for the community of his time and for all of us the immense gratuitousness of the love of Jesus that overcomes the betrayal, the denial and the flight of his friends.

Mark 14:26-28. The announcement of the flight of all.
After supper, as he was on his way with the disciples to the mount of Olives, Jesus announces that they would all abandon him. They will flee and disperse! But even then he says: “ After my resurrection I shall go before you into Galilee!” (Mk 14:28) They fall away from Jesus, but Jesus does not fall away from them. He goes on waiting for them in the same place, in Galilee, where three years before he had first called them. The certainty of the presence of Jesus in the life of a disciple is stronger than abandonment or flight! It is always possible to come back.

Mark 14:29-31. The announcement of Peter’s denial.
Simon, called Cephas (rock), is anything but rock. He already had been “a stumbling block” (Mt 16:23) and Satan for Jesus (Mk 8:33), and now he pretends to be the most faithful disciple of all. “Even if all fall away, I will not!” (Mk 14:29). But Jesus says: Peter, you will be the first to deny me, even before cockcrow!

* Mark 14:32-52: The attitude of the disciples in the Garden of Olives

32 They came to a plot of land called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Stay here while I pray.' 33 Then he took Peter and James and John with him. 34 And he began to feel terror and anguish. And he said to them, 'My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here, and stay awake.' 35 And going on a little further he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, this hour might pass him by. 36 'Abba, Father!' he said, 'For you everything is possible. Take this cup away from me. But let it be as you, not I, would have it.' 37 He came back and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, 'Simon, are you asleep? Had you not the strength to stay awake one hour? 38 Stay awake and pray not to be put to the test. The spirit is willing enough, but human nature is weak.' 39 Again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And once more he came back and found them sleeping, their eyes were so heavy; and they could find no answer for him. 41 He came back a third time and said to them, 'You can sleep on now and have your rest. It is all over. The hour has come. Now the Son of man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up! Let us go! My betrayer is not far away.' 43 And at once, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up and with him a number of men armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the traitor had arranged a signal with them saying, 'The one I kiss, he is the man. Arrest him, and see he is well guarded when you lead him away.' 45 So when the traitor came, he went up to Jesus at once and said, 'Rabbi!' and kissed him. 46 The others seized him and arrested him. 47 Then one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck out at the high priest's servant and cut off his ear. 48 Then Jesus spoke. 'Am I a bandit,' he said, 'that you had to set out to capture me with swords and clubs? 49 I was among you teaching in the Temple day after day and you never laid a hand on me. But this is to fulfil the scriptures.' 50 And they all deserted him and ran away. 51 A young man followed with nothing on but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, 52 but he left the cloth in their hands and ran away naked.

Mark 14:32-42. The attitude of the disciples during Jesus’ agony.
In the Garden, Jesus begins his agony and asks Peter, James and John to pray for him. He is sad and begins to be afraid, He seeks the support of his friends. But they fall asleep. They are not able to watch an hour with him. And this three times! Again, we see an immense contrast between the attitude of Jesus and that of the three disciples! It is here in the Garden and at the time of the agony of Jesus that the courage of the disciples disintegrates. There is nothing left!

Mark 14:43-52. The attitude of the disciples when Jesus was arrested
When night fell, the soldiers led by Judas come. The kiss, a sign of friendship and love, becomes the sign of betrayal. Judas lacks the courage to face his betrayal. He hides it! During his arrest, Jesus stays calm, master of the situation. He tries to read the meaning of what is happening: “This is to fulfil the scriptures!” (Mk 14:49) But all the disciples left him and fled (Mk 14:50). No one stayed. Jesus was alone!

* Mark 14:53-15,20: The trial: different conflicting views of the Messiah.

53 They led Jesus off to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes assembled there. 54 Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the high priest's palace, and was sitting with the attendants warming himself at the fire. 55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus in order to have him executed. But they could not find any. 56 Several, indeed, brought false witness against him, but their evidence was conflicting. 57 Some stood up and submitted this false evidence against him, 58 'We heard him say, "I am going to destroy this Temple made by human hands, and in three days build another, not made by human hands." ' 59 But even on this point their evidence was conflicting. 60 The high priest then rose before the whole assembly and put this question to Jesus, 'Have you no answer to that? What is this evidence these men are bringing against you?' 61 But he was silent and made no answer at all. The high priest put a second question to him saying, 'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?' 62 'I am,' said Jesus, 'and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.' 63 The high priest tore his robes and said, 'What need of witnesses have we now? 64 You heard the blasphemy. What is your finding?' Their verdict was unanimous: he deserved to die. 65 Some of them started spitting at his face, hitting him and saying, 'Play the prophet!' And the attendants struck him too. 66 While Peter was down below in the courtyard, one of the high priest's servant-girls came up. 67 She saw Peter warming himself there, looked closely at him and said, 'You too were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.' 68 But he denied it. 'I do not know, I do not understand what you are talking about,' he said. And he went out into the forecourt, and a cock crowed. 69 The servant-girl saw him and again started telling the bystanders, 'This man is one of them.' 70 But again he denied it. A little later the bystanders themselves said to Peter, 'You are certainly one of them! Why, you are a Galilean.' 71 But he started cursing and swearing, 'I do not know the man you speak of.' 72 And at once the cock crowed for the second time, and Peter recalled what Jesus had said to him, 'Before the cock crows twice, you will have disowned me three times.' And he burst into tears.

15:1 First thing in the morning, the chief priests, together with the elders and scribes and the rest of the Sanhedrin, had their plan ready. They had Jesus bound and took him away and handed him over to Pilate. 2 Pilate put to him this question, 'Are you the king of the Jews?' He replied, 'It is you who say it.' 3 And the chief priests brought many accusations against him. 4 Pilate questioned him again, 'Have you no reply at all? See how many accusations they are bringing against you!' 5 But, to Pilate's surprise, Jesus made no further reply. 6 At festival time Pilate used to release a prisoner for them, any one they asked for. 7 Now a man called Barabbas was then in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the uprising. 8 When the crowd went up and began to ask Pilate the customary favour, 9 Pilate answered them, 'Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?' 10 For he realised it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over. 11 The chief priests, however, had incited the crowd to demand that he should release Barabbas for them instead. 12 Then Pilate spoke again, 'But in that case, what am I to do with the man you call king of the Jews?' 13 They shouted back, 'Crucify him!' 14 Pilate asked them, 'What harm has he done?' But they shouted all the louder, 'Crucify him!' 15 So Pilate, anxious to placate the crowd, released Barabbas for them and, after having Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified. 16 The soldiers led him away to the inner part of the palace, that is, the Praetorium, and called the whole cohort together. 17 They dressed him up in purple, twisted some thorns into a crown and put it on him. 18 And they began saluting him, 'Hail, king of the Jews!' 19 They struck his head with a reed and spat on him; and they went down on their knees to do him homage. 20 And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the purple and dressed him in his own clothes. They led him out to crucify him.

Mark 14:53-65. Jesus is condemned by the Supreme Court
Jesus is led before the court of the High Priests, of the Elders and the Scribes, called the Sanhedrin. False accusations were made against him. He keeps quiet. Without any defence, he is handed over to his enemies. He thus fulfils what Isaiah said about the Servant Messiah, who was taken prisoner, judged and condemned like a lamb he never opened his mouth (cf. Is 53:6-8). When interrogated, Jesus accepts the fact that he is the Messiah: “I am!”, but he accepts this under the title of Son of Man (Mk 14:62). Finally he is slapped by people who laugh at him calling him Messiah Prophet (Mk 14:65).

Mark 14:66-72. Peter’s denial.
Peter is recognised by a servant girl as one of those who was in the Garden. Peter denies this. He denies this swearing and cursing. Not even this time is he capable of accepting Jesus as Messiah Servant who gives his life for others. But when the cock crows for the second time, he remembers the words of Jesus and begins to cry. This is what happens to those who are close to people but whose head is lost in the ideology of the Herodians and the Pharisees. This was probably the situation of many in the communities of the time when Mark was writing his Gospel. And we today?

Mark 15:1-20. Jesus is sentenced by the Roman powers
The trial goes on. Jesus is handed over to the Roman powers and accused of being Messiah King (Mk 15:2; cf. Mc 15, 25). Others suggest the alternative of Barabbas, “in prison with the rebels” (Mk 15:7). They see Jesus as an anti-Roman Warring Messiah. After he is sentenced, they spit on Jesus, but he will not open his mouth. Here again we see the Messiah Servant announced by Isaiah (cf Is 50: 6-8).

* Mark 15:21-39: Before the Cross of Jesus on Calvary

21 They enlisted a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull. 23 They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he refused it. 24 Then they crucified him, and shared out his clothing, casting lots to decide what each should get. 25 It was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 The inscription giving the charge against him read, 'The King of the Jews'. 27 And they crucified two bandits with him, one on his right and one on his left. 28 29 The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads and said, 'Aha! So you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! 30 Then save yourself; come down from the cross!' 31 The chief priests and the scribes mocked him among themselves in the same way with the words, 'He saved others, he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, for us to see it and believe.' Even those who were crucified with him taunted him. 33 When the sixth hour came there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani?' which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' 35 When some of those who stood by heard this, they said, 'Listen, he is calling on Elijah.' 36 Someone ran and soaked a sponge in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink saying, 'Wait! And see if Elijah will come to take him down.' 37 But Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the veil of the Sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 The centurion, who was standing in front of him, had seen how he had died, and he said, 'In truth this man was Son of God.'

Mark 15:21-22. Simon carries the cross
As Jesus was being led to the place of crucifixion, Simon of Cyrene, the father of a family, was forced to carry the Cross. Simon is the ideal disciple who walks along the way that Jesus walks. He literally carries the cross behind Jesus up to Calvary.

Mark 15:23-32. The crucifixion.
Jesus is crucified as one marginalized, between two thieves. Again, the Gospel of Mark recalls the image of the Messiah Servant, of whom Isaiah says: “He was given a grave with the wicked” (Is 53:9). The crime ascribed to him is “King of the Jews!” (Mk 15:25) The religious authorities ridicule and insult Jesus and say: “come down from the cross now, for us to see and believe!” (Mk 15:32). They are like Peter. They would accept Christ as Messiah, if he came down from the cross. As the hymn says: “They wanted a great king who would be strong, dominating, and for this they did not believe in him and killed the Saviour”.

Mark 15:33-39. Jesus’ death.
Abandoned by everyone, Jesus lets out a great cry and dies. The centurion, a pagan, who was keeping guard, makes a solemn profession of faith: “In truth this man was Son of God!” A pagan discovers and accepts what the disciples were not able to discover and accept, that is to see the presence of the Son of God in this tortured, excluded and crucified human being. Like the anonymous woman at the beginning of these two chapters (Mk 14:3-9), so at the end there appears another model disciple, the centurion, a pagan!

* Mark 15:40-16:8: At the sepulchre of Jesus

40 There were some women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary who was the mother of James the younger and Joset, and Salome. 41 These used to follow him and look after him when he was in Galilee. And many other women were there who had come up to Jerusalem with him. 42 It was now evening, and since it was Preparation Day -- that is, the day before the Sabbath - 43 there came Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent member of the Council, who himself lived in the hope of seeing the kingdom of God, and he boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate, astonished that he should have died so soon, summoned the centurion and enquired if he had been dead for some time. 45 Having been assured of this by the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph 46 who bought a shroud, took Jesus down from the cross, wrapped him in the shroud and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. 47 Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Joset took note of where he was laid.

16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices with which to go and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 They had been saying to one another, 'Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?' 4 But when they looked they saw that the stone -- which was very big -- had already been rolled back. 5 On entering the tomb they saw a young man in a white robe seated on the right-hand side, and they were struck with amazement. 6 But he said to them, 'There is no need to be so amazed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: he has risen, he is not here. See, here is the place where they laid him. 7 But you must go and tell his disciples and Peter, "He is going ahead of you to Galilee; that is where you will see him, just as he told you." ' 8 And the women came out and ran away from the tomb because they were frightened out of their wits; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Mark 15:40-47. The burial of Jesus
A group of women watch from a distance: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome. They do not run away. They remain faithful to the end. They witness the death of Jesus. It is from this little group that the new announcement on Easter Sunday will come. They go with Joseph of Arimathaea who has asked permission to bury Jesus. After that, two of them, Magdalene and Mary, stay near the closed sepulchre. They also witness the burial of Jesus.

Mark 16:1-8. The announcement of the resurrection
The first day of the week, early in the morning, these same women go to embalm the body of Jesus. They find the sepulchre open. They are witnesses of the resurrection. An angel says to them that Jesus is risen and gives them an order: “go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; that is where you will see him, just as he told you’” (Mk 16:7). In Galilee, on the shores of the lake, where everything had begun, there also everything will begin again. It is Jesus who invites! He will not give up, not even in the face of the abandonment of his disciples! He calls again! He always calls!

c) The final failure as a new call to be disciple

This is the story of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus seen from the point of view of the disciples. The frequency with which this story speaks of the incomprehension and failure of the disciples, most probably corresponds to a historical fact. But the main interest of the Evangelist is not to tell that which took place in the past, rather he wants to provoke a conversion in the Christians of his time and to arouse in them and us a new hope, capable of overcoming discouragement and death. There are three things that stand out and need to be considered deeply:

i) The failure of those chosen: The twelve who were specially called and chosen by Jesus (Mk 3:13-19) and sent in mission by him (Mk 16:7-13), fail. Fail completely. Judas betrays, Peter denies, all run away, no one stays. Total dispersion! Seemingly, there is not much difference between them and the authorities who decree the death of Jesus. Like Peter, they too want to eliminate the cross and want a glorious Messiah, king, blessed son of God. But there is one deep and real difference! The disciples, in spite of all their faults and weaknesses, hold no malice. They do not have any evil intention. They are an almost faithful replica of all of us who walk the way of Jesus, falling all the time but always getting up again!

ii) Fidelity of those not chosen: As a counterpoint to the failure of some, the strength of faith of others is presented, those who were not part of the chosen twelve: 1. An anonymous woman from Bethania. She accepted Jesus as Messiah Servant and, thus, she anoints him in anticipation of his burial. Jesus praises her. She is a model for all. 2. Simon of Cyrene, father of a family. He is forced by the soldiers to do that which Jesus had asked of the twelve who ran away. He carries the cross behind Jesus to Calvary. 3. The centurion, a pagan. At the moment of death, he makes his profession of faith and recognises the Son of God in the tortured and crucified man, one cursed according to Jewish law. 4. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome, “and many other women were there who had come up to Jerusalem with him” (Mk 15:41). They did not abandon Jesus, but determinedly stayed at the foot of the cross and close to the tomb of Jesus. 5. Joseph of Arimathaea, a member of the Sanhedrin, who risked everything by asking for the body of Jesus to bury him. The twelve failed. The continuation of the message of the Kingdom did not pass through them, but through others, particularly the women, who will be given a clear order to go call back those failed men (Mk 16:7). And today, through whom does the message pass on?

iii) The attitude of Jesus: The manner in which the Gospel of Mark presents the attitude of Jesus during the telling of the passion is meant to give hope even to the most discouraged and failed of the disciples! Because no matter how great the betrayal of the Twelve was, the love of Jesus was always greater! When Jesus announces that the disciples will run away, he already tells them that he will wait for them in Galilee. Even though he knew of the betrayal (Mk 1418), the denial (Mk 14:30) the flight (Mk 14:27), he goes on with the gesture of the Eucharist. And on the morning of Easter, the angel, through the women, sends a message to Peter who had denied him, and to all the others who had fled, that they must go to Galilee. The place where everything had begun is the place where everything will begin again. The failure of the twelve does not bring about a break in the covenant signed and sealed in the blood of Jesus.

d) The model of the disciple: Follow, Service, Go up

Mark emphasises the presence of the women who follow and serve Jesus from the time he was in Galilee and who go up to Jerusalem with him (Mk 15:40-41). Mark uses three words to define the relationship of the women with Jesus: Follow! Serve! Go up! They "followed and looked after" Jesus and together with many other women “went up with him to Jerusalem" (Mk 15:41). These are the three words that define an ideal disciple. They are the models for the other disciples who had fled!
* Follow describes the call of Jesus and the decision to follow him (Mk 1:18). This decision implies leaving everything and running the risk of being killed (Mk 8:34; 10:28).
* Serve says that they are true disciples, for service is the characteristic of the disciple and of Jesus himself (Mk 10:42-45).
* Go up says that they are qualified witnesses of the death and resurrection of Jesus, because as disciples they will go with him from Galilee to Jerusalem (Acts 13:31).
Having witnessed the resurrection of Jesus, they will also witness to what they have seen and experienced. It is the experience of our baptism. "So, by our baptism into his death we were buried with him, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glorious power, we too should begin living a new life" (Rm 6:4). Through baptism, we all share in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

3. An aid to reflection

i) What touched me most in the attitude of the twelve apostles and in the attitude of the women during the passion and death of Jesus? What would you have done were you present? Would you have acted like the men or the women?
ii) What touched you most in the attitude of Jesus concerning his disciples in the narration of his passion and death? Why?
iii) What is the special message of the narration of the passion and death in Mark’s Gospel? Have you worked out the differences between the narration of the passion and death in the Gospel of Mark and that in the other Gospels? What are these differences?

4. Prayer of a Psalm: Psalm 22 (21)

The Psalm that Jesus prayed on the Cross

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
The words of my groaning do nothing to save me.
My God, I call by day but you do not answer, at night,
but I find no respite.

Yet you, the Holy One,
who make your home in the praises of Israel,
in you our ancestors put their trust,
they trusted and you set them free.
To you they called for help and were delivered;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

But I am a worm, less than human,
scorn of mankind, contempt of the people;
all who see me jeer at me,
they sneer and wag their heads,
'He trusted himself to Yahweh,
let Yahweh set him free!
Let him deliver him,
as he took such delight in him.'

It was you who drew me from the womb
and soothed me on my mother's breast.
On you was I cast from my birth,
from the womb I have belonged to you.
Do not hold aloof,
for trouble is upon me,
and no one to help me!

Many bulls are encircling me,
wild bulls of Bashan closing in on me.
Lions ravening and roaring open their jaws at me.
My strength is trickling away,
my bones are all disjointed,
my heart has turned to wax,
melting inside me.
My mouth is dry as earthenware,
my tongue sticks to my jaw.
You lay me down in the dust of death.

A pack of dogs surrounds me,
a gang of villains closing in on me
as if to hack off my hands and my feet.
I can count every one of my bones,
while they look on and gloat;
they divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.

Yahweh, do not hold aloof!
My strength, come quickly to my help,
rescue my soul from the sword,
the one life I have from the grasp of the dog!
Save me from the lion's mouth,
my poor life from the wild bulls' horns!
I shall proclaim your name to my brothers,
praise you in full assembly:

'You who fear Yahweh, praise him!
All the race of Jacob, honour him!
Revere him, all the race of Israel!'
For he has not despised
nor disregarded the poverty of the poor,
has not turned away his face,
but has listened to the cry for help.

Of you is my praise in the thronged assembly,
I will perform my vows before all who fear him.
The poor will eat and be filled,
those who seek Yahweh will praise him,
'May your heart live for ever.'
The whole wide world will remember
and return to Yahweh,
all the families of nations bow down before him.
For to Yahweh,
ruler of the nations,
belongs kingly power!

All who prosper on earth will bow before him,
all who go down to the dust will do reverence before him.
And those who are dead,
their descendants will serve him,
will proclaim his name to generations
still to come;
and these will tell of his saving justice
to a people yet unborn: he has fulfilled it.

5. Final Prayer

Lord Jesus, we thank for the word that has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice that which your Word has revealed to us. May we, like Mary, your mother, not only listen to but also practice the Word. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

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Last revised: 27 March 2006