Commuter Bible NT John Ross

On today’s episode, Jesus is crucified on the cross, fulfilling the Scriptures concerning the suffering servant. Though there isn’t enough time to cover every instance, we can quickly say that Jesus was the fulfillment of Isaiah 53, for he was “despised and rejected by men” and “a man of suffering.” He is the one who “bore our sicknesses and carried our pains.” He is the one who “was pierced because of our rebellion” and “crushed because of our iniquities.” Furthermore, “he was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth.” At the cross, we see, not only a pivotal point in gospel of Mark, but a turning point in God’s redemption of mankind.”

Christ has just celebrated the Passover with his disciples and now they are in a garden named Gethsemane. Other gospels tell us that this had been their pattern over the last few days, so Judas knew where they would be. When Judas arrives he kisses Jesus to identify the man they are to arrest. The mob comes wielding an assortment of weapons, and a certain young man (probably Matthew himself) is so scared that he ducks out of his clothing in order to escape their grasp. Jesus is taken to the Jewish high counsel known as the Sanhedrin where he is tried for blasphemy. It is there that Peter denies his Lord as Christ had predicted.

Jesus has a massive following, so much so that when he arrived in Jerusalem people shouted his praise as he entered. The chief priests and the scribes have been rebuked by this new teacher time and again, and are actively looking for a way to murder Jesus to put an end to this growing movement. Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 chosen from among the disciples to be an apostle, decides to betray Jesus to these men. While Judas is plotting evil, Christ celebrates the Passover with the twelve. He breaks the unleavened bread and takes the cup, saying that they are his body and his blood. Finally, Christ predicts that Peter will deny him three times.

Jesus is in Jerusalem and the Passover is drawing near, after which, we know that Jesus is falsely accused of blasphemy, mocked, beaten, sentenced death, and unjustly executed on the cross. Before that time arrives, Jesus has much to say to his disciples about the end of days and the endurance required to be a disciple. Persecutions will increase, as will false messiahs. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the words of Jesus will never pass away. Finally, no one knows the day or the hour when the end will come, therefore, his disciples should stay alert.

Today's reading opens with a parable that addresses the Pharisees. In the parable of the vineyard owner, farmhands rebel against the owner of the land they are working on. They reject anyone sent by the owner and refuse to give the owner any of the produce of the field. Time and again they reject and even kill the messengers sent to them and when the son of the vineyard owner comes they plot to kill him so that they might take the vineyard for themselves. Later, those view themselves as authorities in matters of theology pepper Jesus with questions about taxes, the resurrection, and the greatest commandment. Christ answers every question deftly and the crowds listen to him with delight.

Jesus enters Jerusalem and is welcomed heartily with fanfare, cheers, and expectation. Many had concluded rightly that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but had concluded wrongly that Jesus would a conquering king in the traditional sense. They assumed that Jesus had come to take the throne of Israel in a limited, earthly sense, like kings that had come before him. Christ, however, came to vanquish sin and death, not the Roman government. When he enters the temple he rebukes those who use the worship of God as a money-making venture. The chief priests, scribes, and elders challenge the authority of Jesus, but calls their bluff by revealing that fear people more than they fear God.