14.1-11 Discussion Prompts

Introduction

• This story introduces the final few days of Jesus’ human life. Glance ahead through chapters 14-16.8 to get an idea of how Mark finishes his account of the good news of Jesus’ kingdom.

 

The Text: Mark 14.1-1 Pages 33.13-34.5

• Read the text aloud to each other.

 

Discussion Questions:

• Spend some time just observing – who, what , when, where, connections, contrasts...
• Discuss your initial reactions to this story. Why do you think Mark chooses this story to introduce us to the last three days of Jesus’ human life?
• Discuss each main character in this story and what we discover about them their character:
• Chief priests and scribes
• Simon the Leper
• The unnamed woman
• Some indignant observers
• Jesus
• Judas
• Discuss the similarities between this woman’s act and what Jesus will do on the cross just three days after this story.
• Why does Jesus call this woman’s wasteful gift ‘a beautiful thing she has done for me’?
• Why does Jesus say that this woman’s act will be retold ‘wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world’?
• What is it about this story that finally pushes Judas over the edge into intentional betrayal?  

Application reflections

• Does God the Father think Jesus’ pouring out his life as something beautiful? Why or why not?
• What is more important: doing acts of righteousness or costly, personal worship of Jesus?

Pray