by Donald Senior, C.P.

Mark's Gospel is noted for its manner of framing a key scene with two other related stories. That takes place in the next portion of the passion story: Jesus' words over the bread and wine are framed by his predictions of Judas' betrayal and Peter's and the rest of the disciples' failure. Once again Mark's dual focus on christology and discipleship--so characteristic of his gospel--are in evidence. Celebration of the Passover is the setting for all of these stories. Israel's great pilgrimage feast commemorated the exodus from the Egypt, God's act of liberating love that was basis of Israel's hope. So the gospel highlights the fact that Jesus' encounter with death, a death that would liberate others, was entwined with Passover.

Mark uses the bare ritual of the Passover meal to proclaim in Jesus' own words the meaning of the passion. Jesus takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, gives it to his disciples saying, "This is my body" and then he takes a cup, once again offers thanks, gives it to the disciples, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many..."

Here was the inner meaning of every act of Jesus' ministry which Mark had narrated earlier in the gospel: Jesus' compassionate healing, his befriending of those left on the margins, his forceful teaching, his confrontations with evil, his feeding of the hungry crowds. All of this was a life given for the others, all of this was ''bread broken" and ''blood...shed for many". Such was the spirit of his mission that would ultimately end in triumph and such was the mission the disciples were called to carry out. But there was a long road ahead and much pain and conversion of heart before they would be ready. And so Jesus' solemn words and eloquent gestures at the supper are framed with his predictions that Judas Iscariot would fail tragically and the rest of his disciples would abandon him. Even Simon Peter, the first disciple to be called (1:16-20) and their leader, would publicly disown Jesus out of fear and abandon his master.

Email questions or comments about this page to Fr. Victor Hoagland, C.P. Copyright 1997, Passionist Publications, Union City, NJ USA. Passionist Publications reserves all rights to text, illustrations, and HTML.