The Passion Week – Lesson #4

Day 5 – Jesus is Anointed /Jesus Withers the Fig Tree

2 days before the Passover

Monday Night 

Events:

Jesus is Bethany at the house of Simon the Leper. Mark 14:3

“And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.” Matt 21:17

“When evening came, they went out of the city.” Mark 11:19

 A woman breaks open a jar of expensive perfume and pours oil on Jesus’ head 

 There is no mention here of Jesus’ feet, or Mary’s hair or tears as in John 12:1 or Luke 7:36-50.

Judas has enough and goes to the Chief priests.  He is promised 30 pieces of silver and watches for chance to hand him over.

Chronology

“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “As you know, the Passover is two days away – and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” Matt 26:1-2

“Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away…” Mark 14:1

“Now the feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.”  Luke 22:1

If this is Tuesday, the 2 days includes Tuesday and Wednesday.  The Passover referred to here is the official Passover meal at twilight on Wednesday evening. Wednesday evening ends the 2nd day and begins a 3rd day. 

If our chronology to this point is correct, both Matthew and Mark flash back to the story of the anointing Monday evening after reporting the events and teachings of Tuesday morning and afternoon. The language “while” seems to allow for this. 

Text Comparison: (Mark 14:1-10, Matt 26:6-16)

Mark 14:1-11 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. "But not during the Feast," they said, "or the people may riot."

Luke 22:1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.

Flashback to the Night Before

Matthew 26:6-13 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 

Mark - While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

Matthew - When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.

Mark - Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 

Matthew - When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." 

Mark - She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

Matthew - Then one of the Twelve-- the one called Judas Iscariot-- went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. 

Mark - Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Luke - Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Tuesday Morning: Jesus Curses the Fig Tree (Again?)

Events:  In the morning on the way back to Jerusalem…

“Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.  Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it, but found nothing on it except leaves.  Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.” Matt 21:19

Jesus invokes a slightly different curse here than in Mark 11:12.  

The disciples are amazed at the speed, in fact it is point of their inquiry.

“’How did the fig tree wither so quickly?’ they asked.”

“In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.  Peter remembered.” (Mark 11:12) 

“…and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look!  The fig tree you cursed has withered!” Mark 11:20 

Analysis:  There must have been two different curses because allowing only one creates timing conflicts.  Consider a real-life scenario such as the following: 

A straggling group of disciples including Peter miss Tuesday’s actual “withering” event but note the tree when they walk up and remember the curse of the day before. 

We imagine that the disciples always stayed together and traveled together but this is not real life.  There were hundreds of disciples, not just the twelve.  It is possible Peter and some others straggling behind walked up in a separate group only after the second curse has finished off the fig tree. This would account for the two perspectives.

As you know, the Passover is two days away and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.  Matt 26:2 

Text Comparison: (Matt 21:18-26:5, Luke 22:7-13)

Matthew 21:18 -Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.  Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked.  Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Mark - In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."