When I was a child, one of my favorite holidays was the 4th of July. The whole family would gather and walk to downtown Orlando to watch the fireworks. Like most kids I loved the fireworks and the bbq, but there was something different about his day compared to say thanksgiving or labor day. There was a seriousness that came over the adults in my family. Later I realized it was in part because of the history of my family.

My Grand-mother was a refugee from Latvia after WW2. And she was naturalized as a US citizen in the mid 70’s. The 4th of July represented all that she’d come through, all that she'd endured. Regardless of the complicated history of the United States, that day reminded her of what she escaped.

Today’s passage features a secret gathering for the sacred passover meal. This was Israel’s independence day commemoration, eaten every year throughout every generation to remember God’s rescue from Egypt. Except this year Jewish people found themselves again holding this meal under Roman occupation, and the false Kingship of Herod. Some wanted a revolution, some wanted appeasement. Jesus was calling people to a different way altogether. And he stands up on this night of nights, at this meal of meals, as hearts and minds are reflecting on the God’s liberation from Pharaoh, Jesus tells his disciples that there will indeed be a new passover, but he places himself as the lamb that will be slain.

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1. What word or phase struck you from this passage?

2. How does this passage connect to the greater narrative of scripture?

3. How does this passage, in light of the whole context of Mark so far, expand or deepen your understanding of what Jesus accomplished on the cross?

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