Describe and explain the use of Old Testament Prophesies and allusions in Marks Passion Narrative.
Describe and explain the use of Old Testament Prophesies and allusions in Marks Passion Narrative.
Jesus being a teacher and a man born into the Judaic religion and culture would have known the Old Testament passages well. So if and when his life was echoing them Jesus would have known. As it happens through Jesus life ands especially his passion many Old Testament prophesies and allusions arise. Was this coincidence? Or was it fulfilment of prophecy?
As soon as the passion starts at Mark 14 there is an Old Testament link with Passover, this link echoes themes of atonement for sin and sacrifice within marks gospel. This soon moves on to the anointing at Bethany where a woman symbolically anoints Jesus with very expensive perfume and the disciples scold her saying she is wasteful. Jesus knows this woman is anointing him as the king (1 Sam 16:13) she believes he is and so Jesus defends her by saying that that action of love was more important than that of financial cost (Mk 14:6-9). This Old Testament allusion of anointing kings turns into a two sided symbol because in Judaism bodies are anointed when they are dead. This passage is also a passion prediction.
The narrative then moves on to the Last Supper. Jesus foretells his own betrayal (Mk 14:17-18) as predicted in Ps 49:1. This link with Old Testament scripture shows that Jesus knows his fate and even expects Judas to betray him. Jesus even quotes Old Testament himself (Mk 14:21).The additional detail about eating with the one who betrays him (“one who is eating with me”) makes the treachery even worse and emphasises the Old Testament Link. However, Jesus knows Judas is a vehicle to act out Gods divine plan. After this Jesus took the bread and broke it and gave it to the disciples offering it as his body. Then he took the cup and offered it to the disciples and they drank. Jesus said "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many”. This is clearly an Old Testament link relating to the covenant of Moses (Exod 24:8) where Moses sprinkles the blood of the sacrificial animal on Israel. The ‘poured out for many’ alludes to Isa 53:12 (suffering servant passage). The two Old Testament allusions characterise Jesus death as a sacrifice for others and marks the commencement of a new covenant sealed in Jesus’ blood.
