Conflict and Argument

1
Conflict and Argument
2
The Paralysed Man (21-12)
This Means

• Jews in the time of Jesus believed that
  disease/illness was caused by
• Demons, Sin, Punishment by God

• This is why Jesus connects the mans cure to the
  forgiveness of sin.
• (v.5)

• The Jews believed that only God could forgive
  sins.

3
The Paralysed Man (21-12)

• This caused conflict because
• The teachers of the law who thought that by
  claiming to forgive sins, Jesus was committing
  blasphemy.
• This was because he was claiming to have power
  that belonged to God alone.
• Jesus says Son of Man has authority to forgive
  sins.

4
Christians Today

• Through this miracle Christians see that a
  persons sins can be forgiven.
• This forgiveness is offered through Jesus. Jesus
  has the authority from God to forgive sins.
• Christians believe that through forgiveness a
  person can become closer to God and to other
  people.
• Christians today see God as a loving God who
  would not punish people by making suffer eg
  through illness.

5
Disagreements about the Sabbath (223-36)

• Sabbath Corn (223-28)
• The story of creation and the ten commandments
  taught that the Sabbath day was holy.
• No work could be done on the Sabbath. (sowing,
  reaping, preparing food, lighting a fire.)
• The Pharisees accused Jesus and his disciples of
  breaking the Sabbath law. They had picked the
  corn and rubbed it in their hands.
• He referred to the OT hero, King David.
• V.27 human need is more important than Sabbath
  law
• V.28 Jesus as Gods representative had the
  authority to break the Sabbath law.

6
Sabbath Corn (223-28)

• This caused conflict because
• Jesus allowed his disciples to break the Sabbath
  law.
• Jesus was claiming to be equal to King David. He
  claimed the Sabbath was for man.
• Jesus is saying that Gods representatives had
  the authority to break the Sabbath law.

7
Social and Community Cohesion

• Different communities in society getting along
  with each other is very important today. At the
  time of the Gospel respecting people who
  disagreed with you was not important this is a
  more modern idea.
• Pharisees and scribes come across as heartless
  and bigoted which may be a little unfair, but is
  the way Mark presents them.

8
Social and Community Cohesion

• Arguments about the Sabbath could be applied
  today by saying religious laws should not divide
  people. Human beings are mre important than
  rituals.
• Points for discussion
• How might this story be used today to promote
  good relations between communities?
• Does this story show two views that are totally
  opposed to each other?

9
Social and Community Cohesion

• The early Christians and Jews of that time did
  not like each other. Different religions should
  respect each others views and try to get on well
  with each other. What do you think?

10
Social and Community Cohesion

• Respecting people from different religions is a
  good thing, but its silly to pretend that there
  are no differences, and that all religions are
  the same. What do you think?

11
Disagreements about the Sabbath (223-36)

• Man with a paralysed hand (31-6)
• Pharisees were in the synagogue waiting to trap
  Jesus
• They had special seats at the front and would
  have a good view
• Jesus does not avoid the situation, but faces his
  critics.
• He deliberately challenges the Pharisees by
  asking the man to come to the front.
• V.4 Jesus means what is the Sabbath law about,
  rules and regulations or doing good?
• The rules are very clear healing work, unless
  emergency
• This mans life was not in any danger.
• Jesus was angry because of their attitude and
  healed the man
• The Pharisees and Herodians, who hated each
  other, join forces to plot Jesus death.

12
Man with a Paralysed Hand (31-6)

• This caused conflict because
• Jesus claimed that the Pharisees Laws were
  second to his command to do good and to save
  life.
• Jesus put human need above religious rules.
• Mark wants his readers to understand that the
  coming of the Kingdom of God has started to
  change the rules.

13
Man with a Paralysed Hand (31-6)

• This caused conflict because
• Pharisees are clinging to old ways as even when a
  man is healed in front of them, they only worry
  about the rules.
• It is this refusal to accept the arrival of the
  Kingdom that leads them first to hate and finally
  to plot to kill Jesus.

14
Christians Today

• Sometimes Christianity is misunderstood today,
  partly because not all Christians interpret
  Jesus teachings in the same way.
• Some people think of Christians as being like the
  Pharisees. They think Christians live by a
  strict set of rules and regulations (No divorce
  no abortion no contraception).
• They see Christianity as something negative.
• This can be the impression from the outside, but
  for many Christians this is false and has little
  to do with Christianity.

15
Christians Today

• Christians believe that the message of Jesus is
  that every individual is of value to God and to
  each other.
• It is a positive message in which proper
  behaviour becomes a vital part of the
  relationship with God and with each other.
• The relationship is based on love.
• It is not a relationship in which rules are kept
  because of either fear or the belief that such
  actions will bring some reward.

16
Social and Community Cohesion

• If Jesus said he was Lord of the Sabbath,
  Christians should be able to do what they like on
  Sundays. Do you agree?
• Shops should be closed on Sunday in the UK so
  that Sunday is kept as a special day. Do you
  agree?

17
Meaning of the law (71-23)

• Ritual Cleanness
• The Pharisees were angry because Jesus disciples
  had not washed their hands in the traditional
  way.
• There were complicated religious rules about
  washing
• Jesus said - God does not care how people wash
  their hands - What really matters are the
  things which come out of a person (what's in our
  hearts)
• Jesus says that because the Pharisees focus on
  keeping the rules, they have forgotten whats
  important.

18
Meaning of the law (71-23)

• This caused conflict because
• Jesus was saying that all Jewish food laws were
  unnecessary. Mark thinks that all food laws
  should be abolished.
• Jesus was not afraid to challenge the teaching of
  our ancestors.
• Jesus says that God is interested in what is in a
  persons heart Pharisees have got it wrong.

19
Meaning of the law (71-23)

• Teaching on Corban (79-13)
• The Pharisees had developed the practice of
  CORBAN
• Corban something which is given to God
• Jesus uses the example of honour you father and
  mother you should take care of your parents.
• A Pharisee might swear that his belongings were
  Corban and it was not possible to use his
  money/possessions to help his parents.
• They used Corban, (a religious rule) to get off
  what God really wanted them to do.
• They had replaced the law of Moses (the Ten
  Commandments) with the law of the scribes.

20
Teaching on Corban (79-13)

• This caused conflict because
• Jesus calls them hypocrites, they ignore Gods
  rules to obey human instructions.
• No one likes being called a hypocrite so this
  would have caused conflict.
• Pharisees had been caught out!

21
Christians Today

• Christians today sometimes deserve criticism for
  being very observant of Sunday worship but
  neglecting the needs of their neighbour.
• Christian behaviour arises from the observance of
  the great commandments of love of God and of
  neighbour.
• To follow the teaching of Jesus which means being
  good from the heart demands more than the mere
  observance of external rules of religious purity.

22
Christians Today

• The reasons why these actions are wrong is the
  same today as it was at the time of Jesus.
• They are all things that abuse another person.
• Christians believe that their faith is concerned
  with the value of human dignity and the worth of
  every human relationship.
• It has nothing to do with those things that use
  or abuse another person for ones own desire,
  profit or greed.
• Such things are wrong because they separate
  people from God and from each other.

23
Social and Community Cohesion

• Today there are generally good relations between
  Jews and Christians but in the time of Mark there
  was not the same acceptance of other peoples
  views the concept of community cohesion would
  have been anachronistic.
• The Christians in Rome, many of whom were Gentile
  converts, did not observe the Jewish religious
  customs any more and there was much disagreement
  among the early Christians as to whether Jewish
  practices such as circumcision/keeping food laws
  should be followed by Gentile/ non-Jewish
  Christians.

24
Social and Community Cohesion

• Jesus teaching points to the importance of the
  spirit of religious observance, not the letter of
  the law.
• This approach, in a modern setting would allow
  for greater social cohesion as it might not lead
  to conflict between groups.
• On the other hand keeping strict religious laws
  eg food laws could mean that religious groups
  could not come together to eat the same food and
  which would stress their differences, cause
  conflict and not lead to social cohesion.

25
Social and Community Cohesion

• Jesus teaching that it was right for good Jews
  to eat with sinners showed that different groups
  should respect each other and should respect each
  other and socialise together.
• Jesus teaching that it is what is inside you
  that counts, not the appearance, showed that
  outer differences such as dress, skin colour, for
  example, are irrelevant for judging people.

26
Social and Community Cohesion

• Jesus teaching on Corban shows that cultural
  traditions should not be used to divide people
  from each othe.
• Jesus teaching that nothing that gies into
  people from the outside can defile them shows
  that different ethnic/religious groups can mix
  together and work together without causing any
  problems for God.

27
Social and Community Cohesion

• Christians today have no food laws. Jews,
  Muslims and to some extent Hindus do. How might
  this cause problems between people of different
  faiths?
• How could they try to overcome such problems?
• Can you think of any religious laws that could be
  used by Christians today in a hypocritical way?

28
Predictions of the Passion (831-33)

• Messiah Jesus is a Messiah who is going to
  suffer and die. These passages give a different
  view of the Messiah from what the Jews and
  particularly the disciples were expecting. They
  find the view of the Messiah who is going to
  suffer and die difficult to understand.

29
Predictions of the Passion (831-33)

• Jesus calls himself Son of Man even though
  Peter has just called him the Messiah. Jesus
  prefers this title.
• People at the time of Jesus thought that the
  Messiah would be a victorious warrior-king but
  Mark says that Jesus idea of being a Messiah is
  completely different.

30
Predictions of the Passion (831-33)

• Mark does not explain why Jesus has to suffer and
  die. Jesus death is simply part of Gods plan,
  which the disciples cannot understand.
• Jesus will also rise to life. This is a new idea
  at this time.

31
Predictions of the Passion (831-33)

• Peter cannot understand what Jesus is saying and
  does not like it when Jesus talks about his
  suffering. He thought Jesus had a great future
  ahead of him and all his hopes are dashed.
• Peter tries to tell Jesus off (rebukes him) but
  then Jesus tells him off. He calls him Satan
  one who tempts people to do the wrong thing.

32
Predictions of the Passion (831-33)

• Peter and the disciples have the secret of the
  Kingdom of God and now they know that Jesus is
  the Messiah.
• They still dont fully understand what this
  means.

33
Predictions of the Passion (930-32)

• After Jesus has healed the boy with the evil
  spirit, Jesus speaks about his death again.
• This prediction is slightly different from the
  first prediction.
• Jesus adds that he will be handed over to the
  people who will kill him, which suggests that
  someone will betray him.

34
Predictions of the Passion (1032-34)

• This is the third time Jesus speaks about his
  death and it is the most detailed.
• The disciples are confused and frightened.
• They know that Jesus is the Messiah but they
  still do not understand what this means.
• They thought that the Messiah would throw the
  Romans out of Israel but they do not understand
  that he has to suffer and die for others.

35
Predictions of the Passion (1032-34)

• They are on their way to Jerusalem which is where
  Jesus is going to die. He will be tortured and
  killed by the Roman (Gentile) rulers of Israel.
• However he will rise from the dead.
• Mark says that he was walking ahead of his
  followers he knows what is going to happen but
  he shows great courage by striding ahead of them
  to Jerusalem, to his death.

36
Christians Today

• Christians today can learn that Mark believes
  that Jesus is the Messiah who will suffer and die
  and then rise again.
• Christians may identify with the disciples who
  find it hard to accept that Jesus will suffer and
  die. Peter does not accept that this is part of
  Gods plan Mark tells us that Jesus will suffer
  and die but does not explain why.

37
Christians Today

• Christians who face persecution may be inspired
  by Jesus courage as he goes to his death.
• Christians will also be given the hope that
  Jesus resurrection means that they too will
  share in his resurrection.

38
Entry into Jerusalem (111-11)

• Zechariah had predicted that the Messiah would
  ride into Jerusalem Gentle and riding on a
  donkeyHe will proclaim peace to the nations
• The donkey/colt has never been ridden. Any animal
  used in a Jewish religious ceremony had to be
  kept especially for that purpose. So Jesus entry
  into Jerusalem was sacred.
• Jesus shows the type of Messiah he was. He rides
  on a colt a peaceful animal, not a horse of war.
• The people who welcome Jesus realise he is the
  Messiah Blessed is the coming kingdom of our
  father David.

39
Entry into Jerusalem (111-11)

• This caused conflict because
• The religious leaders would have seen this public
  display as a threat.
• They did not understand what type of Messiah
  Jesus was.
• The Roman authorities would also have seen this
  as a challenge to their authority in Jerusalem.

40
Christians Today

• Christians have an annual celebration of Jesus
  triumphant entry to Jerusalem as Messiah on Palm
  Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, at the
  beginning of Holy Week.
• Christians learn that Jesus is a Messiah who is
  going to suffer and die, who is not a warrior but
  a peaceful Messiah.

41
Christians Today

• Christians learn that Jesus chooses to go to his
  death and that he is prepared to follow Gods
  plan.
• Christians may be inspired to follow Gods will
  for them and have the courage to stand up for
  what they believe in the way that Jesus does,
  even though it causes conflict.

42
Exam question

• Explain the importance of Jesus entry into
  Jerusalem for Christians today. (8)

43
Cleansing of the Temple (1115-17)

• The OT prophets Malachi and Zechariah both made a
  prophecy that the Messiah would go into the
  Temple to make sure that it was only being used
  for worship.
• Jesus goes into the Temple and says it has become
  a hideout for thieves
• Jesus is again claiming to be the Messiah on his
  final visit to his Fathers house.

44
Cleansing of the Temple (1115-17)

• Why was Jesus so Angry?
• The traders were over charging for the animals
  used in sacrifice, to make a huge profit.
• The money changers were also charging too much
  tax and made a large profit.
• The Court of the Gentiles was for non-Jews (v.17)
  Jesus included them in the KoG, but they couldnt
  even get into their part of the Temple because of
  the corrupt traders.

45
Cleansing of the Temple (1115-17)

• This caused conflict because
• Jesus was speaking against the religious leaders
  who had let such things go on.
• Some of the religious leaders might have thought
  that Jesus was behaving like the Messiah, which
  was blasphemy.

46
Christians Today

• Christians may be inspired to follow what Jesus
  did and have the courage to stand up for what
  they believe in the way that Jesus does, even
  though it causes conflict.
• Jesus feels so strongly about what is happening
  in the Temple that he clearly shows his anger.

47
Christians Today

• Christians may disagree over the way Jesus
  behaved? Was Jesus violent? Does this show that
  Jesus accepted the use of some violence or was he
  just being aggressive?
• In Johns Gospel it is suggested that Jesus uses
  a whip to drive the people out, although Mark
  does not include this.

48
Christians Today

• (b) Do you think Jesus behaviour was acceptable?
  Give two reasons for your point of view. (4)
• Can you think of a modern situation when a
  Christian might feel the use of violence is
  acceptable? Give an example and reasons for your
  answer.
• Why do some Christians disagree with violence of
  any sort?

49
Social and Community Cohesion

• The Court of the Gentiles was for non-Jews (v.17)
  Jesus included them in the Kingdom of God, but
  they couldnt even get into their part of the
  Temple because of the corrupt traders. (You have
  already written this!)
• Jesus shows that the Kingdom of God was for all
  people, not just Jews, and this could be used in
  a modern setting to show that people of different
  religions should accept one another. Jesus did
  not want anyone who loved God to be excluded from
  the Kingdom.

50
Social and Community Cohesion

• Jesus shows that there may be times when people
  have to stand up for their beliefs even if this
  leads to conflict. Christians are commanded to
  love but also to hate what is evil.
• Many religions, including Christianity, contain
  extremists who are prepared to hate or even kill
  for their beliefs.
• While Christians should be concerned for the
  welfare of people who have dangerous ideas,
  theyre not called to tolerate those ideas. In
  Mark, Jesus would not allow the abuses he saw in
  the Temple.

51
Social and Community Cohesion

• Martin Luther King used non-violent direct action
  to try to end racism in the US and challenged the
  authorities, which caused conflict, as he was
  fighting against unjust laws and practices he
  did not tolerate evil and challenged extreme
  views.

52
The Argument about Authority (1127-33)

• This incident happened after the disruption in
  the Temple.
• Jesus, a carpenter, has stopped people from
  trading and now he has returned. Who does he
  think he is?
• They ask him, What right do you have to do these
  things?
• They are trying to trap Jesus.
• If he says God gives him the right, they will
  arrest him for blasphemy.
• If he says he is acting on his own authority,
  they can arrest him as a mad man. (No sane
  person would act in the way he did in Gods
  Temple).
• Jesus reply is clever. Instead of falling into
  their trap, he tricks them.

53
The Argument about Authority (1127-33)

• If they say John had authority from God Jesus
  would ask why they didnt believe John and why
  they killed him.
• If they say from man, (which means not from
  GOD), the people might riot because they believed
  that John was a prophet, sent by God.

54
The Argument about Authority (1127-33)

• This caused conflict because
• Jesus made fools of the religious leaders in
  public (They gave the answer we dont know).
• They would have been angry at losing such a
  public argument and for being tricked by this
  carpenter.
• They did not see that Jesus had authority from
  God and thought he was challenging their
  authority.

55
Christians Today

• Christians can learn that Jesus authority comes
  from God.
• Christians can learn that they should stand up to
  the authorities if they believe that they are
  wrong and going against what God wants.
• Jesus on this occasion uses words, not violence
  to thwart the authorities.

56
Caesar and Taxes (1213-17)

• The Pharisees and Herodians who are enemies, join
  forces to trap Jesus.
• They try to put him in a good mood by flattering
  him.
• The Jews were forced to pay high taxes to the
  Romans.
• Many Jews hated the Romans because of the high
  taxes and because it was a constant reminder that
  Israel was an occupied country.
• Tax was paid in Roman coinage, stamped with a
  picture of Caesar and this was against the Torah
  which did not allow any images.
• For the Jews the real King of Israel was God, not
  Caesar.

57
Caesar and Taxes (1213-17)

• The Pharisees and Herodians try to trick Jesus.
• If he says Yes, pay the tax people will stop
  following him no Messiah would say yes and
  support Roman taxes.
• If he says No, dont pay, Romans could arrest
  Jesus as a traitor.
• Jesus gives a clever answer (verse 17).

58
Caesar and Taxes (1213-17)

• In the first century, coins were officially the
  property of the ruler who issued them.
• The denarius bears the image of Caesar. Human
  beings bear the image of God (Gen 1 27)
• If people pay tax they are only giving to Caesar
  what he owns.

59
Caesar and Taxes (1213-17)

• People owe much more to God than they do to
  Caesar.
• Caesars kingdom will pass away but Gods Kingdom
  will not.

60
Caesar and Taxes (1213-17)

• This caused conflict because
• Jesus tricks the religious leaders in front of
  the people.
• He makes them look like fools while he still
  looks good.
• Jesus answer is clever because he could have
  upset both the Jewish authorities and the Roman
  authorities.

61
Christians Today

• There have been tensions between Church and State
  throughout history.
• Most Christians today would accept that the
  Church and State must exist side by side.
• The state has the right to make demands on
  Christians in such matters as taxes, but has no
  right to make demands that are contrary to the
  consciences of Christians.
• If there is a conflict between duty to the state
  and faithfulness to God, Christians would claim
  that God and his demands must come first.

62
Christians Today

• Some Christians believe that they should not
  challenge authorities because this is what Jesus
  meant by rendering to Caesar what is Caesars.
• Some Christians think that this fits in with what
  St Paul said about the civil authorities were
  appointed by God.
• Some Christian Churches have taught that
  Christians should obey the authorities.

63
Christians Today

• Discussion points
• Should Christians be involved in politics? Why?
  Why not?
• If God is a God of justice who demands that
  people be looked after and treated well,
  shouldnt Christians criticise politicians/governm
  ent when they dont do this?

64
Christians Today

• Discussion points
• Christians should take an interest in politics
  and current affairs.
• Christians should vote in elections.
• Politics is best left to the politicians.
• The UK is a Christian Country.
• (Every UK prime minister since the war has been a
  practising Christian.)

65
Social and Community Cohesion

• The present government is keen to promote social
  and community cohesion, as the UK is a multi
  cultural and multi faith society (eg included in
  GCSE Specifications, money spent on promoting
  understanding between different communities, laws
  which make discrimination illegal.)
• As Jesus teachings are against discrimination
  and in favour of inclusion, perhaps Christians
  should support the Governments policies. Do you
  agree?

66
Social and Community Cohesion

• Christians cannot cut themselves off from the
  world and retreat into Christian ghettos so
  that they are untouched by the wickedness of the
  world.
• They have to render unto Caesar what is Caesars
  and take a responsible part in society.

67
Question about the Resurrection (1218-27)

• The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection
  because it was not mentioned in the Torah which
  they studied every day.
• The Sadducees believed only in laws from the
  Torah.
• The Pharisees did believe in life after death.
• The Sadducees ask Jesus a question based on a law
  from the book of Deuteronomy which says that if a
  married man dies and there are no children, his
  brothers must marry the widow.

68
Question about the Resurrection (1218-27)

• The Sadducees compose a story in order to show
  that the whole thing is daft.
• The Sadducees think it would be easier for Jesus
  to say that there is no life after death than to
  decide who the woman was married to.
• Jesus insults the Sadducees by saying that they
  do not know the Scriptures (v24)
• Jesus is teaching that life after death is not
  like life on earth, we will be like angels.

69
Question about the Resurrection (1218-27)

• Jesus used a passage from Exodus (v26) to say
  that there is life after death.
• God says I am present tense, so although
  Abraham /Isaac/ Jacob are dead, they are somehow
  still alive.
• God is too loving to allow his friends to be
  destroyed by death.

70
Question about the Resurrection (1218-27)

• This caused conflict because
• Jesus insulted the Sadducees when he said they
  did not know the Scriptures they thought they
  were experts.
• He also took the side of the Pharisees against
  the Sadducees so he caused conflict within the
  Jewish community.

71
Christians Today

• This shows ..
• Christians that life in heaven will be different
  from life on earth.
• that there is life after death and because of
  Jesus resurrection Christians believe that they
  will share in the resurrection.
• that resurrection is taught in the Old Testament.

72
Christians Today

• This implies ..
• that life after death is not dependent on
  Christian belief as resurrection was happening
  before Jesus was raised.
• This implies .. that resurrection happens
  immediately after death, not on the Last Day (as
  God is the God of the living).

73
The Anointing at Bethany (143-9)

• The anointing of Jesus takes place in the house
  of Simon the leper.
• The story is symbolic and the anonting is
  significant because
• Kings were anointed at their crowning
• Priests were anointed on taking office
• Bodies were anointed after death for burial.
• The Messiah and Christ mean anointed one.
  Jesus is the Messiah.

74
The Anointing at Bethany (143-9)

• Jesus is the Anointed One but he hasnt been
  anointed yet.
• The Jews expected Elijah to be the one to anoint
  the Messiah and yet here an ordinary woman
  anoints Jesus in the house of an outcast.
• Jesus is anointed by the type of person he had
  spent his time with.

75
The Anointing at Bethany (143-9)

• The Messiah is anointed not at the beginning of
  his life but at the end of it but his mission is
  to die.
• A funeral rite is carried out on a living person,
  instead of a dead body, but this emphasises that
  Jesus death is an absolute certainty.

76
The Anointing at Bethany (143-9)

• Therefore, Mark is using this story to show that
  Jesus, as Messiah, was about to suffer and die.

77
The Anointing at Bethany (143-9)

• This caused conflict because
• Jesus mixes with outcasts and once again ignores
  the Law.
• Jesus treatment of the woman was not how the
  Messiah was supposed to behave and the woman
  should not have been that familiar with a rabbi.
• It has been suggested that this was the last
  straw for Judas as he felt Jesus should not
  behave in this way, and so he betrayed Jesus.
• People believed that the woman was wasting money
  and that her actions were open to
  misinterpretation. (In Lukes Gospel it is
  implied that she was a prostitute, but not in
  Mark.)

78
Christians Today

• Christians can learn that Mark believes that
  Jesus is the Messiah who is going to suffer and
  die.
• Christians can learn that they should accept
  others in the way that Jesus accepts the woman
  she seems to understand who he is, unlike the
  others.
• Christians can learn that Jesus did not consider
  anyone unclean eg Simon the leper.

79
The Plot to kill Jesus (141-2 10-11, 17-21)

• 14 1-2
• The chief priests and teachers of the law were
  trying to find a way to get rid of Jesus, without
  upsetting the people and causing a riot.
• 14 10-11
• Judas went to the Chief Priests who promised him
  money to hand over Jesus.

80
The Plot to kill Jesus (141-2 10-11, 17-21)

• 14 17-21 (Also set text for Death and
  Resurrection)
• Jesus is going to die and Mark wants to put
  across that Jesus is going to his death with his
  eyes open.
• Jesus predicts that Judas will betray him to the
  Sanhedrin.
• Jesus knows what will happen to him but the other
  disciples do not seem to have suspected him.

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The Plot to kill Jesus (141-2 10-11, 17-21)

• In v 21 Jesus shows that he knows that is death
  will not be a wasted tragedy as God has spoken of
  it in the scriptures.
• Jesus goes on to say that it would be better if
  his betrayer had never been born.
• Matthews Gospel says that Judas was so
  distressed that he committed suicide although
  this is not mentioned in Mark.

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The Plot to kill Jesus (141-2 10-11, 17-21)

• Judas was so upset by Jesus actions at Simon the
  lepers house, he betrayed him to the
  authorities.
• Mark blames the Jewish people and Judas for the
  death of Jesus.
• This view has caused much misery but Jewish
  Christian relations have improved in modern times
  and this view is no longer held.

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The Plot to kill Jesus (141-2 10-11, 17-21)

• Scholars dont really know why Judas betrayed
  Jesus. The Gospel writers are not very
  sympathetic towards Judas, who betrayed the Son
  of God.
• Why did Judas betray Jesus?
• For the money
• Judas had once been a Zealot and was disappointed
  when Jesus did not turn out to be the sort of
  Messiah he wanted.
• Judas was trying to force Jesus to be the Messiah
  he expected. If Jesus was arrested the people
  would hopefully riot to free him and Jesus would
  lead the Jews against the Romans.
• Judas was helping Jesus to have the opportunity
  to declare that he was the Messiah.

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The Plot to kill Jesus (141-2 10-11, 17-21)

• Exam question
• Judas should not have betrayed Jesus. In your
  answer you should refer to Marks Gospel.
• Do you agree? Give reasons for your
  opinion. (3)
• Give reasons why some people may disagree with
  you. (3)