The Darkening Clouds

In this section of the Gospel of Mark, the scene shifts from the Olivet Discourse to three vignettes that Mark paints: the chief priests and scribes plotting to kill Jesus, a woman anointing Jesus with perfume during a dinner at Bethany, and Judas agreeing with the chief priests to betray Jesus at an opportune time. Each of these three scenes portends the darkening clouds over Jesus but are all under God's sovereign control.