THE PLOTTING OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND SCRIBES (14:1-2). ‘Now after two days was the feast of the Passover and the Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might take him discreetly and kill him. For they said, “Not during the feast (or ‘Not in the presence of th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TRIAL, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS (14:1-16:20). That this is what the Gospel has been leading up to has been demonstrated by the three passages which have prepared the way (Mark 8:31; Mark 9:30; Mark 10:33 see also Mark 2:20; Mark 9:9; Mark 9:12; Mark 10:45). The emphasis from now on will b... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM BETRAYAL TO ARREST (14:1-52). The section now splits up into subsections, the first of which is from Mark 14:1. This subsection covers the period from the stated final intent of the Chief Priests and Scribes to put Him to death (Mark 14:1), to His arrest in the garden of Gethsemane. It divides... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PLOT AGAINST JESUS AND GOD'S PREPARATION FOR IT IN THE ANOINTING OF JESUS FOR HIS BURIAL (14:1-11). In this passage the leaders of the Jews plot His downfall (Mark 14:1), and in the event get the opportunity earlier than expected through the treachery of Judas (Mark 14:10). Meanwhile, sandwiche... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And while he was in Bethany at the house of Simon the Leper, as he sat at the meal, there came a woman having an alabaster vessel of perfumed oil of spikenard, which was very costly, and she broke the vessel and poured it over his head.' While Jesus was enjoying a meal at the house of Simon the Lep... [ Continue Reading ]
A WOMAN ANOINTS JESUS WITH PERFUMED OIL (14:3-9). Mark deliberately places this incident between the plotting of the Sanhedrin and the offer of betrayal by Jesus, in order to lay emphasis on the fact that in it Jesus is being anointed as the Messiah in readiness for His burial, thus revealing that t... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But there were some who were indignant among themselves, saying, “To what purpose has this waste of the ointment been made. For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they muttered against her.' The principle of the complaint was sound eno... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you bother her? She has wrought a good work on me.” ' Jesus stepped in and intervened, telling them to stop upsetting the woman (so the muttering had become apparent to all). He pointed out that what she had done had uplifted Him and helped Him to face the... [ Continue Reading ]
“For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you will you may do them good. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for burying.' He indicated further that what the woman had done was a sign, a portent of His coming death. It was lik... [ Continue Reading ]
“And truly I say to you, wherever the Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, that also which this woman has done will be spoken of for a memorial of her.” Jesus' consciousness of His own uniqueness comes out further. As a result of His presence and Who He is, and what He is going to do... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDAS MOVES TO BETRAY JESUS (14:10-11). ‘And Judas Iscariot, he who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests that he might deliver him to them.' There is a deliberate contrast here between the sacrificial love that Mary showed, and the base betrayal by one of the chosen twelve. The on... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they, when they heard it, were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently hand him over.' Mark gives a brief summary of what the situation was. Matthew provides more detail. Matthew points out that obtaining money was always part of his intention and that he n... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And on the first day of Unleavened Bread when they used to sacrifice (or ‘when it was customary to sacrifice') the Passover, his disciples say to him, “Where do you want us to go and make ready so that you may eat the Passover?' Strictly the first day of Unleavened Bread was the day after the slayi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PREPARATION (14:12-16). While some have seen in what happens here a kind of ‘miracle' it is far more probable that it is an indication of how carefully Jesus has prepared for this Passover meal. Aware as He was of what Judas was doing, and of what the Sanhedrin were planning, He wanted to ensur... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAST SUPPER (14:12-26). The offer of betrayal by Judas, together with the interpretation of the action of the woman has now brought home to the reader that we are into Jesus' final hours. But it will now be brought home that this is not to be seen as a tragedy, but as preparation for the future.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he sends two of his disciples and says to them, “Go into the city and there a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. And wherever he will enter in say to the goodman of the house, ‘The Teacher says, where is my guest room where I will eat the Passover with my disciples?' And... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the disciples went out and came into the city and found as he had said to them. And they made ready the Passover.' All happened exactly as Jesus had described it and the two made the necessary preparations for the Passover meal. The emphasis on the fulfilment of what Jesus had said confirms th... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when it was evening he comes with the twelve, and as they reclined and were eating Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me, even one who eats with me.” ' Having taken His precautions to keep the venue secret Jesus waited until evening and then brought the twelve to the house.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WARNING OF BETRAYAL (14:17-21). This warning must have come as an unpleasant shock to all present, although they probably did not think in terms of a deliberate betrayal. To Judas, who probably thought that he was undetected, it must have been like a body blow. Two things are, however, emphasis... [ Continue Reading ]
‘They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one by one, “Is it I?” ' It is clear from this that they took His words as an overstatement. Each was conscious that he had failed Jesus in the past and would do so again. They probably felt that He was simply saying that in some way they would bring Hi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he said to them, “It is one of the twelve, he who dips with me in the dish. For the Son of Man goes even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be good for him if that man had not been born.” ' This time Jesus' warning to Judas was stark... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And as they were eating he took bread, and when he had blessed he broke it and gave to them and said, “You take of it. This is my body.” ' Jesus now took over the Passover meal and gave it a new significance, in line with His teaching in John 6:52 where He had indicated that finally men could only... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD'S SUPPER (14:22-26). The preliminaries having been completed (Mark 14:20) the meal proper begins with the eating of the bread, at which point He gives the bread a new meaning. This is then followed by the third cup from which all drink, which He informs them represents the new covenant in... [ Continue Reading ]
'And he took a CUP, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them, and they all drank of it, and he said to them, THIS IS MY BLOOD of THE COVENANT, which is poured out for many.' Luke 22:20 And the CUP in like manner after supper, saying, THIS cup IS THE new COVENANT in MY BLOOD, even that which is... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he took a cup and when he had given thanks he gave to them and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant which is shed for many. Truly I tell you I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new under the Kingly Rule of God.” '... [ Continue Reading ]
NOTE ON ‘I WILL NO MORE DRINK OF THE FRUIT OF THE VINE UNTIL I DRINK IT NEW WITH YOU IN MY FATHER'S KINGLY RULE (14:25).' The main question here is as to whether Jesus is speaking of drinking with them in the Kingly Rule of God as they took its message out to the world after His resurrection, or whe... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when they had sung a hymn they went out to the Mount of Olives.' The hymn would be Psalms 115-118, regularly sung at the end of the Passover meal. The Passover meal now being over Jesus led His disciples to the Mount of Olives ‘as His custom was' (Luke 22:39). Judas had by now slipped away (Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jesus says to them, “You will all be caused to fail, for it is written, ‘I will smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered abroad.' However, after I am raised up I will go before you into Galilee.” ' Jesus' mind was now concentrated on what lay ahead. But He knew the weakness of His di... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS WARNS HIS DISCIPLES OF THEIR COMING FAILURE (14:27-31). With His heart full of tender love for them Jesus, aware of what the Scriptures have said, and knowing their inner weaknesses, warns the disciples of betrayal. But they all assure Him that He has nothing to worry about. They will not fai... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But Peter said to him, “Although all will desert you in fear (‘be caused to stumble') yet I will not.” And Jesus says to him, “Truly I say to you that you today, even this night, before the cock crows twice will three times deny me.” ' There can be no doubt about Peter's goodness of heart. Nor abou... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But he spoke exceedingly vehemently, “If I must die with you I will not deny you.” And in a similar manner they all said the same thing.' There was nothing wrong with their hearts, nor with their intentions. But they had never been in a situation like they were soon to be in. Able and willing to b... [ Continue Reading ]
IN GETHSEMANE JESUS FACES UP TO WHAT LIES AHEAD AS HE PREPARES FOR THE CROSS (14:32-42). As the hour approached Jesus was becoming more and more aware of the appalling nature of the trial that lay before Him. It was not death He feared, but the awful cup from which He must drink, the cup of the win... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they come to an enclosed place which was named Gethsemane, and he says to his disciples, “You sit here, while I pray.” And he takes with him Peter, and James and John and began to be filled with great awe and to be in anguish. And he says to them, “My soul is filled with deep sorrow even to dea... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he went forward a small distance and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass away from him. And he said, “Abba, Father. All things are possible to you. Remove this cup from me. However not as I will, but as you will.” ' We can only be filled with awe as we co... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he comes and finds them sleeping and says to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour. Watch and pray that you enter not into testing. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.” The battle within Him went on for an hour, and then He returned to the three who were... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words, and again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy. And they did not know what to answer him.' For Jesus a continuation of the same battle. Luke puts it this way, ‘and being in an agony He prayed more earnestly, and H... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he comes the third time and says to them, “Sleep on now and take your rest. It is received. The hour is come. Behold the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners” ' The assumption is usually made that they were asleep again, but it does not say so, and if that were intended to be under... [ Continue Reading ]
“Arise, let us advance to meet them, look, he who betrays me is at hand.” Through His long battle He had prepared Himself to meet them. He had sought to prepare His disciples too. Now they must not be caught at a disadvantage. They must advance to meet the enemy. The verb is regularly used of the a... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And immediately, while he yet spoke, comes Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a host with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.' Now that He was ready they came to arrest Him, and along with them was Judas, almost unbelievably ‘one of the twelve'. The appell... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ARREST OF JESUS (14:43-52). Many hours have now passed since sunset. The Passover meal had been eaten, the discourses in John 14-16 had been given, the walk to the Garden had taken place followed by well over an hour of prayer, possibly even two to three hours. And on the other side, Judas had... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now he who betrayed him had given them an agreed signal saying, “Whoever I will kiss, that is he. Take him and lead him away safely.” ' What sympathy can we have for Judas when he planned it all so cynically? He did not want to be seen as denouncing Jesus and so he would do it by a kiss of friends... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when he was come immediately he came to him and says, “Rabbi!”. And firmly kissed him.' There are always different ways of doing things. Attempts in some way to ameliorate Judas' guilt often overlook the pure callousness of the way he did it. Consider what had gone before. 1). He came to eat... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they laid hands on him and took him.' It was done. He was taken. For the watching disciples devastation beyond bearing. Surely something must happen to stop it? For the Jewish leadership triumph. They had feared the worst but had discovered that nothing did happen. For the Temple police relief... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword and smote the high priest's bondservant and struck off his ear.' Mark's account is deliberately brief and anonymous (compare Mark 14:51). His concentration is on the Betrayer (Mark 14:43) and on the unreasonableness of the method of arrest (Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you come out as against a brigand, with swords and staves, to seize me? I was with you daily in the Temple teaching and you did not arrest me. But this is done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.” ' Jesus clearly recognised members of the Temple police... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And they all left him and fled.' This contrasts with Mark 14:46, and leads on from Mark 14:47. His enemies laid hands on Him and arrested Him. And once an initial blow had been struck His friends all left Him and fled. This too was in accordance with the Scriptures (Zechariah 13:7). It also contra... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And a certain young man followed with him, having a linen cloak thrown about him over his naked body, and they laid hold on him, but he left the linen cloak and fled naked.' Compare the equally anonymous ‘certain one of them' who used his sword in a brave but useless attempt to defend Jesus (until... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS IS PUT ON TRIAL BEFORE THE JEWISH LEADERS IN THE HIGH PRIEST'S HOUSE DURING WHICH TIME PETER DENIES JESUS BEFORE BYSTANDERS IN THE COURTYARD (14:53-15:1). The ‘trials' of Jesus present a complicated problem because it is clear that, prior to His official trial by the Sanhedrin at break of day... [ Continue Reading ]
‘ And Peter had followed him afar off, even within into the courtyard of the high priest, and he was sitting with officials and warming himself before the fire.' Again we have a typically Marcan interweaving of events. Inside the house were representatives of the Sanhedrin. Out in the courtyard, ar... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witness against Jesus to bring about his death, and did not find it. For many bore false witness against him, and their witness did not agree together. And there stood up certain and bore false witness against him, saying, “We heard him say, ‘I wil... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the high priest stood up among them and asked Jesus saying, “Do you answer nothing? What is it that these witness against you?” But he held his peace and answered nothing.' Like the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53:7 Jesus did not defend Himself. ‘As a sheep that before her shearers is dumb, yes... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Again the high priest asks him and says to him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” ‘The High Priest asks Him.' Matthew adds, “I adjure you by the living God.” This was requiring testimony from the prisoner under an oath before God. But while the inquisitor had the right to adjure witnes... [ Continue Reading ]
‘THE BLESSED.' AN INDIRECT REFERENCE TO GOD. ‘And Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.” In Mark His ‘I am' is a direct Messianic claim, and more. Matthew 26:64 and Luke 22:70 make the reply more indirect as do som... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the high priest tore his clothes and says, “What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” And they all condemned him to be worthy of death.' It is significant that Jesus had replied by simply quoting Scripture. Strictly what had He said was not bl... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say to him, “Prophesy.” And the officers received him with blows of their hands.' The translation ‘some' is general without being too specific, but it may serve to confirm the presence of others than the Sanhedrin membe... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And as Peter was beneath in the court there comes one of the maids of the high priest, and seeing Peter warming himself she looked on him and says, “You also were with the Nazarene, with Jesus”.' Mark's interweaving continues. We must always remember that Peter was there. No one else was. His brav... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But he denied saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying”.' His denial was firm. ‘I do not know what you are saying'. This was a legal form of denial in Rabbinical law. But it would get worse. He was getting in deeper and deeper. ‘And he went out into the porch and the cock crew.'... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the maid saw him and began again to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” But he again denied it.' As she moved around ‘the maid' (or another maid. The definite article might be a Semitism) spotted him and her suspicions were again aroused. Possibly she had been prompted by the fir... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And after a little while those who stood by again said to Peter, “Truly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” Once aroused the suspicions would not die down and his accent betrayed him. Why else should an unknown Galilean be here? So again they tackled him. Now he was being more directly i... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak”. Now the denial was specific and forceful, even sworn by an oath. His fears had reached fever pitch. He must convince them at all costs. He had lost control. We can compare this lack of control with the actions of the H... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And immediately the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word, how Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” And when he thought on it he wept.' Brave Peter, always ready to run into danger, courageous to the very end. But not capable of... [ Continue Reading ]