Mark 14:1-72

1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.

2 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenarda very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

6 And Jesus said,Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.

7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killedb the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?

13 And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them,Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.

14 And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

15 And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

16 And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

17 And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

18 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said,Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.

19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?

20 And he answered and said unto them,It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.

21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said,Take, eat: this is my body.

23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

24 And he said unto them,This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

26 And when they had sung an hymn,c they went out into the mount of Olives.

27 And Jesus saith unto them,All ye shall be offendedd because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

30 And Jesus saith unto him,Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples,Sit ye here, while I shall pray.

33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;

34 And saith unto them,My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.

35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

36 And he said,Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter,Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?

38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.

40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.

41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them,Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

42 Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.

43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

44 And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.

45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.

46 And they laid their hands on him, and took him.

47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

48 And Jesus answered and said unto them,Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?

49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.

50 And they all forsook him, and fled.

51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:

52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.

54 And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.

55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.

56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,

58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

59 But neither so did their witness agree together.

60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

62 And Jesus said,I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?

64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:

67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.

68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.

69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.

70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.

71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him,Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

Mark 14:1. After two days was the passover, when the chief priests and the scribes sought to form their plan, how they might surprise the Saviour and put him to death. Their scheme to do it after the passover was sacrificed, and the people returned to the country, was very prudent, in order to prevent an insurrection. But how then would the scriptures have been fulfilled, in regard of the sprinkling of the Lamb's blood for our redemption from sin, and the tyranny of Satan.

Mark 14:3. There came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, very precious, and she poured it upon his head. Oils and ointments were much used among the jews for the removal of diseases. The name is in Hebrew and Greek, pistaca, and ναρδου, nard; of which exquisite perfumes were compounded for feasts and private uses. But the rabbins had a canon against scholars making use of perfumes. Judas therefore, and others, were emboldened to exclaim against such profusion. The nard of the Hebrews is thus described by Dr. Blaney. Nardicus Indica is of the order gramina, and is of a different species. In India it grows as common grass in large tufts near to each other, and from three to four feet high. So strong is its aroma, which principally resides in the husky roots, that when trodden upon, or otherwise bruised, the air is filled with the fragrance. Yet no Indian perfume can equal that charity, which is to God a sweet smelling savour.

Mark 14:5. It might have been sold for more than three hundred pense. The learned Bude, of Paris, has spent much time on the Hebrew and Syrian weights, measures, and coins; and he coincides with the general opinion, that the silver denarion was in value about sevenpense halfpenny. In that case, the oriental jar which Mary unsealed, would be worth more than nine pounds sterling: proofs of the wealth and opulence of Lazarus's house.

Mark 14:6. Let her alone she is come afore-hand to anoint my body to the burying. An elegant turn to repress the murmuring. She was prompted with a religious feeling by the Holy Spirit to do what she did not perfectly understand; and the great Prophet improved that feeling into a luminous prediction, that he was come up to the passover to be the very paschal lamb, sacrificed for our redemption. This act gave Mary a high rank among the prophetesses of the church, and a lasting record among the more holy of women.

Mark 14:12. The first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover. The day when they searched the house with candles, and cleared it of all leaven. Before the jews ate of this joyful sacrifice, they were purified for seven days; and all persons disappointed of eating it by any uncleanness, or otherwise, were allowed to eat it on the fourteenth day of the second month. In this they are models to christians who are negligent of sacraments.

Mark 14:13. There shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water. Thus providence sped their way, as Abraham's steward when seeking a wife for his master's son. Favourable openings, whether near or remote, encourage men in the path of duty. See on Matthew 26:11.

Mark 14:21. Good were it for that man if he had never been born. Sad case! On looking round for a vestige of hope, or an avenue of escape for Judas, we can see no opening, no way, no path of retreat. Yet it does not belong to man to pronounce the final sentence on man. We ought however to be warned, by every prey of the roaring lion, against any habitual sin. Covetousness was Judas's sin, a vice which takes deep root in the heart, as thorns in the earth. A man who cherishes the serpent of any besetting sin in his bosom, against all remonstrances, and even against chastisements, may be damned for it at last.

Mark 14:24. This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins, as Matthew adds. Then the death of Christ was a sacrifice for sin, as we have stated. Leviticus 16:14. The one altar and the one sin-offering of a lamb, daily repeated, bare the sins of many. The language of an apostle corresponds: As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5:19.

Mark 14:25. I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Matthew reads, the kingdom of my Father: Matthew 26:29. Both the evangelists place these words after the Saviour had tasted the joyful cup, and consecrated bread and wine to be the symbols of his body and blood. Therefore the words designate the near approach of his death; and what is glorious, that there is in heaven a more liberal feast than the best of saints are allowed to taste on earth.

Mark 14:26. When they had sung a hymn. The eucharistal ode, mostly selected from the great Hallel of the Hebrews, that is, from Psa 113:-9., though in celebrating the exodus of Egypt, Psalms 114. was much sung at the passover. God has given the church those sublime and beautiful hymns, that the children of Zion may sing in their pilgrimage, and forget their sorrows.

They went out. Jesus retired to mount Olivet, and entered the garden of Gethsemane.

Mark 14:34. My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death. Our Saviour here discovered all the feelings of humanity of humanity exposed to all the powers of darkness, and the rage of men. He wondered that there was none to uphold, no second in the great fight: so his own arm brought salvation. Here then is love, divine love, which bowed to all the pleasure of the Father, and drank the bitter cup. When he prayed for man, guilty man, not one iota could be abated of the price of his redemption. Life must be sacrificed for life. The serpent must bruise his heel by the most painful sting of death. Here the tragic grandeur of our incarnate God shines out. He sustained the conflict, till the indignation against a guilty world was over- past. He covered us with his arm; he bore the tempest, and became a hidingplace from the storm. Men, like the disciples, were asleep, and knew not what the Redeemer had done for them, in this most dark and most tempestuous night.

Mark 14:51. There followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body. Not one of the apostles, but some youth who seems to have left his bed to see what there was to do. This circumstance is collateral evidence of the truth of the gospel history. Fenelon, speaking of the golden age, says, their clothes are easily made, for in this happy climate they wear only a piece of light cloth, which every one throws over his shoulder, and wraps round his body for the sake of modesty, giving it what form they please. Telem, livre 8.

Mark 14:53. They led Jesus away to the highpriest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests, and the elders, and the scribes. This was probably counted the council of twenty three, equivalent to decide in cases of life and death. These wolves must have assembled in the night to suck the blood of the Lamb of God. Three months before, on the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead, they had entered into a fixed purpose to put the Saviour to death, as stated in John 11:53. From that time, having become reprobate to the uttermost, they had a limited commission granted them to do their pleasure against the Lord, and against his anointed. This was their hour.

Mark 14:54. Peter followed him afar off. Peter's fall and restoration are stated in John 21.

Mark 14:55. The chief priests and all the council sought for witness [false witnesses, as in Matthew] against Jesus, to put him to death. Enemies and opposers of the ancient prophets were never wanting, and the same spirit is ever propagated in the human heart. On the death of Christ, as in Mark 14:53, they were predetermined; now they sought for witness of blasphemy, that under the colour of a fair trial, and the garb of zeal for the law of the Lord, they might disguise the murder as a meritorious deed. These are the depths of Satan.

Mark 14:58. We heard him say, I will destroy this temple made with hands but neither so did their witness agree together. The Vulgate reads, convenientia testimonia non erant. The Mons version reads, mais ce témoignage-la même n'etait pas encore suffisant. “But this evidence was not indeed sufficient” to affect the life of the Saviour. To these allegations the Lord made no reply: they merited silent contempt.

Mark 14:61. Again the highpriest asked him Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven, as the holy prophets have said from the beginning of the world. Judges 1:14; Psalms 50:3; Psalms 110:1; Isaiah 50:6; Daniel 7:9; Zechariah 14:3. What a glorious confession, what a model for confessors and martyrs. What a rock and pillar of repose for the church. St. Paul gives Timothy charge in the sight of God, and of Jesus Christ, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, that he was the Messiah, the king of the jews, to keep the commandment without spot, and unrebukable until his appearing. 1 Timothy 6:13.

REFLECTIONS.

In this and the four preseding Chapter s, we see the Saviour moving with majesty to give a glorious consummation to the work of our redemption. His counsel was sure, his plans were perfect, and his reprobate foes were made subservient to fulfil all the counsel of the Holy One.

Having silenced all his foes in the temple, as stated in Matthew 22:23., we here see him turn his regards to the confirmation of the church. He discovers himself to his disciples as the true Messiah by a series of striking prophecies, foretelling his exit, by the unguents which Mary poured on his head; and the earnest desire he had to eat the passover with his disciples before his passion.

As the ancients when they met for covenants of peace, had a sacrificial feast of meat-offerings and wine, so the Saviour took bread and poured benedictions upon it, and taking the joyful cup he gave thanks in like manner; or as our Saxon ancestors said, he hallowed bread and wine to husel. And the apostles did as commanded by Christ: HI HALIODON HLAF, and win to husel in remembrance of him. Therefore that holy sacrament is called a mystery, because in it there is one thing seen, and another thing understood. That which is seen has local figure, and that which is understood has ghostly might. Certainly, Christ's body which suffered death is impassible; but the husel is temporal, not eternal. And oh how much sweeter were the words of Christ than the bread and the wine, when he spake of his Father's house, of the Comforter, of his advent, and of his presence with them to the end of time. But alas, as this feast was spoiled through the treason of Judas, so the church is still afflicted with many apostates who crucify the Lord afresh, and put him to open shame.

Before the Saviour entered on his passion, he kindly warned the disciples of their frailty, how they would all be offended at the cross, would forsake him, and leave him alone; and yet he was not alone, for the Father was with him. But so it was arranged in the counsel and love of the Father, that the beloved Son, the only Mediator should alone drink the bitter cup, and bear the anger of heaven against a guilty world. With this purpose he entered the garden to meet the ghostly foe, before he fought with the strong bulls of Bashan, which encompassed him about. In the unexampled conflict he wept, he prayed, he agonized, sweating great drops of blood falling to the ground. Suffice it to say, the powers of darkness fled, being unable to force the Lord of glory from the purposes of his love to fallen man. The clouds of darkness and horror passed away, leaving a smiling sun behind to diffuse peace, righteousness and joy in the church. What encouragement to hope that all other conflicts shall in like manner pass away, and give us the more speedy entrance to eternal joy.

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