Mark 14:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when it was evening, he came with the twelve.

NIV: When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.

NASB: When it was evening He *came with the twelve.

CSB: When evening came, he arrived with the Twelve.

NLT: In the evening Jesus arrived with the Twelve.

KJV: And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

NKJV: In the evening He came with the twelve.

Jesus and the twelve disciples are celebrating Passover together. As Galileans, they are accustomed to following the Mosaic law which says to sacrifice and roast the lamb at twilight on 14 Nisan (Numbers 9:5). The people from Judea follow the modified law established by Kings Hezekiah and Josiah (2 Chronicles 30:1; 35:1) and celebrate the next afternoon at the temple; since the Jewish day goes from evening to evening, it's still 14 Nisan.

John records a great deal more about this evening than the other gospels. In fact, five of John's twenty-one chapters are devoted to details of just this evening. During dinner, Jesus washes the disciples' feet (John 13:1–20), gives them a new commandment to love one another (John 13:31–35), explains that He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:1–14), and promises the Holy Spirit (John 14:15–31; 16:1–15). He tells the parable of the true vine and the branches (John 15:1–17), promises that the disciples will be persecuted (John 15:18–27), and goes into the implications of the resurrection (John 16:16–33). Finally, He prays for them that God will spiritually protect and equip them (John 17).

Amidst all the vital theology Jesus gives the disciples, there is an emotional undercurrent the Twelve don't quite understand. Jesus says, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (Luke 22:15–16). Even with all their faults, as they bicker about who is greatest (Luke 22:24) and abandon Him (Mark 14:50), Jesus is still grateful for this last evening with His friends before He faces torture and death by crucifixion.

Now, however, it is time to release Judas so he can betray Jesus to the authorities (John 13:26–27).

Mark 14:12–21 depicts the evening of 14 Nisan, when Jesus and the disciples celebrate the Passover. This is an event Jesus has been earnestly looking forward to (Luke 22:15). After the traditional Jewish Passover, Jesus will transition into the new Lord's Supper. He will also identify Judas as His betrayer and dismiss him to coordinate His arrest with the priests (John 13:21–30). The other disciples are still curious as to when Jesus will liberate Israel. This account is also recorded in Matthew 26:17–25 and Luke 22:7–13, 21–23; John goes into great detail about other aspects, particularly about what Jesus teaches, in John 13—17.

Jesus is anointed in a symbolic anticipation of His death. Judas decides to secretly cooperate with local religious leaders to arrest Jesus in secret. During the Passover meal, Jesus predicts His betrayal by Judas, and Peter's denial. He also institutes the Lord's Supper, also known as communion. After praying on the Mount of Olives, Jesus is captured when Judas identifies Him to a hostile mob sent by Jewish authorities. He endures a corrupt, prejudiced trial, ending in a conviction for blasphemy. Peter, fearing for his life, lies about knowing Jesus, before remembering Jesus' prediction and breaking down in sobs.

Jesus has finished His public teaching ministry and now prepares for the crucifixion. His sacrificial loyalty will provide the means by which the disciples' abandonment will be forgiven. Next, the Romans, as representatives of Gentiles throughout history, will join the Jews and kill Jesus. Jesus will be buried, but He will rise again with the promise that His sacrifice will redeem the world. Matthew 26 and Luke 22 follow Mark 14 more closely while John 13:1—18:27 records more of Jesus' teaching in the upper room.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.