Mark 14:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

NIV: When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

NASB: And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

CSB: After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

NLT: Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

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

NKJV: And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus and the disciples have completed the Passover dinner. Like most Galileans, they celebrate it the evening Passover begins, not the next afternoon as the Judeans do. They have been in the upper room of a house in Jerusalem, but now return to the Mount of Olives, where they have spent every night this week (Luke 21:37). Hymns based on Psalms 113–118 and 136, also called the "great Hallel," are important parts of the feast.

The road to the cross is dark. Away from the meal that celebrates God's deliverance of the Israelites and the new ceremony marking the new covenant of salvation, Jesus warns that the disciples will soon abandon Him, and Peter will deny knowing Him.

Jesus has chosen the location, the garden of Gethsemane, carefully (Mark 14:32. The garden sits on the west side of the Mount of Olives, at the intersection of two roads that come east out of Jerusalem. If Jesus had taken the disciples to Bethany, two miles farther east, His followers there might have rebelled against the priests' guards, either endangering themselves or preventing the crucifixion.

The garden of Gethsemane is a location which ensures God's plan is fulfilled. The distance from Bethany allows Him to protect His followers. And, since Judas knows this place (John 18:2), it makes it easy for the Sanhedrin to arrest Him.

Mark 14:26–31 occurs as Jesus and the twelve disciples have just had the Passover meal in an upper room in Jerusalem. They are now on the Mount of Olives, where they have stayed every night this week (Luke 21:37). After such an intimate celebration, Jesus warns the disciples they will abandon Him, and Peter, specifically, will deny he knows Him. But Jesus isn't trying to shame the disciples; He's telling them where to meet Him after His resurrection. Jesus' warning is also recorded in Matthew 26:30–35, Luke 22:31–34, and John 13:36–38.

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.