Mark 14:49 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled."

NIV: Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled."

NASB: Every day I was with you within the temple grounds teaching, and you did not arrest Me; but this has taken place so that the Scriptures will be fulfilled.'

CSB: Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled."

NLT: Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there among you teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me.'

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

NKJV: I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

If the world were the least bit righteous, none of this should happen. Jesus should not be betrayed by a thief who claims to be His disciple. If the Sanhedrin truly believed Jesus' teaching was blasphemous, they should have arrested Him while He was teaching. Jesus' more devoted followers should have the integrity to acknowledge their loyalty to Him instead of fleeing into the night and denying Him. And Jesus, the only sinless Man, should never have had to take our sins. But behind the logic of the situation's "should," Jesus made a choice before the world was formed that this would happen.

The Scriptures that Jesus is referring to include a few passages from the Old Testament, primarily, the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. The chapter prophetically covers Jesus' rejection, sorrow, grief, and affliction. It mentions how He was pierced with the nails on the cross and abandoned by those who should follow Him. It likens Him to the Passover lamb and prophesies His silence before King Herod. It even predicts that He will be buried in a rich man's grave. But Isaiah 53 also notes that God will be satisfied by Jesus' sacrifice. By bearing our iniquities, Jesus allows us to be accounted righteous.

The immediate Scripture that is fulfilled here was written by David in Psalm 55:12–14. Like David, Jesus is betrayed by a companion, a friend with whom He walked in God's house. The ultimate prophecy that Jesus is looking forward to is that Satan's head will be crushed (Genesis 3:15), and we will be freed.

Mark 14:43–50 happens about one week after Jesus rode past the garden of Gethsemane in the daylight, surrounded by people declaring His coming to reestablish David's kingdom (Mark 11:1–10). For several days, He displayed His superior understanding of God over the Jewish religious leaders (Mark 11:27–12:40). Earlier this night, He spent a meaningful Passover meal with His disciples (Mark 14:17–31). Now, He is back in Gethsemane. It is the dead of night and a group has come to take Him before a series of sham trials before He is crucified. The story of Jesus' betrayal is also recorded in Matthew 26:47–56, Luke 22:47–53, and John 18:1–11.

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.