The final chapter before Jesus' crucifixion starts with Mark's characteristic "sandwiched" stories, which devolve to pure tragedy. While Jewish leaders and Judas prepare for His betrayal, Jesus concentrates—still—on teaching the disciples the truth about Himself, themselves, and what the Jewish Messiah really is.

The Pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests, and elders have joined together to destroy Jesus. Their main setback is the crowd (Mark 14:1–2). Jesus just spent a week humiliating the Jewish religious leaders and winning the hearts of the people (Mark 11—12). He must be arrested when He's relatively unprotected or the crowd may riot (Mark 14:1–2).

For at least the second time, possibly the third (Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8), a woman anoints Jesus with perfume. At the home of Simon the Leper, an unidentified woman anoints Jesus' head on the day the Passover lambs are being anointed (Mark 14:3–9). Jesus praises her gracious act of worship that prepares Him for His burial the next afternoon.

The mood turns dark again as Judas approaches the chief priests, offering to betray Jesus to them (Mark 14:10–11). If the Jewish leaders need to prevent a riot, they'll have to arrest Jesus at night away from the crowds, when it's hard to see and there are few witnesses. Judas will tell them when and where. It's possible that Judas has become disillusioned with Jesus' refusal to become a military or political Messiah, leading him to actively look for a profitable way out of the situation.

Mark describes the Passover meal with the disciples (Mark 14:12–21) while John goes into greater detail about what Jesus taught them (John 13—17). In Egypt, the blood of lambs protected the Israelites from death (Exodus 12). As Jesus prepares to shed His own blood to bring life to the world, He dismisses Judas to set the stage (John 13:21–30) and transforms that Passover meal into the Lord's Supper (Mark 14:22–25).

After their meal, Jesus and the disciples go to a garden on the Mount of Olives where Jesus prophesies their abandonment of Him (Mark 14:26–31). The disciples will scatter, and Peter will deny he even knows Jesus.

Jesus separates from most of the disciples and tells Peter, James, and John to pray that they will be strong in the face of temptation. Jesus walks farther and collapses before His Father in a tortured prayer, simultaneously asking to forgo the cross and submitting His will. The three disciples sleep and are not prepared for what comes next (Mark 14:32–42).

Judas returns, leading a crowd of guards and servants to arrest Jesus (Mark 14:43–50). Judas approaches Jesus with a kiss to identify Him. In the dark and chaos, Peter slices off the ear of a servant (John 18:10), but Jesus heals the man (Luke 22:51) and goes peacefully. The disciples scatter, as He said they would.

Of all four Gospels, only Mark mentions that a young man also flees (Mark 14:51–52). The guards try to grab him, but he escapes into the night, leaving behind the linen wrap that served as his only clothing.

Mark combines Jesus' trials before Annas, a former high priest, and Caiaphas, the current high priest (John 18:12–13). Members of the Sanhedrin gather all the witnesses they can find to uncover a crime they can charge Jesus with (Mark 14:53–65). Even though the witnesses lie, the Sanhedrin cannot find two identical testimonies, required for a capital offense. Jesus provides no defense (Isaiah 53:7). Finally, the high priest asks Jesus directly who He is, and Jesus responds. The council members immediately convict Him of blasphemy.

While Jesus is questioned and beaten, Peter remains near the guards and servants warming themselves by a fire (Mark 14:66–72). Peter is a follower of the man who is arrested and he assaulted a servant who is the friend and relation of the men around him (John 18:10). In his fear, Peter forgets his vow to die for Jesus and instead denies that he ever knew Him (Mark 14:29–31).

Jesus spends the days before His crucifixion as He has spent the previous three years: trying to get the disciples to understand the bigger picture of the Jewish Messiah's role in God's plan for the world. Where other Gospels, especially John, go into more detail, Mark touches on just a few themes that will prepare them for establishing the church: Recognize and honor God's work (Mark 14:3–9). Recognize the enemy, but don't fear him (Mark 14:1–2, 10–11, 17–21, 43–50, 53–65). Value community and communally remember Jesus' work (Mark 14:12–16, 22–25). Lean on God's power, not your own, to remain faithful to Him (Mark 14:26–31, 66–72). And understand that God is a Father, deserving our honesty, our trust, and our obedience (Mark 14:32–42).

Mark 14:1–2 shows that the Jewish leadership is desperate. They have been trying to destroy Jesus since shortly after His ministry began. Jesus is finally back in Jerusalem, where they can corner Him and convince the Romans to execute Him. But a crowd of Galileans is also in town, many of whom publicly declared their assertion that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah (Mark 11:1–10). The Jewish leaders need to arrest Jesus away from the crowd. Before long, they will gain the aid of an unlikely ally (Mark 14:10–11). The chief priests and scribes' machinations are also found in Matthew 26:1–5 and Luke 22:1–2.

Mark 14:3–9 creates another narrative ''sandwich'' in this Gospel. Between the Sanhedrin's machinations to kill Him and Judas' offer to betray Him, a woman honors Jesus. The Passover lamb was chosen six days before the sacrifice. On the first day, its feet and ankles were anointed with oil, as Jesus' were in John 12:1–8. For five days, it would be inspected for flaws, as Jesus was when He taught and debated in the temple (Mark 11:15–12:40). Two days before the Passover, the lamb's head would be anointed, as Jesus' head is, here. This account is also recorded in Matthew 26:6–13.

Mark 14:10–11 comes after Judas has watched Jesus approve the ''waste'' of at least a year's wages worth of perfume, and maybe two. Judas is no longer content stealing from the disciples' moneybags (John 12:6). He's ready for a bigger pay-out, even if he must betray Jesus to get it. Fortunately for him, the Jewish leadership has deep pockets and a strong need for what Judas can give: access to Jesus away from the crowds. The clandestine meeting is also found in Matthew 26:14–16 and Luke 22:3–6.

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.

Mark 14:22–25 occurs almost 1500 years after the event that Passover commemorates. Here, Jesus radically repurposes the God-given tradition, creating the Lord's Supper we celebrate today. Instead of escaping Egypt, we escape hell. Instead of gifts from Egyptian neighbors (Exodus 11:2), we receive gifts from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4–11). Instead of sacrificing a lamb, we remember the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Matthew 26:26–29 is nearly identical; Luke 22:14–23 adds a bit more detail; John doesn't mention the Lord's Supper, but Paul goes into more detail about how it should be observed (1 Corinthians 11:23–32).

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.

Mark 14:32–42 contains Jesus' wait in the garden of Gethsemane. This describes Jesus' example and the disciples' catastrophic failure to follow the general theme of Jesus' admonition in Mark 13:32–37. Jesus watches how God moves and prays for His part in it. The disciples sleep. Three times, their Master finds them unconscious, both physically and spiritually (Mark 13:35–36). They do not take the time, as Jesus does, to prepare for the hardships in front of them. They so expect Jesus' victory over the Roman occupiers they don't prepare for His spiritual war on the cross. This story is also in Matthew 26:36–46 and Luke 22:39–46.

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.

Mark 14:51–52 contains a detail found only in Mark's Gospel. This leads biblical scholars to think the young man may be Mark, himself. Whatever the case may be, this young man has apparently witnessed the events described in the previous verses. Jesus has been mourning and weeping, Judas comes and kisses Him in greeting. A mob of guards and servants arrest Jesus. A sword appears, slashing off the ear of a servant. Jesus' followers flee, and the boy tries to do the same. Whether he realized it at the time or not, this young man is watching the arrest of Jesus in Gethsemane.

Mark 14:53–65 happens immediately after Jesus' arrest in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus will face four separated trials, in multiple segments. The first is with the Sanhedrin, the council that judges if Jews have broken the Mosaic law. The second trial is with Pilate, the Roman governor (Mark 15:1–5). Pilate sends Jesus to Herod Antipas, who rules over Jesus' home district of Galilee and happens to be in town (Luke 23:6–16). Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate who, at the Sanhedrin's insistence, sentences Jesus to death (Mark 15:6–15). Jesus' interview with the Sanhedrin is also found in Matthew 26:57–68, Luke 22:63–71, and John 18:12–14, 19–24.

Mark 14:66–72 occurs while Jesus is in an upper courtyard in the home of high priest. The Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, is trying to find something to charge Jesus with, finally settling on blasphemy (Mark 14:53–64). Having found their charge, they are now free to beat Jesus (Mark 14:65). John is apparently watching (John 18:15). Peter is in a lower courtyard, warming himself by a fire, surrounded by servants and guards who grow increasingly suspicious of his presence and his role in the proceedings. Peter's denial is also found in Matthew 26:69–75, Luke 22:54–62, and John 18:15–18, 25–27.

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.

Accessed 4/29/2024 5:32:52 AM

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