Mark14

Mark 14 details the plot to kill Jesus, his anointing at Bethany, and Judas Iscariot's agreement to betray him. During the Last Supper, Jesus institutes the new covenant, foretells his betrayal and Peter's denial, then prays in agony in Gethsemane. He is subsequently arrested, tried before the high priest, and condemned, while Peter denies knowing him three times.

The Plot to Kill Jesus

It was now two days before the feast of the Passover and the unleavened bread, and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might seize him by deception, and kill him.

For they said, “Not during the feast, because there might be a riot of the people.”

The Anointing at Bethany

While he was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard—very costly. She broke the jar, and poured it over his head.

But there were some who were indignant among themselves, saying, “Why has this ointment been wasted?

For this might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor.” They grumbled against her.

But Yeshua said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me.

For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will not always have me.

She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying.

Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News may be preached throughout the whole world, that which this woman has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

Judah Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests, that he might deliver him to them.

They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. He sought how he might conveniently deliver him.

Preparation for the Passover

On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?”

He sent two of his disciples, and said to them, “Go into the city, and there you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him,

and wherever he enters in, tell the master of the house, ‘The Rabbi says, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’

He will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Get ready for us there.”

His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found things as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

When it was evening he came with the twelve.

As they sat and were eating, Yeshua said, “Most certainly I tell you, one of you will betray me—he who eats with me.”

They began to be sorrowful, and to ask him one by one, “Surely not I?” And another said, “Surely not I?”

He answered them, “It is one of the twelve, he who dips with me in the dish.

For the Son of Man goes, even as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”

Institution of the Lord's Supper

As they were eating, Yeshua took bread, and when he had blessed, he broke it, and gave to them, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body.”

He took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them. They all drank of it.

He said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many.

Most certainly I tell you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew in the Kingdom of God.”

When they had sung the Hallel, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Peter’s Denial Foretold

Yeshua said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

However, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.”

But Peter said to him, “Although all will be offended, yet I will not.”

Yeshua said to him, “Most certainly I tell you, that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

But he spoke all the more, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” They all said the same thing.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I pray.”

He took with him Peter, Jacob, and Yochanan, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed.

He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch.”

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

He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.”

He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you watch one hour?

Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words.

Again he returned, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn’t know what to answer him.

He came the third time, and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Arise, let us be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.”

The Arrest of Jesus

Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judah, one of the twelve, came—and with him a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.

Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely.”

When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, “Rabbi! Rabbi!” and kissed him.

They laid their hands on him, and seized him.

But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Yeshua answered them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me?

I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. But this is so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.”

They all left him, and fled.

A certain young man followed him, having a linen cloth thrown around himself, over his naked body. The young men grabbed him,

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

Trial Before the Sanhedrin

They led Yeshua away to the high priest. All the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes came together with him.

Peter had followed him from a distance, until he came into the court of the high priest. He was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire.

Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witnesses against Yeshua to put him to death, and found none.

For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony didn’t agree with each other.

Some stood up, and gave false testimony against him, saying,

“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’”

Even so, their testimony did not agree.

The high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Yeshua, “Have you no answer? What is it which these testify against you?”

But he stayed quiet, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed?”

Yeshua said, “I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of the sky.”

The high priest tore his clothes, and said, “What further need have we of witnesses?

You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” They all condemned him to be worthy of death.

Some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to beat him with fists, and to tell him, “Prophesy!” The officers struck him with the palms of their hands.

Peter Denies Jesus

As Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the maids of the high priest came,

and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, “You were also with the Nazarene, Yeshua!”

But he denied it, saying, “I neither know, nor understand what you are saying.” He went out on the porch, and the rooster crowed.

The maid saw him, and began again to tell those who stood by, “This is one of them.”

But he again denied it. After a little while again those who stood by said to Peter, “You truly are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.”

But he began to curse, and to swear, “I don’t know this man of whom you speak!”

The rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered the word, how that Yeshua said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” When he thought about that, he wept.

Study Notes for Mark 14

Verse 1

Chief priests and scribes feared public unrest during the feast (Passover/Unleavened Bread), which marked a high point of pilgrimage to Jerusalem. They sought a way to arrest him quietly, not during the festival.

Verse 3

Spikenard was an expensive perfume, likely imported from India. Anointing the head was a sign of honor; here, Jesus interprets the woman’s action as a prophetic act related to his impending death.

Verse 5

Three hundred pence (denarii) was roughly a year's wage for a common laborer, highlighting the extravagant cost and the depth of the woman's devotion.

Verse 8

Jesus reinterprets the act, shifting the focus from wastefulness to preparation for his burial, emphasizing the imminence of his death.

Verse 10

Mark links Judas's decision immediately after the anointing scene, suggesting that Judas may have been motivated by greed or disappointment that Jesus was not seizing political power.

Verse 12

The first day of unleavened bread was the day the Passover lamb was slaughtered (around 3 PM), marking the start of the seven-day festival.

Verse 13

The detail of the man with the water pitcher (usually women carried water) provides a secret sign, demonstrating Jesus's supernatural foreknowledge and control over the events.

Verse 21

Jesus affirms that his death fulfills Scripture, but this does not absolve the betrayer. This verse emphasizes human responsibility alongside divine necessity.

Verse 22

The breaking of the bread signifies Christ's body broken on the cross. This event institutes the core ritual of Christian worship (Eucharist or Holy Communion).

Verse 24

The 'blood of the new testament' (covenant) references Jeremiah 31:31-34 and the covenant sacrifice in Exodus 24:8. Jesus fulfills the Passover sacrifice, establishing a new relationship between God and humanity.

Verse 27

Jesus quotes Zechariah 13:7, indicating that his disciples' failure and scattering are necessary fulfillments of prophecy concerning the Messiah's suffering.

Verse 30

The specific detail of the cock crowing twice is unique to Mark, emphasizing the accuracy of Jesus's prediction and the severity of Peter's failure.

Verse 32

Gethsemane means 'oil press.' Jesus’s reaction—'sore amazed' (deeply distressed) and 'very heavy'—highlights his genuine human anguish facing the horror of the cross and bearing sin.

Verse 36

Abba is an Aramaic term meaning 'Father,' used by children in intimate address. This prayer reveals Jesus's perfect submission ('not what I will, but what thou wilt') despite his intense desire to avoid the 'cup' (suffering/wrath).

Verse 38

This warning acknowledges the tension between human desire ('spirit truly is ready') and human frailty ('flesh is weak'), explaining the disciples' failure to watch and pray.

Verse 44

The kiss was the traditional greeting between a disciple and a Rabbi, making Judas's action a profound act of hypocrisy and treachery.

Verse 49

By noting that he taught openly in the Temple, Jesus highlights the hypocrisy of arresting him secretly at night like a criminal, confirming that the arrest was orchestrated to fulfill prophecy.

Verse 51

This unique episode, found only in Mark, is often considered a self-reference by the author (John Mark), symbolizing the disciples' complete abandonment and vulnerability.

Verse 54

Peter's attempt to follow 'afar off' demonstrates both loyalty and fear, placing him in a position where he was exposed to temptation and denial.

Verse 58

The false witness twists Jesus's previous statement (John 2:19) about his own body being the temple destroyed and rebuilt, providing the high priest with a charge of sedition or blasphemy.

Verse 61

Jesus's initial silence fulfills Isaiah 53:7. The High Priest shifts the interrogation from political sedition (the temple) to religious heresy (Messiahship).

Verse 62

Jesus confirms his identity ('I am') and asserts his future divine authority, referencing Daniel 7:13 ('Son of Man coming in the clouds') and Psalm 110:1. This clear claim resulted in the charge of blasphemy.

Verse 71

Peter’s reaction escalates from simple denial to cursing and swearing (invoking God to witness his innocence), demonstrating the total collapse of his resolve under pressure.

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