Mark 14

This is Mark's longest chapter. 

During Passover, the chief priests and scribes plotted to take Jesus and put Him to death - but after the feast, so as not to stir up the multitudes. 

Meanwhile, Mark tells about Mary (sister of Lazarus) who broke a flask to use expensive oil on Jesus' head and feet. Judas became agitated and complained that the oil could have been sold and the money used to help the poor, but Jesus corrected him. He told them that they will have the poor with them always (so keep that spirit, Judas, and find other opportunities to help them), but they will not always have Him with them. In fact, Mary was right to do this because she anointed His body for burial.

Because Mark did not write always in chronological order, he next said that Judas went to the chief priests to betray Jesus for money, which connects to the previous section when Judas complained about Mary wasting oil on Jesus. He seemed to care more about money. Not the poor.

Back to the Passover, Jesus and His disciples had the supper in an upper room of an inn, in the evening. Here Jesus informed them that one of them would betray Him, and they all knew they were capable and asked, "Is it I?" Jesus pointed to prophecy and said, "The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born."

At the feast, Jesus took bread and blessed it and gave it to His disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." And He took the cup and said, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

Afterward, they went to the Mount of Olives, and Jesus told them that all of them would stumble because of Him, as it is written: 

I will strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.

And again, He spoke of His Resurrection. Peter contradicted Jesus in disbelief, saying he would not stumble; but Jesus revealed to him that before the rooster crows twice, Peter would deny Him three times. And, yet again, he said he was willing to die for Jesus. And they all agreed. 

Then Jesus took James, John, and Peter, leaving the others further off while He went to pray. He asked His three disciples to watch. Jesus prayed, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."

Three times Jesus went to pray, and three times He found the three disciples sleeping. The third time as He was speaking with them, the chief priests and armed guards arrived, with Judas, who pointed Jesus out with a kiss, calling Him "Rabbi." 

Next, they arrested Jesus, but not before Peter drew his sword and cut off a servant's ear. Jesus noted that they brought an armed crowd when they had plenty of opportunities to seize Him before; yet, the Scriptures must be fulfilled. They took Him and His disciples fled, just as He said. 

In front of the high priest, chief priests, elders, and scribes, Jesus stood silent. False testimony was given before them, but no one's story lined up. Someone lied and accused Jesus of threatening to tear down the temple in three days and rebuilding it. 

The high priest asked Jesus if He was the Christ, the Son of the Blessed, and Jesus admitted He was. The priest tore his robe, and they condemned Him to death. Some spit on Him, and they blindfolded Him and hit Him, taunting Him to prophesy who struck Him. 

Meanwhile, Peter, who had followed Jesus all the way, was identified as a disciple, but he denied it. And each accusation he became more defensive, so that by the third time, he was cursing. Then he heard the rooster and remembered that Jesus knew him better than he knew himself. And Peter wept. 

COMMENTARY

Keep in mind that even Jesus knows that poverty will never be eliminated on earth. In fact, money is the last thing that will fix poverty. 

The Passover looked forward to the coming of the Lamb, and in the future millennial kingdom (as per Ezekiel), the Passover will be restored.

In many ways, we are like the disciples. At supper, they asked if they were the one who would betray Jesus. We are all weak and depraved, and we are all capable of turning our back on God. The only way we can best know ourselves is if we use the mirror of the Word of God. The Scriptures shows us the depths of the human heart. The only solution to our problems is the Lord. (Pray, therefore.)

When Jesus prayed for the hour to pass from Him, it was not death He dreaded, but the cross, when all of God's wrath would be laid upon Him. That was the cup He did not want to drink.

Notice, that when Judas identified Jesus, He called Him teacher or master -- not Lord. Why? Because only through the Holy Spirit do we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Judas did not have the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin, which set up an illegal trial. Jesus had no witnesses of His own and only those who brought false witness against Him were present. Of course, Jesus did not defend Himself, which also fulfilled prophecy (Isa. 53:7). Ultimately, they condemned Jesus because He claimed to be Messiah. 

credit: Bible Verses to Go