All the way through chapter thirteen we see the exhortation to the disciples to 'take heed' and 'watch'. This was to live lives that are guarded. We'll see and feel and experience so many things that will affect our flesh; cause us to want to run and hide, to compromise, to sell out or give up. This idea of taking heed was and being guarded was in the light of temple destruction. They were about to undergo a drastic change. The center of worship, the temple was moving from a building to the heart of the believer by the work that was about to be done.
Mark 14:1-2
The Passover was a feast ordained by the law to commemorate Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The last plague was the death of all the firstborn of the land. The Passover lamb was slaughtered and the blood was placed on the frame of the door on that night. The death angel passed over the firstborn behind the blood the door. They were redeemed from death by the blood of this innocent lamb.
While all the nation was selecting their Passover lamb, it was as if Christ was being selected as our Passover lamb by the priest and other leaders. They were plotting to kill Him. Christ would die and it is by His blood we are protected from spiritual death, we are purchased from out bondage of sin and delivered to the promise land, by the purchase price of His blood. When we come to the knowledge of our slavery to sin, it is then we see our need for deliverance. It is by faith that blood is applied to our life, in a sense, to the door of our heart. We are then purchased, redeemed and hidden behind the blood. Jesus, the lamb of God, died for us so the death angel passes us by.
In the season of the feast and great commemoration of what God had done for them, the foremost thing on the minds of the religious leaders was murder. Imagine the leadership of the Jews and the religious leaders were conniving, looking for shrewd and crafty way to trap and kill Him. They were afraid of the people though, Jesus had a large following and they didn't want a riot. A riot or unrest would bring the Romans to restore peace and replace leadership if need be. They didn't mind murder, they just didn't want to the people to turn against them. Even in their fear and reservation, we see the Lord's timing of this event played out. The entire life of Christ served many people and purposes, but the primary one was now right before Him.
Mark 14:3-9
Jesus was in Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, no more than 2 miles from Jerusalem. He was staying at Simon's house; known as Simon the leper. I think we are safe to assume he was then known as Simon the former leper. This setting is quite a contrast to the crush of the Passover crowds in Jerusalem; the tenderness and compassion shown by this woman toward Jesus is also a contrast to the hatred of the religious leaders and betrayal of Judas. This flask of perfume was very expensive, about a year's wages. However, this gift was about more than money. This probably was a family heirloom, used to anoint Jesus. We don't know if it was her intention to anoint him as messiah, but we certainly see this resembling the anointing of the king.
Jesus and the disciples were at the table, an indication they were eating a meal Etiquette of that time said a woman couldn't disturb the fellowship of men for any reason other than serving food. She went far beyond etiquette when she broke the flask open and emptied its contents over Jesus' head. We can imagine the disruption of the meal. All conversation stopped; everyone staring, the smell of the perfume taking over the room. What was she doing?
It's worth noting that everyone in the room is known, except this woman. While John (12:3) identified the woman as Mary, John leaves her unnamed. Even, Simon, an unknown, was named, but she remained anonymous in Mark's account. She is only known as a disciple, a follower of Jesus, one wholly committed to Him. She is no one special, another sinner who was saved. Someone Jesus delivered from a life of sin and shame who gave all she had to Him. She appeared to be an outsider – but aren't we all; she had no place at the table, but Jesus received her; while others would scold her, Jesus defended her. What she had done, would be known of forever. While the perfume was expensive in the world; her devotion became priceless across eternity.
John also names Judas as the offended disciple. He wasn't concerned with selling the perfume to feed the poor, but to get the money in his money bag so he could skim some for himself. Jesus saw her work as good, again, quite a contrast to the work Judas was up to. As we read of it today what she did is memorialized.
Mark 14:10-12
This incredible act of Mary anointing Jesus for burial is sandwiched between the hatred of the chief priests and scribble plotting Jesus' death and the betrayal of Judas. The murder of Jesus was already established and accepted in their mind, but the timing was not right. They were waiting. As it turns out, they were waiting on Judas. He went to them and became the catalyst to move them at the perfect time. The opportune time was God's time so Christ, the lamb of God, would be slaughtered as a Passover lamb.
Mark 14:13-16
Judas became the eyes and ears of those seeking to kill Jesus. He was deciding when would be a good time to catch Jesus away from the crowds? Matthew told us that Judas received 30 pieces of silver for his betrayal. This was the price of a slave.
As crowded as the city would be, if there were no prior arrangements, no room would be available. We don't know if Jesus set this up with a man beforehand, or there was something supernatural about the preparation. It was clear the man had the room ready for Passover, we just don't know why. It was unusual for a man to carry a pitcher, so he was easily identified by the disciples. Imagine for a minute what this man saw and heard if he was paying attention:
- The last hours of Jesus
- The last supper (something many have tried to recreate – the most famous was Leonardo da Vinci.
- He heard the final conversation among the twelve.
- He saw Judas leave early.
All this would have probably meant nothing until after the death, burial and resurrection.
Mark 14:17-21
At this Passover mean, which we know as the last supper, Jesus was reclining with his disciples at the table. Even at his last meal He is not totally surrounded by loyal followers, there is a tare in the wheat. In reality, while there was only one formal betrayer, they would all run away by morning do to greed, weakness, cowardice or fear.
Jesus announced the betrayal; and that it would come from someone eating with Him. They asked, "Is it I?" This is a question where the answer was supposed to be assumed as 'no'. It's as if they each said, "You don't think its me do you?" Those closest to Jesus would turn away, but the work would be done for the least of them by faith. It was a precious act of grace, dying for those who are unworthy and undeserving.
While Judas put into play the plan of the ages, he was still accountable for his betrayal. Judas acted freely and he would be accountable for what he was about to do. It will have been better had he not been born (Hebrews 10:29). The fact that he was fulfilling a prophecy shows that the prophecy came from a God that knows the end from the beginning. God is beyond time.
As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. (John 13:30)
See Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 for the prophecy.
Mark 14:22-25
Jesus blessed and broke the bread just as He had at the miraculous feeding where the provision would be multiplied. We know Jesus is the 'bread of life' and it would be multiplied to provide for all of mankind. To take the bread and eat it was to receive Jesus, take Him into your body and being, to become one with you.
The unleavened bread was symbolic of the separation of the Israelites from the former life in Egypt. Leaven is symbolic of sin, so the unleavened bread is symbolic of the separation from sin and unrighteousness. When Jesus identified Himself with that bread, it would forever be so. This is the new covenant established during the Passover meal.
Jesus took the cup and they all drank from it. The shedding of blood was required in establishing a covenant (Genesis 8:20; 15:10; Exodus 24:5-8). The blood shed here is for the remission of sins (Hebrew 9:22; 1 Peter 1:19; Matthew 26:28). The cup represented the blood shed. This, too, they would drink; taking this life, truth and way into their being. This same act, we do regularly to remember these same truths.
Jesus said He will not drink the fruit of the vine until He would drink it in the kingdom of God. They all drank, they all swore allegiance and they all will soon fall away. But the 'until' remained because of His work on the cross.
Mark 14:26-31
They likely sang Psalm 118 – the traditional Hallel. They made their way to the Mount of Olives. Jesus quoted Zachariah 13:7 saying that they shall be scattered. This is in the form of a command; not an accusation, but a statement. He announced right then that when He was raised He'd meet them in Galilee.
We know from Matthew that after dinner the disciples had argued about who was the greatest among them. When Jesus announced this falling away, Peter, as the spokesman, in great pride announced that he wouldn't fall away. Jesus predicted the 3 denials before the rooster crowed twice. Then Mark, as if to add it quietly, wrote the last line of verse 31; all the others said the same thing. This would have included Mark himself. They all swore allegiance.
Mark 14:32-42
A Gethsemane is an oil press. This was a place where Jesus went to pray. Apparently, Judas knew he could find him there. Jesus was troubled – He was in the grip of terror; not of the cross, beatings or anything man could do. He had to bear the wrath of God. Galatians 3:13 says he bore the curse of the law. He became sin for us. He prayed that this hour might pass him by – but he wanted God's will. The disciples didn't know what was going on and kept falling asleep. Jesus seemed to be warning them to stay alert and be ready when spiritual attacks come. The spirit may be willing but it is still in a fallen, sinful body of man.
"Abba, Father," was Jesus drawing near the Father. He had determined to be obedient, in spite of facing this wrath of the Father. This was to take on the weight of the sin and shame of all of mankind and to suffer the penalty. This, and the separation from God was something He'd never experienced. This welled up as an anxiety and mounting burden. How kind and compassionate it would have been to find the disciples alert, on watch and concerned about Jesus. But they selfishly slept. This work was Christ's alone. Their spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak and unable to comply.
Then it was time. Judas near, ready to betray.
Mark 14:43-52
The disciple's inability and unwillingness to follow Jesus, no matter what, was visible in their sleeping. Judas was leading this contingent to Jesus, Jesus was leading His disciples to His betrayal and arrest. He went to them; showing His willingness to do the Father's will. He could have run away, there was time. He could have sent others to run interference, instead He led. Jesus willing gave himself up.
What was Judas thinking? One suggestion was that Judas was forcing Jesus' hand, trying to bring him to his apparent role as king. It is far more likely that he was motivated by money and was seeing the leadership of Jerusalem aligning themselves against Jesus. Judas thought he was on the losing team, he was distancing himself from Jesus. Judas was not the first or last to distance themselves from Jesus to maintain power or establish financial improvement. In those days we can think of Herod who tried to eliminate Christ as a child because He was seen as a threat. Think of the Pharisees, scribes and Sadducees whose authority and way of life was threatened by Jesus. Think of all the TV preachers who have used Jesus to gain their own following and become rich. Think of the church, that in many cases, claimed the blessings Christ but failed to take the responsibility in Christlikeness. Think of individual followers; you and I and how, at times, we abandon Jesus when it becomes uncomfortable, unpopular or inconvenient for agenda. Perhaps there more Judas in us than we care to consider. Perhaps, at times, there is more Judas in us than Jesus.
Mark knew of one particular man who was so willing to run away, he shed his clothes to evade capture and ran away naked. This sounds like the testimony of one; as if to say, I can't speak for the others, but only for this one young man. It is very likely, that one young man was Mark. We can imagine that while writing this, Mark explored his own willingness to abandon Jesus.
Judas came to betray at His quiet place, where Jesus would get away and pray. Did Judas know what the betrayal would lead to? Did he know or suspect He'd be beat and crucified? He called Jesus Rabbi ("my master") but then betrayed Him with a kiss. The embrace and kiss on the cheek showed love and affection for the person. What a appalling way to betray him. These guys show up with clubs and swords to arrest him like a common criminal, yet Jesus pointed out He'd been in the temple every day teaching.
This was the final lesson of discipleship. With the constant reminders to take heed, watch, pray, be on guard:
- They all walked with Him.
- They all ate with Him.
- They all drank and asked to drink of the cup from which He drank
- They argued who was greatest
- They all swore allegiance
- They walked with Him singing on the way to Gethsemane
- They all fell asleep
- In the end……they all abandoned Him
They all ran away, yet Jesus remained to do what only He could do. The disciples each lived out a lesson in their own life, dealing with their own proclivity to sinfulness. This is what's in our heart.
Mark 14:53-65
Mark's narrative moved from Gethsemane to home of the high priest. Everything about this arrest and subsequent trial goes against their laws. All the Sanhedrin are present in the courtyard. The servants are warming themselves at the fire where Peter silently settles in among them at a seeming safe distance. This is something we all become all too good at; wanting Jesus close but not too close, claiming Him but keeping a safe distance.
The chief priests, elders and scribes are a disorganized mess because they were forced to take Him before they were ready. They had not organized their witnesses and testimonies. They were winging it and not doing well at it. While it might appear these men controlled the situation and outcome, this was all happening on Jesus' time frame. The false testimony didn't agree. They could not find the two witnesses required to establish guilt. Then someone remembered a comment about destroying the temple. We don't know if it was misquoted on purpose or not. John 2:19-19 recorded the Jews request of a sign. The answer Jesus gave was to "destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." He didn't say He would destroy the temple. The temple was withered like the fig tree when Jesus arrived.
It had to be somewhat frustrating to the chief priests that they had Jesus in their grasp and could not find two testimonies that agree. They questioned Jesus in hopes He would say something to condemn Himself. He remained silent at first. Finally, the Chief Priest asked if He was the Christ and Jesus said, "I Am". In this answer of verse 62 is the claim that Jesus was the God of the Old testament and the voice of the burning bush as well as the figure of Daniels vision (Daniel 7:13-14):
13 "I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.
This was all it took. Jesus handed them what they sought, a reason they could use to justify killing Him. Because of this blasphemy they agreed He must die. They begin to beat Jesus and spit on him.
Question: If we were called to give testimony of Jesus, what would it sound like? Those giving testimony could not agree about what they heard Jesus say or about what He did. If we were called as witnesses, would our testimony agree? Is your testimony of Jesus consistent? Detailed? Precise? Correct? Consistent with scripture? Pleasing to the Lord? Or, are we more like Peter, claiming the Lord, yet keeping a safe distance?
Mark 14:66-72
It just happened!! Peter wasn't sure how. It came so easy, like falling asleep in the garden while Jesus prayed; the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. Peter denied Jesus 3 times before the rooster crowed twice. See Matthew 26:34.
Consider: Peter may have been afraid because of cutting Malchus' ear off.
Luke inserts more details of the abuse heaped on Jesus by those who guarded Him. They mocked and beat Him, blindfolded demanded that He prophecy who hit Him.
©2018 Doug Ford
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