Mark 14

Mark 14:12-31

In this chapter we have, 1. The plan of the chief priests and scribes against Christ, ver. 1, 2. 2. The anointing of Christ’s head as a supper in Bethany, ver. 3—9. 3. The contract Judea made with the chief priests to betray him, ver. 10, 11. 4. Christ’s eating the passover with his disciples, his infirmating the Lord’s supper, and his delicacy with his disciples as and after supper, ver. 12—31. 5. Christ’s agony in the garden, ver. 32—42. 6. The betraying of him by Judea, and the apprehending of him by the chief priest’s agents, ver. 43—52. 7. His arrangement before the high-priest, his conviction, and the indignation done him at that day, ver. 53—65. 8. Peter’s denying him, ver. 66—72. Most of which passors we had before, Matt. xxvi.

AFTER two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes’ soughe how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. 2. But they said, Not

on the feast-day, left there be an uproar of the people. 3. ¶ And being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meet, there came a woman, having an alabaster-bay of ointment of 7 spikemand, very precious; and she broke the box, and poured it on his head. 4. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this wake of the ointment made? 5. For it might have been said for more than three hundred ‘pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6. And Jesus said, Let her alone, why trouble ye but I do hath wrought a good work on me. 7. For ye have the poor with you always, and whosoever ye will, ye may do them good: but are ye have not always. 8. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done, shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. 10. ¶ And Judæ licarius, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. 11. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

9. 1—11. The feone of our Saviour’s sufferings now approaching, we have here the steps preparatory thereunto.

10. The anointing him as he sat in the house of Simon the leper; so called, probably, as having been cured by Jesus of that nauseous disease. Note, When the sin is forgiven, and the backslider restored, the reproach will still frequently abide. Whilst Jesus was at supper, a woman, supposed to be Mary Magdalene, or Lazarus’ sister, came behind him, and poured upon his head a box of precious spikemand. Some of the disciples, with Judea at their head, with indignation behind what they esteemed such unnecessary walls, the value of the ointment amounting to above nine pounds, which they suggested might have been much more profitably employed in charitable sites; but Christ, who knew the secret murmurs they were afraid to utter, reproved their rich confirms, and commanded the chest to highly praiseworthy; it being intended as a burial unction, which, according to her power, willing to honour her Lord whilst alive, she thus anticipated, as she would not have an opportunity to do it for him after his death. Their care indeed for the poor was commendable, but they being ever present, abundant occasions would offer to relieve them. But as he was ready to depart, it was the only opportunity of shewing him respect which would be ever afforded her: therefore to her honour shall this be mentioned, wherever in future days the gospel shall be preached, and this remarkable influence of her faith and love shall for ever accompany the narrative of his death and reformation. Note, (1.) They who love the Lord Jesus Christ, never think they can do enough to testify their regard for him. (2.) They who honour him, whatever censures others may call on them, he will honour.

11. The scheme laid for his betrayal and ruin. Determined upon his death, the chief priests and scribes concluded only on the means of effecting it with the least noise; and at first he thought them, that on the feast-day it would be dangerous to arrest him, for fear of the people: but whilst they were in council, a most unexpected incident fixed their resolutions. Judea, one of the twelve apostles, came and offered to betray his master. The bargain was instantly struck, the money engaged for, and immediately he set himself to find the proper opportunity to put him into the hands of these his unpleasable enemies. Note, (1.) Where the love of filthy lucre reigns, whatever protection a man may make, there wants nothing but temptation to draw forth the apology of his heart. (2.) The devil often favours his servants with most unexpected success, in order to embolden and harden them in wickedness, and to bind them falter in his chains.

12. ¶ And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where with thou that we go and prepare, that thou mayest eat the passover? 13. And he tended forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. 14. And wherefore he shall go in, say ye to the good-man of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 15. And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. 16. And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found us he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

13. And b Mat. rev. 17. Luke rev. 1. 1 Ex. 10. 1. 9 Or herefirst. 17. And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. 18. And as they sat and did eat, Jefus said, Verily I say unto you, “One of you which eateth with me, shall betray me. 19. And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? 20. And he answered and said unto them, Is it one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. 21. The Son of man indeed goeth, “as it is written of him: but we to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed: good were it for that man if he had never been born. 22. ¶ And as they did eat, ‘Jefus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take eat, this is my body. 23. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and ’they all drank of it. 24. And he said unto them, This is my blood of ’the New Testament, which is shed ‘for many. 25. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, ‘until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. 26. ¶ And when they had lung an I hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 27. And Jefus saith unto them, All ye shall be ‘offended because of me this night: for it is written, ‘I will smote the firebeard, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28. But after that I am risen, ‘I will go before you into Galilee. 29. But Peter said unto him, ‘Althouph all shall be offended, yet will not I. 30. And Jefus saith unto him, ‘Verily I say unto thee, that this day, even in this night before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. 31. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all. We have here, 1. Christ’s celebration of the passover with his disciples. By his orders, two of them had been sent with particular directions where to prepare it; and having accordingly found the person with the mother of water, and followed him home, they were shown by the matter of the house a furnished room, where they prepared the supper; and in the evening Jefus came with the roll of the disciples, and sat down to eat the paschal Lamb. Nieu, (1.) When we have our Lord’s orders, we must go forth depending on his providence, even when we know not whether we go. (2.) The purest communions will not be without false lawsmen this side hearers; of twelve apostles, one was a traitor. 2. At the table he startled his disciples with an information the most alarming; that one of them, who now appeared so friendly, would prove a traitor, and betray him into the hands of his enemies. Exceedingly grieved at such an affluence, each unwilling to suspect another, and unconscious of such delight, Judas excepted, began to say, Lord, is it I? I dread the thought of such villainy, and with not a moment to lie under the suspicion of it. In answer to their question, Christ points out the traitor, by directing them to one of the twelve then dipping in the dish with him, adding a most fearful communition against him, v. 21. if any thing at last might touch that hardened traitor’s conscience. Nieu, (1.) A zealous soul is grieved but to be suspected of unfaithfulness. (2.) We cannot be too jealous over ourselves. A sincere disciple withers others to teach him, and prays the Lord each day to try the ground of his heart, and shew him if there be any hidden iniquity there, that it may be repented of and renounced. (3.) Not one lot or little of God’s word can fail, and all his decrees inflictely have their accomplishment; even wicked men, when most invenomed against him, are nevertheless made falseerment to his purposes, though this neither attenuates their guilt, nor will at all mitigate their punishment. 3. At the close of the paschal supper, our Lord instituted that ordinance, which in his church should supersede, and supply the place of this solemn fealt. Having taken bread, he blessed it, brake, and gave to each of them, to be eaten in remembrance of his broken body, which should procure for them a more glorious redemption than in the passover they comemmorated; a redemption from sin, and death, and hell. Then taking the cup in like manner, after his solemn benediction, he bid them all drink of it, as they did; and this he explains as his blood of the New Testament; by the shedding of which, all the promises of the covenant of grace would be confirmed to them, and to as many as in faith received these instituted feals of that covenant. And barringon our Lord taken his farewell of them, till the day came when they should sit down with him in glory, and drink the new wine in the kingdom of God, partaking of the joys at his right hand for evermore. Then closing the solemnity with an hymn, they departed for the mount of Olives. 4. In the way to the retirement whether Jefus went, he took occasion to warn his disciples of their approaching deference of him, which the scripture had foretold, and they were about to fulfil that very night. But to encourage them to return to him again, he lets them know, though he should be smitten, and they scattered from him, yet after his resurrection, they should again see him to their comfort in Galilee. Peter, shocked at the thought, confessed in himself, and with warmth refraining the suspicion, solemnly engages, though every one of his brethren, like Judas, should desert his matter, he never would. And, notwithstanding the repeated warnings our Lord gives him, that he would not only forsake, but deny him before the morning returned; more resolute and pretempoury than before, Peter with vehemence insists he will die with him, sooner than deny him. And all the rest, unwilling to be outdone in assurances of fidelity, declared this also to be their determined resolution. Nieu, (1.) We know not our own hearts, when we confidently boast what we will do. The full temptation will prove our weakness. (2.) Many are discouraged from the Lord’s table, for fear of falling afterwards, as if every dishequent sin was mortal; but though no doubt we are called to use peculiar watchfulness, we shall not think, if we fall, the door of grace is shut. The disciples, immediately after the bereaved, fell, and foully too; and yet the Lord recalled and recovered them. Let us not then despair. 32. And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith me his disciples, Sir ye here, while I shall pray. 33. And he taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy, 34. And saith unto them, ‘My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 35. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed, that if it were possible the hour might pass from him. 36. And he said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee, take away this cup from me: nevertheless, not what I will but what thou will. 37. And he cometh and hordeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepeth thou? confesseth not thou watch me hour? 38. Watch ye, and pray, lest ye enter into temptation: the spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. 39. And again he went away and prayed, and spake the same words. 40. And when he returned, he found them asleep again (for their eyes were heavy) neither with they what to answer him. 41. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42. Arise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.

Mark 14:32-42

We have before us the amazing scene of the Redeemer’s agony in the garden Gethsemane. Having left eight of his disciples at a greater distance, he took three of them to be nearer spectators of his suffering. 1. His anguish was unintended. Amazement and horror issued his God, and a feast of the divine wrath superdied his conscience with its intolerable load. Sorrows, like the agonies of death, compassed him about; and pains, like those the damned feel, get hold upon him. He acquaints his three disciples with something of what he endured, which words were too feeble to express, and hide them tarry there, and watch with him, in this hour of temptation. We may here, as in a glass, observe, (1.) The dreadful evil of sin, and every pang the Redeemer feels should be a dagger to our hearts, beggiting sleepeth self-abhorrence and most unfeigned grief for those abominations, which nothing but those suffering of the Son of God could expiste. (2.) The sure foundation of our faith. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all: these agonizing pains are the ransom he pays to satisfy the justice of an offended God; and having accepted one for all, there is no more condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus. (3.) The inexprecisely transcendent love of our Lord and Saviour, willingly reigning himself thus for our fakes: what returns, then, do we not owe him? (4.) The comfort procured for us under our affliction and dejection. Whatever we suffer, Jesus hath drank deeper of the bitter cup; and having been thus tempered himself, can tenderly feel for us, and will succour us under our forrows, and bring us happily to the end of them. 2. His prayer was humble, fervent, impetunate, submissive. As man, he could not but with the bitter cup might remove; as mediator, he bowed submissive to his Father’s will, content, whatever must be endured, to finish the work which God had given him to do. Thrice he renews the same request, and thrice reigns himself to suffer whatever might be for the glory of the divine Justice to indict. Nieu, (1.) We are not forbid to mourn and pray for the removal of our burdens, even when most resigned to suffer God’s holy will. (2.) Though our troubles are not soon removed, we must not be weary in wait- Ag. Chk. XIV.

ing upon God. In his time they shall end, and we shall finally receive the answer of peace, if we faint not; either deliverance from our trials, or strength to endure them.

3. On coming to his disciples, he finds them asleep, and therefore rouses them with a just and sharp rebuke, especially addressed to Simon, who had lately appeared so zealous, and promised hath distinguished fidelity. How shameful that they could not watch one hour with their agonizing matter? or if not for his sake, at least for their own, when it was so careful for them to watch and pray; such temptation being ready to overtake them, as nothing but almighty grace could enable them to bear; but whilst he thus upbraids and warns, the tender Saviour pities them, and kindly seeks to excuse what he must condemn. Their spirit was willing, he knew their hearts, but the flesh was weak to withstand the effects of weariness and the oppression of grief: and the infirmities incident to this feeble frame, disabled them from doing what they desired. A second time he goes to pour out his sorrows before God; again he returns, and they are asleep, and when awakened, unable to answer his just rebuke, after having received such repeated admonition. The third time he resists to redouble his eries, yet finds them on his return sleeping still. Now therefore he bids them stay on, if they dared any longer; or rather, until ye sleep ye? when danger was now at the door; he calls them, therefore, to go with him, to meet his betrayer. Note, (1.) Sloffsfulness in prayer is usually the forerunner of sad faith. (2.) Jesus, by his word and providences, is repeatedly knocking at our stupid hearts, to awaken our attention, and rouse us to watchfulness and prayer. (3.) Those who have made the strongest professions are peculiarly criminal if they act unfaithly. (4.) It is well for us we have a compassionate high priest who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and see that the spirit of his people is willing, even when through the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright. (5.) They who do not watch and pray when danger threatens, will be unprepared to meet it, and sink under the temptation.

a Mar. xxvi. 43. Luke and 47. John and 5. 5. Acts. vi. 6. Ps. xx. vi. a Sam. xx. 9. a Sam. ix. xx. Acts ii. 13. 7. Sam. xii. 19. a Pl. xvii. xx. Ha. Int. v. Der. xx. xii. Acts xxx. 15. a Job xx. 15. Ver. pp.

43. ¶ And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh justay, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders. 44. And he that betrayed him, had given them a token, saying, Whoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. 45. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him. 46. ¶ And they laid their hands on him, and took him. 47. And one of them that stood by, drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 48. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out as against a thief, with swords and saith staves, to take me? 49. I was daily with you in the temple, teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled. 50. And they all forsook him and fled. 51. And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him. 52. And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

Mark 14:43-52

His internal sufferings in the garden being ended, his external sufferings begin; so fast doth hollow roll on billow, till all the florms of wrath are gone over him.

1. He is apprehended by a band of men sent from the chief priests, scribes, and elders, under the conduct of Judas the traitor; who, as it was night, that they might not mistake the person of Jesus, gave them this signal, that they might know him, by his going up and kissing him. And hereupon, with great pretended respect, approaching Christ, he kissed him, and they who were at his heels laid hands upon him. Note, (1.) Apostles ever prove the blackest instruments of hell, and no heights of office, or profession, is safe from temptation. We need not stumble at the falls of the greatest apparent christians, when we see an apostle a traitor and a devil. (2.) The safest schemes of villainy are often crowned with success, and the wicked triumphant, but their time is short.

2. Peter, ever violents, no sooner saw his matter apprehended, than he attempted a rescue; and drawing his sword, struck at one of the men who had seized Jesus, and cut off his ear: his intention was good, but his zeal intemperate. Note, (1.) Many have more zeal than prudence, and their good intentions are no excuse for their rathness. (2.) In times of persecution, it is much safer to draw the sword and sight, than patiently to bow down and meekly suffer.

3. Christ expolthiases with his enemies on this clandestine manner of apprehending him, as if he had been some infamous villain and murderer that needed to be seized, and overpowered with arms and numbers, when they knew he had every day appeared in the temple, where they might easily have taken him;

but the scriptures must be fulfilled their spots of his betrayal and sufferings, and the slight of his disciples: for they no sooner saw him submit quietly to be bound, than they all forsook him and fled, glad every one to shift for himself, least they also should be apprehended. Note, (1.) The most innocent men are often proceeded against, as if they were the viles of mankind, and such apprehensions studiously raised against them, to cloak the malice of their persecution. (2.) The fulfillment of the scriptures should be a great comfort to us under all our sufferings for Christ’s sake: thus, we see, it must be. (3.) We need not think it strange, if in times when we must need such support, our dearest friends abandon us, through fear of being involved in our troubles. In these reasons we should remember Jesus in the garden.

4. A young man near the garden; probably disturbed by the noise, flared up from his bed, and ran down with only a short about him, or some linen garment, to enquire into the cause, and followed the crowd a little way. Being observed by one of the soldiers, and perhaps suspected for a disciple, they attempted to lay hold of him; but with the loss of his garment, he got hoole, and fled naked. This incident seems to be related to show the inveteracy of these enemies of Jesus; none that looked like his disciples might expect to meet any quarter with them.

5. ¶ And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, and the elders and the scribes. 54. And Peter followed him, afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. 55. And the chief priests, and all the counsel sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. 56. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. 57. And they arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, 58. We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. 59. But neither so did their witness agree together. 60. And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? 61. But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62. And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 63. Then the high priest sent his clothes, and saith, What need we any farther witnesses? 64. We have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. 65. And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to bollet him, and to say unto him, Prophecy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

Mark 14:53-65

Our blessed Lord, after being dragged through the streets, as a criminal, is here carried before the high-priest and Sanhedrim, in order that some matter of accusation might be found whereon to ground his condemnation: and Peter, now a little recovered from his fright, and prompted by strong curiosity to see the end, at a distance followed the hand; and having got admission into the palace, sat and warmed himself with the servants at the fire, presuming in such company none would take him for a disciple. We are here informed,

1. What pains were taken to doom false witnesses, in order to have a pretence for putting Jesus to death: this being their bloody resolution, and the process a mere veil to cover the murder. But though many, to please the priests, witnessed against him, and some perverting the words which he had spoken of the temple of his body some years before, and applying them to the temple of Jerusalem, would have represented him as the enemy to their worship and religion, yet all the charges they could muster up amounted to nothing capital, whilst the most glaring contradictions appeared in their evidence.

2. Unable to condemn him upon the evidence of others, the high-priest seeks to extort from himself something more material. Finding him silent under all these frivolous and false accusations, and not to be prevailed upon to reply ought to these charges, he rose with vehemences, and solemnly assured him to say directly, whether he really was, as he pretended, the Messiah, the Son of the blessed God! Then Jesus, undismayed, with dignity becoming his office, assured his divine mission and character, with an awful warning to them who now thus despised and set him at nought, that the time would come when they should tremble at his pretence, and behold him executing his temporal judgments on their place and nation, and yet more fearfully meet him at the great day, when they must stand at his tribunal, and perish eternally. Pretending indignation against

what what he termed blasphem, the high-priest rent his cloaths, exclaimed against the need of further evidences, and, branding him as a blasphem, appealed to the rest for their opinion; who, following such a wicked example, unanimously condemned him to death. Note, (1.) We may not be staggered if we see the most reverend, aged, wise, and noble, conjuring against the cause of Jesus, and perfecting his people. By such was Jesus himself condemned. (2.) The silence of our Redeemer under every accultation should teach us patience when we are thus reviled, committing our cause to him that judgeth rightnows. (3.) It is easy to brand those as blasphemers who in the highest, desire to give glory to God. The hell men have often been derfied up in the most shocking colours, and blackened with the most opprobrious names, in order to make the perfection of them appear necessary and laudable. 3. No sooner was judgment given against him, than they began to inflict him with the most previous indignation. They spit upon him, blindfolded him, buffeted him, struck him on the face, and in derision hid him exercise his prophetical office, by telling who foote him. Thus did not he hide his face from shame and spitting, that we might be enabled without shame to stand before the tribunal of God. 66. ¶ And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest. 67. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also waft with Jesus of Nazareth. 68. But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch: and the cock crew. 69. And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that thank by, This is one of them. 70. And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art me of them: for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. 71. But he began to curle and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. 72. And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny the thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. 9. 66—72. Peter’s fall had been foretold, and we here see the prediction badly verified. 1. He had rushed needlessly into temptation, and thrust himself into the midst of bad company, and then no marvel he fell. He was first ashamed of Christ, and that was but one step from shoying him. Note, They who care not to be found among the disciples of Jesus because it is reproachful, and associate with the world in order to gain refutation, and to be thought well of, will pierce themselves through with many sorrows. 2. On the slightest trial Peter repeatedly denied and disowned his Master, and from words defended to oaths, sealing perish and lies with foulest perjury. Lord, what is man, when left to himself! A servant-mind confounded the chief of the appointee, when trusting for a moment to the strength of his own resolution. Peter’s mouth hardly knew how to pronounce an oath, and would before have shuddered at the thought; but, when a lie had first opened the door, profaneness and perjury easily entered. When once we turn aside from the path of truth never to little, none know to what dreadful lengths they may be hurried. Complicated crimes loaded the apostles’ conscience; denial of his Master, falsehood before God, repeated lies, horrid profanness, and wilful perjury. Yet even this is of use. Many a poor finner might have despaired, if he had not seen such examples, and read in their pardon and recovery the possibility of his own. 3. When he was sunk into the lowest depths of sin, then was the time for the almighty, sovereign, saving grace of Jesus to appear. Once had the cock crowed, after his first denial of his Master, and that warning had passed unnoticed; for, till God softens the heart, all alarms of providence or the word are disregarded. The second time after his repeated crimes this herald of God reminds him of his Master’s words, and his dire fulfillment of them. And now in full view his horrid guilt flared him in the face: every reflection shocked him; and, unable to hear that place, he retired to pour out in tears his bitter anguish. Some render the words, covering his face as a mourner, he wept bitterly, with penitential sorrow returning to a pardoning God. And it stands upon record, for the comfort of the chief of sinners, that he found mercy with him.