Mark 14

Mark 14:1

We have now come to the longest chapter in Mark’s Gospel. To set the stage for this drama, it should be noted that Jesus is not so much the main Actor as He is the One being acted upon; not so much the Deliverer, as He is the One delivered into the hands of men, for in the chapter before us, we will see Mary anointing Him, Judas betraying Him, the religious leaders arresting Him, and finally Peter denying Him. We know from Joh_11:2 that this woman was Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. It is not surprising that Mary would be here. After all, it is at the feet of Jesus that we most often see her… While her sister stewed in the kitchen, Mary sat at the feet of her Savior (Luk_10:39). In grief over her brother’s death, Mary poured out her heart at the feet of her Master (Joh_11:32). Here, in the house of Simon, we will see her worship her Redeemer. Whether in the hour of happiness when He was teaching, in the season of sadness when her brother had died, or in this time of questioning as she tries to make sense of Jesus coming to Jerusalem to go to the Cross, Mary positioned herself at His feet. To keep their money secure, people in Jesus’ day often invested it in costly perfumes or ointments that would be hidden in a house or buried in a field. In this case, the spikenard, which was from India, would be worth a year’s salary. This spikenard was very possibly Mary’s dowrythat which she would have presented to her husband at the time of her marriage. If indeed this was the case, in pouring it out upon Jesus, she was signifying that she was ready to give up everything, even marriage, in order to devote herself completely, tenderly, wholeheartedly to Him.

Mark 14:4

John tells us it was the treasurer of the apostolic bandJudas Iscariotwho said this. “This money could have been used for the poor,” he protested. Yet he said this not because he cared for the poor, but because he held the bag and was a thief (Joh_12:4-6). The Greek word translated “waste,” describing Judas’s estimation of Mary’s act, literally means “perdition"the same word Jesus would use to describe Judas himself (Joh_17:12). Although Judas cared nothing for the poor but simply wanted to steal the money, the others evidently believed his argument. Whenever there is group activity, look for the real agenda of those spearheading the group. Others might be sincere, but oftentimes, the one making the most noise has another agenda entirely.

Mark 14:6

Poverty will never be solved by political realignment or economic adjustment because, be it the result of slothfulness or greed, poverty is a matter of the spirit. Until Jesus comes back and makes things right, the poor will indeed always be among us. Therefore, the answer to poverty is not economics or politics, but a change in the heart of man.

Mark 14:8

Mary wouldn’t be able to keep the priests from falsely accusing Jesus, the crowds from mocking Him, the soldiers from crucifying Himbut she could pour oil upon Him in an act of worshipful acknowledgment that He had come to die. And in so doing, Mary did what she could. You might not be able to speak to large groups of people. You might be unable to preach, lead worship, or sing. But can you bake some bread for someone in need? Can you make a hospital visit? Can you mow a lawn? Too often I focus on what I can’t do instead of seeing what I can do. Mary did what she could. And Jesus commends her. Jesus told His disciples directly that He was going to die, be buried, and resurrect from the dead. But they didn’t understand. Yet because she sat at Jesus’ feet, Mary was able to understand that which the disciples missed.

Mark 14:9

John tells us that after pouring ointment upon Jesus’ head, Mary wiped His feet with her hair (Joh_12:3). As a result, her hair took on the same fragrance as His feet. She smelled just like Jesus. That’s what worship does. Are you tired of being a stinky person? One of the surest ways to change your fragrance is to be a worshiper. Pour out your love for the Lord in your morning devotions, in worship corporately, in worship dailyand you will find your entire attitude beginning to change. Furthermore, not only did Mary’s fragrance begin to change, but the house began to take on the fragrance of Christ as well. Is there a stench in your house? Are tempers flaring? Are cross words being spoken? How long has it been since you’ve had family devotionswhere you’ve sat down with your kids or as a couple to spend time worshiping the Lord? When you pour out your praise, when you worship the Lord, His fragrance fills the house. Finally, Mary’s act of worship affected the entire community. Throughout history, Bethany is a place of which people who know the Word and love the Lord have been very aware. Why? Because one woman poured out worship. The early church referred to this event often in its preaching and teaching. So does the church todayas all around the world Mary’s singular act of worship is spoken of constantly.

Mark 14:10

It would seem that it was Jesus’ commendation of Mary’s worship that moved Judas to betray Him.

Mark 14:12

Carrying water was the job of women, so a man carrying a jar of water would have stood out even in a crowd.

Mark 14:15

Many Bible scholars believe this Upper Room was owned by the mother of John Mark, the author of this Gospel. Most likely, it was the same room wherein the disciples met on the Day of Pentecost.

Mark 14:16

Only a few days previously, the disciples had argued over who was the greatest (Mar_9:34). At that time Jesus was not in their midst. Whenever Jesus is not in our midst, we start arguing over our position, our importance, our greatness. But now, in the presence of Jesus, their attitudes change radically. They’re not asking “Who’s the greatest?” They’re asking, “Will I be the one to deny You?” True humility is always the result of true intimacy with Jesus Christ. If I am close to the Lord at any given moment, rather than boasting of my greatness, I’ll be aware of my weakness and His graciousness. “Woe unto you,” said Isaiah the prophet to all of the nations round about Israel in chapters 1-5 of the book that bears his name. But when he saw the Lord high and lifted up, he said, “Woe is me” (Isa_6:5). If we are those who are either overtly or secretly saying, “Woe to you; woe to you; woe to you,” it’s probably because we haven’t seen the Lord as clearly as we should, for once we see Him, we see how sinful and unworthy we are ourselves and find ourselves joining the disciples in asking, “Is it I, Lord? Could I be the one who sells You out? Could I be the one who turns my back? Could I be the one who walks away?”

Mark 14:20

Don’t think of the Last Supper as being served on a long maple table with everyone seated in New England ladder-back chairs on the same side of the table to pose for the picture. That’s not the way it was. In those days, meals were served on a u-shaped table that was low to the ground. To eat, one would recline around the table, leaning on his right arm and using his left to dip bread into a common dish. From John’s Gospel we know that John was on Jesus’ right side (Joh_13:23). This means the one who dipped his hand into the dish with the Lord must have been on his left sidewhich was always the place of honor.

In other words, Jesus gave Judas the place of honor the very night he betrayed Him. And when Judas would come a few hours later with the soldiers who would arrest Him, Jesus would say to Judas, “Friend, wherefore art thou come?” (Mat_26:50). Until the end, Jesus gave Judas an opportunity to repent. This blesses me greatly because if Jesus placed Judas in a place of honor, and to the very end called him friend, He is a Friend closer than a brother indeed (Pro_18:24). Jesus wasn’t saying He wished Judas had never been born. Rather, brokenheartedly, He was saying it would have been better for Judas had he never been born. The same still holds true for any man. He who is not born again soon will wish he had never been born at all because hell is a real place wherein the fire is never quenched and the worm dies not (Mar_9:43-44).

Mark 14:22

After eating the bread, the cup would be passed seven times. Evidently, on the seventh time, Jesus refused to drink from the cup, but said He would wait until He could drink it with us in the kingdom.

Mark 14:26

Crossing the Kidron Valley, Jesus and His disciples made their way up the side of the Mount of Olives.

Mark 14:27

“Lord, I’ll never leave You,” Peter insisted, cock-sure of his loyalty.

Mark 14:30

“You’re crowing about how great you are, Peter, but you’ll soon discover otherwise,” said Jesus.

Mark 14:31

Facing spiritual and physical suffering more intense than anything we can imagine, Jesus went to the garden to prayand asked Peter, James, and John to accompany Him. He didn’t ask them to pray with Himsimply to be with Him. I find it interesting that during the most intense time of His whole life, Jesus would want human companionship. There is no shortage of people who will say, “Lord, I’ll work for You.” But I wonder how many say, “Lord, I’m taking some time just to be with You.”

Mark 14:34

Why could Jesus submit to God’s will? Because He understood God’s nature. Jesus saw God not as a Cosmic Killjoy or an angry cop, but as a Father, a Papa, an Abba. The greatest prayer of faith we make is when we say, “Lord, here’s my perspective, my intentionbut it is Your will that must be done because You see things I don’t; You know things I can’t.” When you are truly secure in who the Father is, you’ll find yourself praying His will to be done rather than demanding that your own plan be enacted.

Mark 14:37

Jesus had changed Peter’s name from Simon, or “Shifting Sand,” to Peter, or “Rock” (Mat_16:18). Here, finding him sleeping, Jesus calls him Simon once again.

Mark 14:38

True prayer is as much protection as it is petition. Things happen to me that wouldn’t have happened had I prayed. And the same is true for you.

Mark 14:39

With a time gap of unknown duration between verse Mar_14:41 and Mar_14:42, Jesus told His disciples to give in to the sleep that continued to overtake them.

Mark 14:42

Jesus could rise up because He had already knelt down. He could stand up because He already had bowed down. Jesus found strength for this moment because of the time He had spent in prayer.

Mark 14:43

We know from Joh_18:10 that the one who smote the servant of the high priest was Peter. Perhaps the reason he’s not identified here by name is because Mark’s Gospel is his story, maybe he wanted to distance himself from this incident. Peter used the wrong weapon at the wrong time for the wrong purpose with the wrong motive. So, too, any time I use the Sword of the Spiritthe Wordto chop someone else down, I will only leave ears in my wake. “Put away your sword,” Jesus said to Peter (Mat_26:52). And I wonder if He doesn’t whisper the same thing to some of us from time to time. Regardless of how many Bible verses we know, if we’re chopping off ears and people are bleeding because we’re trying to prove our own spirituality, we’re in error. Luke tells us the Lord stooped down, picked up Malchus’ ear and reattached it (Luk_22:51). Likewise, He restores the ears I’ve chopped off and corrects the mistakes I’ve made. After the Lord corrected him, Peter quit swinging and put down his sword. And so must we.

Mark 14:48

Jesus’ teaching was available to anyone and everyone. He didn’t have an esoteric secret agenda to share with a few chosen ones. Rather, He gave His teaching publicly, openly to everyone, to anyone who wanted to listen.

Mark 14:50

“Let him who thinks he stand take heed lest he fall,” Paul warns us (1Co_10:12). The same one who just a few hours previously had declared, “Lord, I will never forsake You,” now fled.

Mark 14:51

Most commentators agree that this young man was John Mark. Most likely a teenager at this time, awakened by the sound of the commotion outside, he probably quickly wrapped himself in a sheet and followed the soldiers to the Garden of Gethsemanefleeing the scene when things looked dangerous.

Mark 14:53

Peter was cold not only physically but spirituallywhich would lead to his denial of Christ altogether. Was there a time when you were following the Lord with a “front-row” mentality before your schedule filled with hobbies and activities to the point that now you’re following Him “afar off”? Peter became so cold that he sought to warm himself by the enemy’s fire. So, too, your desire to warm yourself by the fires of the old gang or your old haunts will be proportionate to the distance you have allowed between yourself and the Lord.

Mark 14:55

As we see in the next chapter, the reason the priests and leaders were determined to see Jesus killed was simply envy. Realizing there was something about Him that attracted people to Him, they sought to do away with Him. And wanting to give their actions the appearance of legality, they called men who would bear false witness against Him. What is false witness? It’s not always an outright whopper of a lie. As in this case, it’s simply the right information but with the wrong implication. Jesus did indeed say He would destroy the templebut He was talking about His own body (Joh_2:19-21).

Mark 14:60

“Who shall I say sent me?” Moses asked. “I am that I am,” God answered (Exo_3:14). And here, Jesus uses the same name. After speaking of His deity, Jesus immediately refers to His humanity, using a phrase from Dan_7:13, which speaks of Messiah’s humanity.

Mark 14:63

Even as Caiaphas ripped his clothes, the validity would be ripped from the priesthood of Aaron, and the veil in the temple would be ripped in two, signifying that the entire temple system would no longer be necessary.

Mark 14:65

“When someone smites you, turn the other cheek,” Jesus had taught (Luk_6:29). Did He do this? There being no inconsistency whatsoever between what He said and what He did, Jesus not only turned His cheek, but He also gave His entire body to die for the very men who beat Him.

Mark 14:66

As Peter discovered, our attempts to warm ourselves by the world’s fires always backfire. As believers, our accent betrays us. We don’t laugh as hard as we once did; we don’t enter in as freely as we used to because although we have too much of the world to enjoy the Lord, we also have too much of the Lord to enjoy the world.

Mark 14:71

When their nets became tangled on the bottom of the sea, fishermen resorted to using the most vulgar oaths and cursing. Having hit bottom himself, Peter is tangled up in his own pride and sin, and therefore does what came naturally to the fisherman he had been.

Mark 14:72

Due to the mess they made, roosters were not allowed in the city of Jerusalem. Therefore, a rooster’s crow would have been a strange sound. But, in this case, it was an appropriate one because Peter surely had made a mess of things. Translated “wept,” the Greek word doesn’t mean to shed a silent tear. Rather, it means to convulse in sorrow. At this point, as far as Peter knew, his relationship with Jesus was permanently and totally severed. As far as he knew, his sin was unpardonable. No wonder he wept.