THE DECISION OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS. Two days before the Passover, _i.e._ on Wednesday, if the feast day began on Friday at even, the religious leaders resolve to destroy Jesus, if possible before the feast begins. This decision explains the haste which marks the closing scenes. It also gives the pref... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANOINTING OF JESUS. Lk. records a parallel incident (not an alternative version of the same story) earlier in the life of Jesus. Jn. (John 12:1) places the event six days before the Passover. This change may be motived by symbolism, as the Paschal lamb was chosen on 10th of Nisan. But Mk.'s date... [ Continue Reading ]
MARK 14:10 F. THE BETRAYAL. Judas helps the chief priests in the way they need. He undertakes to hand over Jesus quietly, without attracting the crowd. Schweitzer supposes Judas to have betrayed the Messianic secret which gave the chief priest confidence to put his question in Mark 6:2. But no such... [ Continue Reading ]
PREPARATION FOR THE LAST SUPPER. Mk. regards the last supper as the Passover; contrast John 13:29; John 18:28; John 19:14. In this incident Jesus shows a supernatural knowledge of circumstances as yet unrealised, as in the case of the triumphal entry (Mark 11:1 f.). But is it not possible that here... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS REVEALS THE TREACHERY OF JUDAS. The other evangelists regard Judas as present at this meal. Mk. implies it, but does not explicitly state it. The reference to the Twelve in Mark 14:17 may be simply conventional (_cf._ 1 Corinthians 15:5). He that eateth with me (Mark 14:18) may not point to th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BREAD AND THE WINE. After the eating of the lamb, the householder broke bread and distributed it, and then sent round the cup of blessing. Jesus seems to have invested this part of the meal with special significance. He associates it with His approaching death, He links the thought of His death... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE WAY TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES JESUS FORETELLS THE FAILURE OF THE DISCIPLES. Having concluded the feast by singing the second half of the Hallel (Psalms 115-118), Jesus and His disciples go out to the Mount of Olives. Jesus warns His disciples that they will desert and deny Him. The warning is as... [ Continue Reading ]
GETHSEMANE. On the other side of the brook Kidron, in a garden called Gethsemane (= oil-press) Jesus took the three most intimate disciples aside to help Him bear the burden of surrender. It has been suggested that they were not physically close enough to Jesus to hear the words of His prayer. Then,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ARREST. Judas, familiar with Gethsemane, now comes with a band hastily armed with clubs and short swords such as private persons carried. They come as if expecting resistance, and one of them loses an ear (there is no miracle of healing in Mk. at this point). They treat Jesus as a bandit. A band... [ Continue Reading ]
MARK 14:51 F. THE YOUNG MAN WHO FLED NAKED. A curious little incident peculiar to Mk. Is it a popular addition to the story, recalling Genesis 39:12 (so HNT), or is it a fulfilment of Amos 2:16 (so Loisy)? It is more naturally interpreted as a personal experience of the evangelist, as his signature... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TRIAL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN. This trial is irregular in many ways. It was unlawful to hold such a trial at night. It is not, therefore, unhistorical (Montefiore, i. 345f.). Mk. speaks of the whole Sanhedrin meeting and of all condemning Jesus (Mark 14:55; Mark 14:64). This is his customary popula... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER'S DENIAL. Peter had followed into the inner court of the chief priest's palace (Mark 14:54). Here he is challenged by a maid-servant. He denies all knowledge and understanding of her meaning. The redundancy of the sentence befits his embarrassment. Later, in the porch that gave access to the c... [ Continue Reading ]