Mark 14

AFter two days, was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.

But they said, not on the feast-day, lest there be an uproar of the people. Matthew says the same, only he bringeth it in, as said to the Disciples by Christ. This must be said upon that day in the Week, which we call Tuesday,) for Friday was the Passover Day, when began the Feast of Unleavened Bread. See other things in the Notes on Matth. 26.1, 2, 3.

And being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster-box of ointment of spikenard, very precious, and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this wast of the ointment made?

For it might have been sold for more then three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

And Jesus said, Let her alone, why trouble ye her? she has wrought a good work on me.

For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will, ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

She hoth done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she has done, shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. See the Notes on Matth. 26.6, 7, 8, &c. where this piece of History is fully considered, with the differing circumstances related by our Evangelist, and by St. Iohn.

And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him mony. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him. See the Notes on Matth. 26.14, 15, 16.

And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare, that thou mayest eat the passover?

And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and says unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.

And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the good-man of the house, The Master says, Where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. See the Notes on Matth. 26.17, 18, 19.

And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me, shall betray me.

And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I, and another said, Is it I.

And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.

The Son of man indeed goeth, as it it is writen of him: but wo to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed: good were it for that man, if he had never been born. See the Notes on Matth 26.20, 21, 22, 23.24, 25. where is opened whatever is necessary for the understanding of these Words, in which nothing of moment is varied, save only that Matthew reporteth Iudas as being at this time particularly discovered. Iohn has nothing of this, unless the Supper mentioned, Chap. 13. where this Supper, of which more shall be said in its order.

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat, this is my body.

And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

And he said unto them, This is my bloud of the new testament, which is shed for many.

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.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. See the Notes on Matth. 26.26, 27, 28, 29, 30. where the very small differences betwixt our Evangelist and Matthew, and Luke are also considered.

And Jesus says unto them, All ye shall be offended, because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

And Jesus says unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this day, even in this night before the cock crow twice thou shalt deny me thrice.

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. See the Notes on all the discourse Matth. 26.31, 32, 33, &c.

And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he says to his disciples, Sit ye here while I shall pray.

And he taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy.

And says unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.

And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed, that if it were possible the hour might pass from him.

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 wilt.

And he cometh and findeth them sleeping, and faith unto Peter, Simon sleepest thou? couldst not thou watch one hour?

Watch ye, and pray, lest ye enter into temptation: the spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

And again he went away and prayed, and spake the same words.

And when he returned, he found them asleep again for their eyes were heavy, neither wist they what to answer him.

And he cometh the third time, and says 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.

Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand. See the Notes on Matth. 26.36. to v. 46.

And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders.

And he that betrayed him, had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.

And assoon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and says, Master, master, and kissed him. See the Notes on Matth. 26.47, 48, 49, 50.

And they laid their hands on him, and took him.

And one of them that stood by, drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priests, and cut off his ear.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out as against a thief, with swords and with staves, to take me?

I was daily with you in the temple, teaching, and ye took me not, But the scriptures must be fulfilled.

And they all forsook him, and fled. Having to complete the History of the Passion, especially as to what is said of it by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, in my Notes on Matthew, considered all passages relating to what Matthew says, the things here mentioned being opened in our Notes on Matth. 26.47, 48, 49.50. need not here again be inlarged upon.

And there followed him a certain young man, having a linnen cloth cast about his naked body, and the young men laid hold on him.

And he left the linnen cloth, and fled from them naked. This part of the History is only recorded by Mark: what has made some affirm that this was St. Iohn, I cannot tell. Iohn was one of the eleven, that were with Christ, when Iudas came, and tho we find him asleep a little before, yet we read not that he was gone to bed, nor can conceive there was any, at or near the place. The garment in which he was, in all probability, was a Night garment. It is certain it was a loose garment, he could not else when he was apprehended, have so soon quit himself of it, and being quit of that it seemeth he was quit of all, for the Text says, he fled from them naked, nor does the Text give him the honour to call him a Disciple of Christ at large. Probably, it was some young man, who being in his Bed, and hearing the noise of the multitude, going by his lodging with Swords and Staves, got up, slipt on his Night garment, and followed them, to see what the matter was, and they having apprehended Christ, he followed them. And possibly his unusual habit, made them take the more notice of him, staying when the Disciples were all fled. Nor can the reason be well given why Mark should record such a passage, unless it were to tell us what we must expect, from the rage of Persecutors, viz. That our own innocency should not defend us. This young Man was not concerned in Christ, only came as a Spectator, without any Arms. But the Sword of Persecution, useth not to distinguish perfectly. The Basilisk (they say) will fly at the picture of a Man.

And they led Jesus away to the high priest, and with him were assembled all the chief priests, and the elders, and the scribes.

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.

And the chief priests, and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.

For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,

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.

But neither so did their witness agree together.

And the high priest stood up in the mids, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

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?

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.

Then the high priest rent his clothes, and said, What need we any further witnesses?

Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesie, And the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands. This History of our Saviours examination before the High Priest we had Matth. 26. from v. 57. to 69. See the Notes there. It should seem the High Priests, and Council were very eager upon this thing. This Council seems to have sat up all Night, for early in the Morning they carried him (condemned by them) to Pilate, and before twelve, they brought him out of the City to be Crucified. These wretched Hypocrites, had but the evening before been taking the Passover. It was now the Feast of Vnleavened Bread. This was now the first Fruit of their thanksgiving to God, for bringing them out of the Land of Aegypt. Besides that their keeping a Court of Judgment in a capital case, on an Holyday, or in the Night, were things against all rules of order. But the rage of Persecutors can be neither bounded by the Laws of God or Men. If the Servants of God still be thus treated, they are in this more like Christ, who has told them, That the Disciple is not above his Master. But see further in the Notes on Matth. 26.

And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest.

And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.

But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.

And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.

And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.

But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

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 me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. All four Evangelists give us an account of this History of Peter's denial of his Master. We have considered what they all say to complete the History, in our Notes on Matth. 26.69, 70, 71, 72, &c. To which I see no reason to add any thing but the observation. 1. How contemptible means God often useth to take down our Pride, and self-confidences. Peter a great Apostle is here humbled by the means of two Maids. 2. How naturally one Sin draws on another. Peter first telleth a Lye, then to Lying, addeth Swearing, and Cursing. 3. How necessary it is for those that would keep from Sin, to keep out of Sinners company. I am (says David) a companion of them that fear thee. 4. How profitable Words from God are for the time to come, tho at present we find not the use, and advantage of them. 5. How different the Sinnings of Reprobates, and Saints are, as to the consequences and issues. Iudas Sins, repents, and hangs himself. Peter goeth out and weepeth bitterly. Iudas repented unto Death. Peter repenteth unto Life. See more with reference to this History, in our Notes on Matth. 26.75. Thus far we have heard Christs trial, before the Ecclesiastical Court of the Iews. Thus far what he said Chap. 10.33. is made good. He is delivered to the chief Priests, and the Scribes, and they have (as we have heard) condemned him to Death, but he also said there.—And they shall deliver him to the Gentiles, And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him. We must see those Words verified in the insuing part of the History, in the next Chapter.