Mark 14
14
1 Now the feast of Passover and of Unleavened Bread was two days away. And the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, were seeking a means by which they might deceitfully seize him and kill him.
2 But they said, "Not on the feast day, lest perhaps there may be a tumult among the people."
3 And when he was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, and was reclining to eat, a woman arrived having an alabaster container of ointment, of precious spikenard. And breaking open the alabaster container, she poured it over his head.
4 But there were some who became indignant within themselves and who were saying: "What is the reason for this waste of the ointment?
5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and been given to the poor." And they murmured against her.
6 But Jesus said: "Permit her. What is the reason that you trouble her? She has done a good deed for me.
7 For the poor, you have with you always. And whenever you wish, you are able to do good to them. But you do not have me always.
8 But she has done what she could. She has arrived in advance to anoint my body for burial.
9 Amen I say to you, wherever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the entire world, the things she has done also shall be told, in memory of her."
10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went away, to the leaders of the priests, in order to betray him to them.
11 And they, upon hearing it, were gladdened. And they promised him that they would give him money. And he sought an opportune means by which he might betray him.
12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they immolate the Passover, the disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
13 And he sent two of his disciples, and he said to them: "Go into the city. And you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water; follow him.
14 And wherever he will have entered, say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says: Where is my dining room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'
15 And he will show you a large cenacle, fully furnished. And there, you shall prepare it for us."
16 And his disciples departed and went into the city. And they found it just as he had told them. And they prepared the Passover.
17 Then, when evening came, he arrived with the twelve.
18 And while reclining and eating with them at table, Jesus said, "Amen I say to you, that one of you, who eats with me, will betray me."
19 But they began to be sorrowful and to say to him, one at a time: "Is it I?"
20 And he said to them: "It is one of the twelve, who dips his hand with me in the dish.
21 And indeed, the Son of man goes, just as it has been written of him. But woe to that man by whom the Son of man will be betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born."
22 And while eating with them, Jesus took bread. And blessing it, he broke it and gave it to them, and he said: "Take. This is my body."
23 And having taken the chalice, giving thanks, he gave it to them. And they all drank from it.
24 And he said to them: "This is my blood of the new covenant, which shall be shed for many.
25 Amen I say to you, that I will no longer drink from this fruit of the vine, until that day when I will drink it new in the kingdom of God."
26 And having sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
27 And Jesus said to them: "You will all fall away from me in this night. For it has been written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
28 But after I have risen again, I will go before you to Galilee."
29 Then Peter said to him, "Even if all will have fallen away from you, yet I will not."
30 And Jesus said to him, "Amen I say to you, that this day, in this night, before the rooster has uttered its voice twice, you will deny me three times."
31 But he spoke further, "Even if I must die along with you, I will not deny you." And they all spoke similarly also.
32 And they went to a country estate, by the name of Gethsemani. And he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I pray."
33 And he took Peter, and James, and John with him. And he began to be afraid and wearied.
34 And he said to them: "My soul is sorrowful, even unto death. Remain here and be vigilant."
35 And when he had proceeded on a little ways, he fell prostrate on the ground. And he prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.
36 And he said: "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this chalice from me. But let it be, not as I will, but as you will."
37 And he went and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter: "Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not able to be vigilant for one hour?
38 Watch and pray, so that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
39 And going away again, he prayed, saying the same words.
40 And upon returning, he found them sleeping yet again, (for their eyes were heavy) and they did not know how to respond to him.
41 And he arrived for the third time, and he said to them: "Sleep now, and take rest. It is enough. The hour has arrived. Behold, the Son of man will be betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42 Rise up, let us go. Behold, he who will betray me is near."
43 And while he was still speaking, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, arrived, and with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, sent from the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, and the elders.
44 Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying: "He whom I shall kiss, it is he. Take hold of him, and lead him away cautiously."
45 And when he had arrived, immediately drawing near to him, he said: "Hail, Master!" And he kissed him.
46 But they laid hands on him and held him.
47 Then a certain one of those standing near, drawing a sword, struck a servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
48 And in response, Jesus said to them: "Have you set out to apprehend me, just as if to a robber, with swords and clubs?
49 Daily, I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not take hold of me. But in this way, the scriptures are fulfilled."
50 Then his disciples, leaving him behind, all fled away.
51 Now a certain young man followed him, having nothing but a fine linen cloth over himself. And they took hold of him.
52 But he, rejecting the fine linen cloth, escaped from them naked.
53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the priests and the scribes and the elders came together.
54 But Peter followed him from a distance, even into the court of the high priest. And he sat with the servants at the fire and warmed himself.
55 Yet truly, the leaders of the priests and the entire council sought testimony against Jesus, so that they might deliver him to death, and they found none.
56 For many spoke false testimony against him, but their testimony did not agree.
57 And certain ones, rising up, bore false witness against him, saying:
58 "For we heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple, made with hands, and within three days I will build another, not made with hands.' "
59 And their testimony did not agree.
60 And the high priest, rising up in their midst, questioned Jesus, saying, "Do you have nothing to say in answer to the things that are brought against you by these ones?"
61 But he was silent and gave no answer. Again, the high priest questioned him, and he said to him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed God?"
62 Then Jesus said to him: "I am. And you shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the power of God and arriving with the clouds of heaven."
63 Then the high priest, rending his garments, said: "Why do we still require witnesses?
64 You have heard the blasphemy. How does it seem to you?" And they all condemned him, as guilty unto death.
65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face and to strike him with fists, and to say to him, "Prophesy." And the servants struck him with the palms their hands.
66 And while Peter was in the court below, one of the maidservants of the high priest arrived.
67 And when she had seen Peter warming himself, she stared at him, and she said: "You also were with Jesus of Nazareth."
68 But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you saying." And he went outside, in front of the court; and a rooster crowed.
69 Then again, when a maidservant had seen him, she began to say to the bystanders, "For this is one of them."
70 But he denied it again. And after a little while, again those standing near said to Peter: "In truth, you are one of them. For you, too, are a Galilean."
71 Then he began to curse and to swear, saying, "For I do not know this man, about whom you are speaking."
72 And immediately the rooster crowed again. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he began to weep.
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Mark 14: CPDV
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Mark 14
14
The Conspiracy Against Jesus. 1#14:1–16:8] In the movement of Mark’s gospel the cross is depicted as Jesus’ way to glory in accordance with the divine will. Thus the passion narrative is seen as the climax of Jesus’ ministry. The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread#The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread: the connection between the two festivals is reflected in Ex 12:3–20; 34:18; Lv 23:4–8; Nm 9:2–14; 28:16–17; Dt 16:1–8. The Passover commemorated the redemption from slavery and the departure of the Israelites from Egypt by night. It began at sundown after the Passover lamb was sacrificed in the temple in the afternoon of the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan. With the Passover supper on the same evening was associated the eating of unleavened bread. The latter was continued through Nisan 21, a reminder of the affliction of the Israelites and of the haste surrounding their departure. Praise and thanks to God for his goodness in the past were combined at this dual festival with the hope of future salvation. The chief priests…to death: the intent to put Jesus to death was plotted for a long time but delayed for fear of the crowd (Mk 3:6; 11:18; 12:12). were to take place in two days’ time.#Mt 26:2–5; Lk 22:1–2; Jn 11:45–53. So the chief priests and the scribes were seeking a way to arrest him by treachery and put him to death. 2They said, “Not during the festival, for fear that there may be a riot among the people.”
The Anointing at Bethany.#At Bethany on the Mount of Olives, a few miles from Jerusalem, in the house of Simon the leper, Jesus defends a woman’s loving action of anointing his head with perfumed oil in view of his impending death and burial as a criminal, in which case his body would not be anointed. See further the note on Jn 12:7. He assures the woman of the remembrance of her deed in the worldwide preaching of the good news. 3When he was in Bethany reclining at table in the house of Simon the leper,#Mt 26:6–13; Jn 12:1–8. a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil, costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it on his head. 4There were some who were indignant. “Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil? 5It could have been sold for more than three hundred days’ wages and the money given to the poor.” They were infuriated with her. 6Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me. 7The poor you will always have with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them, but you will not always have me. 8She has done what she could. She has anticipated anointing my body for burial. 9Amen, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
The Betrayal by Judas. 10#Mt 26:14–16; Lk 22:3–6. Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests to hand him over to them. 11When they heard him they were pleased and promised to pay him money. Then he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
Preparations for the Passover. 12#Mt 26:17–19; Lk 22:7–13. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb,#The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread…the Passover lamb: a less precise designation of the day for sacrificing the Passover lamb as evidenced by some rabbinical literature. For a more exact designation, see note on Mk 14:1. It was actually Nisan 14. his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water.#A man…carrying a jar of water: perhaps a prearranged signal, for only women ordinarily carried water in jars. The Greek word used here, however, implies simply a person and not necessarily a male. Follow him. 14Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 15Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” 16The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
The Betrayer. 17#Mt 26:20–24; Lk 22:21–23; Jn 13:21–26. When it was evening, he came with the Twelve. 18#One of you will betray me, one who is eating with me: contrasts the intimacy of table fellowship at the Passover meal with the treachery of the traitor; cf. Ps 41:10. And as they reclined at table and were eating, Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19They began to be distressed and to say to him, one by one, “Surely it is not I?” 20He said to them, “One of the Twelve, the one who dips with me into the dish. 21For the Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,#The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him: a reference to Ps 41:10 cited by Jesus concerning Judas at the Last Supper; cf. Jn 13:18–19. but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”
The Lord’s Supper. 22#The actions and words of Jesus express within the framework of the Passover meal and the transition to a new covenant the sacrifice of himself through the offering of his body and blood in anticipation of his passion and death. His blood of the covenant both alludes to the ancient rite of Ex 24:4–8 and indicates the new community that the sacrifice of Jesus will bring into being (Mt 26:26–28; Lk 22:19–20; 1 Cor 11:23–25). While they were eating,#Mt 26:26–30; Lk 22:19–20; 1 Cor 11:23–25. he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” 23Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed#Which will be shed: see note on Mt 26:27–28. For many: the Greek preposition hyper is a different one from that at Mt 26:28 but the same as that found at Lk 22:19, 20 and 1 Cor 11:24. The sense of both words is vicarious, and it is difficult in Hellenistic Greek to distinguish between them. For many in the sense of “all,” see note on Mt 20:28. for many. 25Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26Then, after singing a hymn,#After singing a hymn: Ps 114–118, thanksgiving songs concluding the Passover meal. they went out to the Mount of Olives.#Mt 26:30–35; Lk 22:34, 39; Jn 13:36–38.
Peter’s Denial Foretold.#Jesus predicted that the Twelve would waver in their faith, even abandon him, despite their protestations to the contrary. Yet he reassured them that after his resurrection he would regather them in Galilee (Mk 16:7; cf. Mt 26:32; 28:7, 10, 16; Jn 21), where he first summoned them to be his followers as he began to preach the good news (Mk 1:14–20). 27Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will have your faith shaken, for it is written:
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be dispersed.’#Zec 13:7; Jn 16:32.
28But after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee.” 29Peter said to him, “Even though all should have their faith shaken, mine will not be.” 30Then Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” 31But he vehemently replied, “Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all spoke similarly.
The Agony in the Garden. 32#The disciples who had witnessed the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus (Mk 5:37) and the transfiguration of their Master (Mk 9:2) were now invited to witness his degradation and agony and to watch and pray with him. Then they came to a place named Gethsemane,#Mt 26:36–46; Lk 22:40–46. and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”#Jn 18:1. 33He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be troubled and distressed. 34Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch.” 35He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him; 36he said, “Abba, Father,#Abba, Father: an Aramaic term, here also translated by Mark, Jesus’ special way of addressing God with filial intimacy. The word ’abbā’ seems not to have been used in earlier or contemporaneous Jewish sources to address God without some qualifier. Cf. Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6 for other occurrences of the Aramaic word in the Greek New Testament. Not what I will but what you will: note the complete obedient surrender of the human will of Jesus to the divine will of the Father; cf. Jn 4:34; 8:29; Rom 5:19; Phil 2:8; Heb 5:8. all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.” 37When he returned he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38#The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak: the spirit is drawn to what is good yet found in conflict with the flesh, inclined to sin; cf. Ps 51:7, 12. Everyone is faced with this struggle, the full force of which Jesus accepted on our behalf and, through his bitter passion and death, achieved the victory. Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test.#Rom 7:5. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” 39Withdrawing again, he prayed, saying the same thing. 40Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open and did not know what to answer him. 41He returned a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. 42Get up, let us go. See, my betrayer is at hand.”
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus. 43#Mt 26:47–56; Lk 22:47–53; Jn 18:3–11. Then, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, “The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely.” 45He came and immediately went over to him and said, “Rabbi.” And he kissed him. 46At this they laid hands on him and arrested him. 47One of the bystanders drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear. 48Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs, to seize me? 49Day after day I was with you teaching in the temple area, yet you did not arrest me; but that the scriptures may be fulfilled.” 50And they all left him and fled. 51Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him, 52but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked.
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin. 53#They led Jesus away…came together: Mark presents a formal assembly of the whole Sanhedrin (chief priests, elders, and scribes) at night, leading to the condemnation of Jesus (Mk 14:64), in contrast to Lk 22:66, 71 where Jesus is condemned in a daytime meeting of the council; see also Jn 18:13, 19–24. #Mt 26:57–68; Lk 22:54–55, 63–65, 67–71; Jn 18:12–13. They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 54Peter followed him at a distance into the high priest’s courtyard and was seated with the guards, warming himself at the fire. 55The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none. 56Many gave false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57#See notes on Mt 26:60–61 and Jn 2:19. Some took the stand and testified falsely against him, alleging, 58“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands and within three days I will build another not made with hands.’”#15:29; 2 Cor 5:1. 59Even so their testimony did not agree. 60The high priest rose before the assembly and questioned Jesus, saying, “Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?” 61#The Blessed One: a surrogate for the divine name, which Jews did not pronounce. I am: indicates Jesus’ acknowledgment that he is the Messiah and Son of God; cf. Mk 1:1. Contrast Mt 26:64 and Lk 22:67–70, in which Jesus leaves his interrogators to answer their own question. You will see the Son of Man…with the clouds of heaven: an allusion to Dn 7:13 and Ps 110:1 portending the enthronement of Jesus as judge in the transcendent glory of God’s kingdom. The Power: another surrogate for the name of God. But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, “Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?” 62Then Jesus answered, “I am;
and ‘you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power
and coming with the clouds of heaven.’”#13:26; Ps 110:1; Dn 7:13; Mt 24:30.
63At that the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further need have we of witnesses? 64You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as deserving to die. 65Some began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and struck him and said to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards greeted him with blows.#Lk 22:63–65.
Peter’s Denial of Jesus. 66#Mt 26:69–75; Lk 22:56–62; Jn 18:16–18, 25–27. While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s maids came along. 67Seeing Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, “You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68#[Then the cock crowed]: found in most manuscripts, perhaps in view of Mk 14:30, 72 but omitted in others. But he denied it saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” So he went out into the outer court. [Then the cock crowed.] 69The maid saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70Once again he denied it. A little later the bystanders said to Peter once more, “Surely you are one of them; for you too are a Galilean.” 71He began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man about whom you are talking.” 72And immediately a cock crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” He broke down and wept.#Jn 13:38.
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