Mark 14
After two days, at the time of the feast of the passover and unleavened bread, the leaders of Israel sought to take Jesus deceitfully and kill Him, but they hesitated, saying, "Not on the feast day," because they feared a tumult by the people.
The Alabaster Box of Ointment
While Jesus was in Bethany, sitting at the table of Simon the leper, a woman came in with an alabaster (stone) box of very precious ointment of spikenard. Breaking the seal, she poured it on Jesus' head.
How refreshing this action was for Jesus in His rejection and sorrow. What a fragrance must have filled the house and what intense, deep meaning accompanied such a display! She had anointed His body for the burial.
Being in communion, she anticipated His death and the moment had come to anoint His body, before death, with such sweet fragrance, her soul being filled with Himself. This no doubt was the result of her sitting at the Lord's feet learning of Him (Luke 10:38-42). How much she understood of these things we are not told, but when the soul is in communion, the person acts as moved by the Spirit. Her spirit was filled with Himself.
The disciples did not enter into this. Often in Scripture the Lord sets a woman or women before us to teach us what should be the response of the inner affections, for we who are men are often hard-hearted, even at a time like this when our affections should be touched (1 Sam. 10:26). How this act of devotion buoyed up the spirit of Jesus just before the cross!
Some asked indignantly why this waste of the ointment was made. It could have been used for the poor. It was valued at three hundred pence (a year's wages). The world called the anointing with spikenard a waste; the Lord called it an honor.
Jesus said, "Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on Me. For ye have the poor with you always... but Me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint My body to the burying.... Throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her."
Judas goes to the Jewish leaders. They gladly agree to pay him thirty pieces of silver to betray Jesus (See Zech. 11:12).
The Passover Feast
On the first day of the week, when the passover lamb was to be slain, disciples of Jesus inquired where He wanted them to prepare for Him to eat the passover. Two were chosen to go into the city where they would meet a man with a pitcher of water. They were to follow him. "And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us." They found all things as He had said and made ready.
We have instruction here for both the passover (Jewish) feast and the setting up of the Lord's table for the Christian. To the spiritual mind the passage gives instruction as to where and how Christians should gather to remember the Lord's death at His table. Later, the Apostle Paul received a revelation about this for the Church (1 Cor. 11:23).
That evening the Lord came with His disciples and they ate the passover. The feast was a slain lamb with unleavened bread.
At the table Jesus told them that one of them who ate with Him would betray Him. Being sorrowful, they inquired one by one, "Is it I?" He said that the one who dipped with Him in the dish would betray Him, and that "the Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of Him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born." Judas dipped with Him and went out; it was night (John 13:30) both literally and in the soul of Judas.
The Lord’s Table
Having eaten the passover, Jesus took bread and blessed and broke it, and gave it 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 blood 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 a new way] in the kingdom of God. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."
Jesus told His disciples that they all would be offended because of Him that night, as it was written, "Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." Zech. 13:7. "But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee."
Peter said that he would never be offended, even if all others were. Jesus told him that that very night, before the cock would crow twice, Peter would deny Him three times. Peter insisted very strongly that he would die with Him rather than deny Him. They all said the same.
Gethsemane
At Gethsemane Jesus said to His disciples, "Sit ye here, while I shall pray." Taking with Him Peter, James and John, Jesus began to be oppressed in spirit and amazed. He said 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. There never has been and never will be again a time like Gethsemane. It was at Gethsemane that Jesus anticipated being made sin. He is the Holy One from eternity who knew no sin. He paid the price at Calvary.
"Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from [out of ] death, and was heard in that He feared; though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered." Heb. 5:7-8.
In all the perfection of manhood and by the cross in perfect obedience to the Father, He has obtained eternal salvation for us. As eternal God, He was never in the position to obey; as man, Jesus had to learn obedience. In order to be man in perfection, he had to learn what it cost to obey. This He did at Gethsemane when he said, "Nevertheless, not what I will, but what Thou wilt." See Heb. 10:9,10.
Returning to the disciples, He found them sleeping and said to Peter, "Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak."
He prayed again, repeating the same words. Returning, He found the disciples sleeping, and after the third time in prayer He returned and said, "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."
Into the garden came Judas with a crowd sent from the elders, carrying swords and staves. Immediately Judas came up to Jesus and said, "Master, Master; and kissed Him." Jesus asked if they had come against a thief with swords and staves. "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."
The men laid hold of a certain young man who followed Jesus, having a linen cloth about his naked body. Leaving the linen cloth, he fled naked. They took Jesus and led Him to the house of the high priest. Peter, following at a distance, entered the palace and sat among the palace servants around the fire.
The elders sought witnesses who would testify against Jesus and cause Him to be put to death, but they found none.
Jesus was asked by the high priest, "Answerest Thou nothing?" and Jesus held His peace. Then the high priest asked 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."
Rending his clothes, the high priest said, "What think ye?" Having heard His (supposed) blasphemy, they condemned Him to death. Some then spit on Him and some buffeted Him, striking Him with their hands.
Peter’s Denial
Down in the palace court one of the maids came up to Peter and said, 'Thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth." Peter denied it. Then going out onto the porch, he heard the cock crow.
Another maid said that he was one of them. Peter denied again. Later, others said, "Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto." Beginning to curse and swear he said, "I know not this man of whom ye speak." And the second time the cock crew.
Peter recalled the word that Jesus said to him, "Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice." When he thought about it, he wept.
Peter fled, followed afar off, warmed himself by the enemies' fire, denied his Master three times, and wept bitterly. Perhaps that is why, after the Lord's resurrection, the angel said, "Go your way, tell His disciples and Peter." Peter needed the personal reassurance of the Lord's love for him.