Thirdmill Study Bible

Notes on Mark 14:21-42

Betrayal by a friend - Mark 14:21

It is difficult to decide if Jesus' words, scripture says refers to the general theme of the suffering messiah (as in 9:12), or more specifically to his betrayal by a friend (Ps. 41:9).

Bread - Mark 14:22

At some point in the Passover meal Jesus referred to the bread that he broke as, my body. The broken bread would become a remembrance of Jesus' body that was sacrificed in death for his people.

Blood of the Covenant - Mark 14:23-24

Similarly the wine of the feast was the blood of the covenant. These words alluded to the blood of the Passover lamb that had been spread on the doors of the Israelites and protected them from God's judgment on the Egyptians (Exod. 12:7-13; 24:8). The connection of Jesus' sacrificial death with the imagery of Passover and Mark's use of the word covenant stress the unity of God's saving provision throughout the history of his redeeming work. Jesus seems to have taken the phrase blood of the covenant from Exod. 24:6-8. God did not spend history looking for new and different ways to save his people. Jesus' death had been at the center of it from the very beginning. The Passover and all the other Old Testament displays of God's saving grace were pointers to the greater reality of Jesus' sacrifice.

Promise and praise - Mark 14:25-26

The meal was concluded with a promise and praise. Jesus promised that their last meal would be continued one day in the kingdom of God. This is Jesus' reassuring word in the middle of all the darkness of betrayal and death. They will be united again when God's kingdom comes in all of its glorious fullness. The word new can mean again, but in this context it is more likely a reference to the newness of the new heavens and new earth. Fellowship with Jesus around the table will take place again, but in that day of resurrection the whole experience will be renewed and take on the character of eternity. The hymn they sang was probably Psalms 115–118. That was the typical way to conclude the Passover meal. Psalm 118:22 refers to the rejected cornerstone.

Another Prophecy - Mark 14:27-31

Another Prophecy on the Mount of Olives. Back on the Mount of Olives Jesus made another prediction. This one was about the very near future.

Fall away - Mark 14:27

Jesus predicted that all the disciples would fall away. (See v. 50.) Judas was not the only disciple who would break the Shepherd's fellowship. Jesus explained their failure by quoting Zech. 13:7.

Disciples would follow - Mark 14:28

Jesus also knew that after his resurrection the disciples would follow him to Galilee and be renewed in their faith.

Jesus said the rooster would crow. - Mark 14:30

According to Mark, Jesus said the rooster would crow twice. The other gospel writers referred to the two part sequence as just one event of crowing (Matt. 26:34; Luke 22:34; John 13:38) If the early church traditions are correct that Peter was Mark's primary source for his gospel it is not surprising that Mark would have reported this event in the excruciating detail that Peter never forgot.

Gethsemane - Mark 14:32-42

In Gethsemane. Alone in the garden Jesus wrestled with sorrow and distress. His eyes were firmly fixed on his suffering and quickly approaching crucifixion.