Mark 14

1 After two dayes folowed ester and the dayes of swete breed. And the hye prestes and the Scrybes sought meanes how they myght take hym by crafte and put him to deeth.

2 But they sayde: not in the feast daye leest eny busynes aryse amonge the people.

3 When he was in Bethania in the housse of Simon the leper even as he sate at meate ther came a woma hauynge an alablaster boxe of oyntment called narde that was pure and costly: and she brake the boxe and powred it on is heed.

4 And ther were some that were not content in them selves and sayde: what neded this waste of oyntment?

5 For it myght have bene soolde for more then thre hundred pens and bene geve vnto the poore. And they grudged agaynste hir.

6 And Iesus sayde: let hir be in reest why trouble ye hir? She hath done a good worke on me.

7 For ye shall have poore with you all wayes: and when soever ye will ye maye do them good: but me ye shall not have alwayes.

8 She hath done that she coulde: she came a fore honde to anoynt my boddy to his buryinge warde.

9 Verely I saye vnto you: wheresoever this gospell shalbe preached thorowout the whole worlde: thys also that she hath done shalbe rehearsed in remembraunce of her.

10 And Iudas Iscarioth one of the twelve went awaye vnto the hye prestes to betraye hym vnto them.

11 When they herde that they were gladde and promised yt they wolde geve him money. And he sought howe he myght conveniently betraye him.

12 And the fyrste daye of swete breed when men offer ye pascall lambe his disciples sayd vnto him: where wilt thou that we goo and prepare that thou mayst eate the ester lambe?

13 And he sent forth two of his disciples and sayde vnto them: Goo ye into the cyte and ther shall a man mete you beringe a pitcher of water folowe him.

14 And whither soever he goeth in saye ye to ye good man of ye housse: the master axeth where is the geest chambre where I shall eate ye ester lambe with my disciples.

15 And he will shewe you a greate parlour paved and prepared: there make ready for vs.

16 And his disciples went forth and came to the cyte and founde as he had sayd vnto them: and made ready the ester lambe.

17 And at even he came with the .xii.

18 And as they sate at borde and ate Iesus sayde: Verely I saye vnto you: that one of you shall betraye me which eateth with me.

19 And they begane to morne and to saye to him one by one: ys it I? And a nother sayde: ys it I?

20 He answered and sayde vnto them: It ys one of the .xii. and the same deppeth with me in the platter.

21 The sonne of man goeth as it ys written of him: but woo be to that man by whome the sonne of man is betrayed. Good were it for him if that man had never bene borne.

22 And as they ate Iesus toke breede blessed and brake and gave to them and sayde: Take eate this ys my body.

23 And he toke the cup gave thankes and gave it to them and they all dranke of it.

24 And he sayde vnto them: This is my bloude of the new testament which is sheed for many.

25 Verely I saye vnto you: I will drinke no moore of this frute of the vyne vntyll that daye that I drinke it new in the kyngdome of God.

26 And when they had sayd grace they went out to mount Olyvete.

27 And Iesus sayde vnto them: All ye shalbe offended thorow me this nyght. For it is wrytte: I will smyte ye shepeherd and the shepe shalbe scattered.

28 But after that I am rysen agayne I will goo into Galile before you.

29 Peter sayde vnto him: And though all men shuld be offended yet wolde not I.

30 And Iesus sayd vnto him: Verely I saye vnto ye this daye even in this nyght before ye cocke crowe twyse thou shalt denye me thryse.

31 And he spake boldlyer: no yf I shulde dye wt the I will not deny the. Lyke wyse also sayd they all.

32 And they came into a place named Gethsemani. And he sayde to his disciples: Syt ye here whyll I goo aparte and praye.

33 And he toke with him Peter Iames and Iohn and he began to waxe abasshed and to be in an agonye

34 and sayde vnto the: My soule is very hevy even vnto the deeth tary here and watche.

35 And he went forth a lytle and fell doune on ye grounde and prayed: that yf it were possible the houre myght passe from him.

36 And he sayd: Abba father all thinges are possible vnto the take awaye this cup from me. Neverthelesse not that I will but that thou wilt be done.

37 And he cam and founde the slepinge and sayd to Peter: Simon slepest thou? Couldest not thou watche with me one houre?

38 watche ye and praye leest ye entre into temptacion: ye sprete is redy but ye flessh is weeke.

39 And agayne he went awaye and prayde and spake ye same wordes.

40 And he returned and founde them a slepe agayne for their eyes were hevy: nether wist they what to answere him.

41 And he cam the thyrde tyme and sayd vnto the: slepe hens forth and take youre ease it is ynough. The houre is come beholde ye sonne of man shalbe delyvered into ye hondes of synners.

42 Ryse vp let vs goo. Loo he that betrayeth me is at hande.

43 And immediatly whyll he yet spake came Iudas one of the twelve and with him a greate nomber of people with sweardes and staves from the hye prestes and scribes and elders.

44 And he that betrayed him had geven them a generall toke sayinge: whosoever I do kisse he it is: take him and leade him awaye warely.

45 And assone as he was come he went streyght waye to him and sayd vnto him: master master and kissed him.

46 And they layde their hondes on him and toke him.

47 And one of them that stode by drue out a swearde and smote a servaunt of the hye preste and cut of his eare.

48 And Iesus answered and sayd vnto the: ye be come out as vnto a thefe wt sweardes and with staves for to take me.

49 I was dayly with you in ye temple teachinge and ye toke me not: but yt the scriptures shuld be fulfilled.

50 And they all forsoke him and ranne awaye.

51 And ther folowed him a certeyne yonge man cloothed in lynnen apon ye bare and the yongemen caught him

52 and he lefte his lynnen and fleed from them naked.

53 And they leed Iesus awaye to ye hyest preste of all and to him came all the hye prestes and the elders and the scribes.

54 And Peter folowed him a greate waye of even into the pallys of the hye preste and sat with the servauntes and warmed him sylfe at the fyre.

55 And the hye prestes and all ye counsell sought for witnes agaynste Iesu to put him to death and founde noone.

56 Yet many bare falce witnes agaynste him but their witnes aggreed not to geder.

57 And ther aroose certayne and brought falce witnes agaynste him sayinge.

58 We herde him saye: I will destroye this temple made with hondes and with in thre dayes I will bylde another made with out hondes.

59 But their witnes agreed not to geder.

60 And the hyeste preste stode up amongest them and axed Iesus sayinge: answerest thou nothinge? How is it that these beare witnes agaynst the?

61 And he helde his peace and answered noothinge. Agayne the hyeste Preste axed him and sayde vnto him: Arte thou Christ the sonne of the blessed?

62 And Iesus sayde: I am. And ye shall se the sonne of man syt on the ryght honde of power and come in the cloudes of heven.

63 Then the hyest preste rent his cloothes and sayd: what nede we eny further of witnes?

64 Ye have herde the blasphemy what thinke ye? And they all gave sentence yt he was worthy of deeth.

65 And some begane to spit at him and to cover his face and to bete him with fistes and to saye vnto him arede vnto vs. And the servauntes boffeted him on the face.

66 And as Peter was beneeth in ye pallys ther came one of ye weches of ye hyest preste:

67 and whe she saw Petre warmynge him sylfe she loked on him and sayd: wast not thou also wt Iesus of Nazareth?

68 And he denyed it sayinge: I knowe him not nether wot I what thou sayest. And he went out into ye poorche and the cocke crewe.

69 And a damsell sawe him and agayne beganne to saye to the that stode by this is one of the.

70 And he denyed it agayne. And anone after they that stode by sayde agayne to Peter: suerly thou arte one of the for thou arte of Galile and thy speache agreth therto.

71 And he beganne to cursse and to sweare sayinge: I knowe not this man of whom ye speake.

72 And agayne the cocke krewe and Peter remembred the worde that Iesus sayd vnto him: before the cocke crowe twyse thou shalt deny me thryse and beganne to wepe.

Mark 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

Christ anointed at Bethany. (1-11) The passover, Jesus declares that Judas would betray him. (12-21) The Lord's supper instituted. (22-31) Christ's agony in the garden. (32-42) He is betrayed and taken. (43-52) Christ before the high priest. (53-65) Peter denies Christ. (66-72)

Verses 1-11 Did Christ pour out his soul unto death for us, and shall we think any thing too precious for him? Do we give him the precious ointment of our best affections? Let us love him with all the heart, though it is common for zeal and affection to be misunderstood and blamed; and remember that charity to the poor will not excuse any from particular acts of piety to the Lord Jesus. Christ commended this woman's pious attention to the notice of believers in all ages. Those who honour Christ he will honour. Covetousness was Judas' master lust, and that betrayed him to the sin of betraying his Master; the devil suited his temptation to that, and so conquered him. And see what wicked contrivances many have in their sinful pursuits; but what appears to forward their plans, will prove curses in the end.

Verses 12-21 Nothing could be less the result of human foresight than the events here related. But our Lord knows all things about us before they come to pass. If we admit him, he will dwell in our hearts. The Son of man goes, as it is written of him, as a lamb to the slaughter; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed! God's permitting the sins of men, and bringing glory to himself out of them, does not oblige them to sin; nor will this be any excuse for their guilt, or lessen their punishment.

Verses 22-31 The Lord's supper is food for the soul, therefore a very little of that which is for the body, as much as will serve for a sign, is enough. It was instituted by the example and the practice of our Master, to remain in force till his second coming. It was instituted with blessing and giving of thanks, to be a memorial of Christ's death. Frequent mention is made of his precious blood, as the price of our redemption. How comfortable is this to poor repenting sinners, that the blood of Christ is shed for many! If for many, why not for me? It was a sign of the conveyance of the benefits purchased for us by his death. Apply the doctrine of Christ crucified to yourselves; let it be meat and drink to your souls, strengthening and refreshing your spiritual life. It was to be an earnest and foretaste of the happiness of heaven, and thereby to put us out of taste for the pleasures and delights of sense. Every one that has tasted spiritual delights, straightway desires eternal ones. Though the great Shepherd passed through his sufferings without one false step, yet his followers often have been scattered by the small measure of sufferings allotted to them. How very apt we are to think well of ourselves, and to trust our own hearts! It was ill done of Peter thus to answer his Master, and not with fear and trembling. Lord, give me grace to keep me from denying thee.

Verses 32-42 Christ's sufferings began with the sorest of all, those in his soul. He began to be sorely amazed; words not used in St. Matthew, but very full of meaning. The terrors of God set themselves in array against him, and he allowed him to contemplate them. Never was sorrow like unto his at this time. Now he was made a curse for us; the curses of the law were laid upon him as our Surety. He now tasted death, in all the bitterness of it. This was that fear of which the apostle speaks, the natural fear of pain and death, at which human nature startles. Can we ever entertain favourable, or even slight thoughts of sin, when we see the painful sufferings which sin, though but reckoned to him, brought on the Lord Jesus? Shall that sit light upon our souls, which sat so heavy upon his? Was Christ in such agony for our sins, and shall we never be in agony about them? How should we look upon Him whom we have pierced, and mourn! It becomes us to be exceedingly sorrowful for sin, because He was so, and never to mock at it. Christ, as Man, pleaded, that, if it were possible, his sufferings might pass from him. As Mediator, he submitted to the will of God, saying, Nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt; I bid it welcome. See how the sinful weakness of Christ's disciples returns, and overpowers them. What heavy clogs these bodies of ours are to our souls! But when we see trouble at the door, we should get ready for it. Alas, even believers often look at the Redeemer's sufferings in a drowsy manner, and instead of being ready to die with Christ, they are not even prepared to watch with him one hour.

Verses 43-52 Because Christ appeared not as a temporal prince, but preached repentance, reformation, and a holy life, and directed men's thoughts, and affections, and aims to another world, therefore the Jewish rulers sought to destroy him. Peter wounded one of the band. It is easier to fight for Christ than to die for him. But there is a great difference between faulty disciples and hypocrites. The latter rashly and without thought call Christ Master, and express great affection for him, yet betray him to his enemies. Thus they hasten their own destruction.

Verses 53-65 We have here Christ's condemnation before the great council of the Jews. Peter followed; but the high priest's fire-side was no proper place, nor his servants proper company, for Peter: it was an entrance into temptation. Great diligence was used to procure false witnesses against Jesus, yet their testimony was not equal to the charge of a capital crime, by the utmost stretch of their law. He was asked, Art thou the Son of the Blessed? that is, the Son of God. For the proof of his being the Son of God, he refers to his second coming. In these outrages we have proofs of man's enmity to God, and of God's free and unspeakable love to man.

Verses 66-72 Peter's denying Christ began by keeping at a distance from him. Those that are shy of godliness, are far in the way to deny Christ. Those who think it dangerous to be in company with Christ's disciples, because thence they may be drawn in to suffer for him, will find it much more dangerous to be in company with his enemies, because there they may be drawn in to sin against him. When Christ was admired and flocked after, Peter readily owned him; but will own no relation to him now he is deserted and despised. Yet observe, Peter's repentance was very speedy. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall; and let him that has fallen think of these things, and of his own offences, and return to the Lord with weeping and supplication, seeking forgiveness, and to be raised up by the Holy Spirit.