Mark
Chapter 14
Conspiracy to Kill Jesus
It was now two days before the Passover and Unleavened Bread festival. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were seeking a way to arrest Jesus on false charges and execute him;
but they said:
“Not during the Festival, for there might be trouble among the people.”
Anointing at Bethany
Jesus was in Bethany, at the house of Simon the leper. As he reclined at dinner, a woman entered, carrying an alabaster jar of expensive pure nard perfume. She broke the jar and poured the fragrant oil on Jesus’ head.
Then some of those present became angry and said:
“What a waste of perfume.
It could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins, and the money given to the poor.”
They criticized her.
Jesus said:
“Let her alone; why are you troubling her? What she has just done for me is a very charitable act.
At any time, you can help the poor, for you always have them with you; but you will not have me forever.
This woman did what she had to do: she anointed my body for burial before I die.
Truly, I say to you, wherever the Good News is proclaimed, and this will be throughout the world, what she has done will be told in praise of her.”
Judas’ Betrayal
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.
Hearing this, they were excited and promised to pay him money. So Judas began planning the best way to hand Jesus over.
Preparation for the Passover Meal
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the day the Passover Lamb was sacrificed, the disciples asked him:
“Where would you have us go to prepare the Passover meal for you?”
So Jesus sent two of his disciples with these instructions:
“Go into the city, and there, a man will come to you carrying a jar of water. Follow him to the house he enters and say to the owner,
‘The Teacher says, ‘Where is the room where I may eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’
Then he will show you a large room upstairs, already arranged and furnished. There, you will prepare for us.”
The disciples went off. When they reached the city, they found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
Announcement of the Betrayal
When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.
While they were at the table eating, Jesus said:
“Truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who shares my meal.”
They were deeply distressed upon hearing this and asked him one after the other:
“You don’t mean me, do you?”
And Jesus answered:
“It is one of you Twelve, the one who dips his bread with me in the dish with me.
The Son of Man is going as the Scriptures say he will. But unfortunately for that man who betrays the Son of Man—better for him if he had never been born.”
Institution of the Eucharist
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. He said:
“Take this. It is my body.”
Then he took a cup; after giving thanks, he passed it to them, and they all drank from it.
And he said:
“This is my blood, the blood of the Covenant, poured out for many.
Truly, I say to you, I will not taste the fruit of the vine again until that day when I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God.”
After singing psalms of praise, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Announces the Abandonment of His Disciples
And Jesus said to them:
“All of you will be dismayed and fall away; for the Scripture says: I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.
But after I am raised, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.”
Then Peter said to him:
“Even if all the others fall away, I will not.”
Jesus replied:
“Truly I say to you, today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
But Peter insisted:
“Though I have to die with you, I will never deny you.”
And all of them said the same.
Prayer in the Garden
They arrived at a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples:
“Sit here while I pray.”
He took Peter, James, and John with him, and, filled with fear and distress,
he said to them:
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, even to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”
Then he moved a little farther on and fell to the ground, praying that, if possible, this hour might pass him by. Jesus said:
“Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet, not what I want, but what you want.”
Then he came and found them asleep; and he said to Peter:
“Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake for one hour?
Stay awake and pray, all of you, so that you may not fall into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the body is weak.”
And, going away, he prayed, repeating the same words.
When he returned to the disciples, he found them asleep again. They couldn’t keep their eyes open and didn’t know what to say to him.
When he returned for the third time, he said to them:
“Are you still sleeping and resting? It is all over; the time has come: the Son of Man is now delivered into the hands of sinners.
Get up, let us go! Look: the one who betrays me is approaching.”
Arrest of Jesus
While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, approached. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, who had been sent by the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders.
The traitor had arranged a signal for them, ‘The one I kiss, he is the man. Arrest him and take him away under guard.’
When he arrived, he went straight to Jesus, and said, “Rabbi!” then kissed him.
They seized Jesus and arrested him.
One of the bystanders drew his sword and struck at the High Priest’s servant, cutting off his ear.
Jesus turned to them and said:
“So, you have come out against a robber! Did you need swords and clubs to arrest me?
Day after day, I was among you, teaching in the temple, and you did not arrest me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.”
And they all deserted him and fled.
An Anonymous Young Man
A young man, only wearing a linen cloth, followed Jesus. When they grabbed him,
he dropped the cloth and ran away naked.
Jesus Before the Council
They took Jesus to the High Priest, and all the chief priests gathered with the elders and the teachers of the law.
Peter had followed him at a distance and entered the courtyard of the High Priest, where he sat with the guards and was warming himself by the fire.
The chief priests and the whole Council tried to find some evidence against Jesus so they could put him to death, but they could not find anything.
Even though many came forward to accuse him falsely, their testimonies did not agree.
At last, some stood up and gave false witness:
“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made by human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by human hands.”
But even then, their testimonies still did not match.
The High Priest then stood up in the middle of them and asked Jesus:
“Have you no answer at all? What about this evidence against you?”
a But Jesus was silent and made no reply.
b The High Priest asked him a second time:
“Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”
Then Jesus replied:
“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 around him.”
Then the High Priest, tearing his robes to show his outrage, said:
“What more evidence do we need?
You have just heard his blasphemous words. What is your decision?”
They all condemned him as deserving to die.
Some of them started spitting on Jesus; and, blindfolding him, they struck him and mocked:
“Play the prophet!”
The guards then attacked him with blows.
Peter’s Denials
While Peter was downstairs in the courtyard, a servant-girl of the High Priest approached him.
Noticing Peter beside the fire, she looked directly at him and said:
“You also were with Jesus, the Nazarene.”
But he denied it, saying:
“I don’t know or understand what you are talking about.”
Then he went out through the gateway, and a rooster crowed.
The maid saw him there and told the bystanders:
“This man is one of them.”
But Peter denied it again. After a little while, those standing nearby said to Peter:
“Of course you are one of them; you are a Galilean, aren’t you?”
And Peter began to justify himself with curses and oaths:
“I don’t know the man you are talking about.”
Just then, a cock crowed a second time, and Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him: ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’
And he broke down and wept.
Commentaries
Conspiracy to Kill Jesus.
The journey of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection begins here. Because of its length, many see Mark’s Gospel as “a passion story preceded by a lengthy introduction.” The story must be understood in a Christological context. It’s Wednesday, and the plans to kill Jesus are confirmed, but the leaders also remain afraid of the crowd. However, contrary to some claims, Jesus will indeed be killed during the holidays, and the crowd will not support him but will end up condemning him.
Anointing at Bethany.
Unlike the hatred shown by the Jewish leaders, a woman performs an anonymous and noble act of love for Jesus (cf. Song 1:12). The expensive perfume symbolizes her deep devotion. Pouring it on his head signifies her complete dedication and the anointing of Jesus as king—though a king who wins not through the strength of his armies, but through the “weakness” of the cross. While others see it as a waste, for Jesus, it is an act of mercy that commits his entire being and establishes a bond of solidarity that even extends to death.
Judas’ Betrayal.
In contrast to the woman’s generosity is Judas Iscariot’s corrupt and treacherous attitude. The motive of money is hinted at. The betrayal of a friend is especially painful (cf. Ps 55:13-15).
Preparation for the Passover Meal.
During the Passover feast, the lamb was sacrificed before sunset, and after sunset, the family gathered to celebrate the supper. To prepare the meal, Jesus sends two disciples, giving the event a missionary significance (6:7).
Announcement of the Betrayal – Institution of the Eucharist.
During the supper, Jesus reveals the betrayal by one of his own, someone who shares the bread—the ultimate symbol of communion and brotherhood. In this moment of betrayal, he confirms through the institution of the Eucharist that he is offering his life for humanity’s redemption. Jesus offers the bread, which symbolizes his body: whoever eats it welcomes him into their life. Then he offers the cup, which represents the new covenant—the covenant of God’s new people formed by those who follow him; the blood shed signifies his violent death, and drinking from the cup means accepting his sacrifice and committing to his life’s mission.
Announces the Abandonment of His Disciples.
The group goes to the Mount of Olives, where Jesus again predicts his death and the impact it will have on his followers: scandal and dispersion (cf. Zec 13:7). Peter responds that even if everyone else is scandalized, he will not be. Jesus exposes Peter’s pride by predicting his threefold denial.
Prayer in the Garden.
In Gethsemane (“oil press”), the temptations reappear. Jesus then turns to prayer (cf. 1:33; 6:46) and to the company of three of his closest disciples (cf. 5:37; 9:2), asking them to watch and pray. Jesus’ prayer is divided into four parts: invocation (“Abba”), profession of faith (“you can do anything”), supplication (“take this cup away from me”), and submission to God’s will (“not my will, but yours be done”).
Arrest of Jesus.
Judas is mentioned as “one of the Twelve” to highlight the seriousness of his betrayal. From 14:46 onward, he is no longer mentioned. Those who came with Judas to arrest Jesus “pounced on him.” Out of the darkness and without a name, a man appears, draws his sword, and wounds the high priest’s servant (the Gospel of John, written at the end of the first century, has no problem mentioning his name: Simon Peter; cf. Jn 18:10). Jesus’ reaction clearly shows that violence is senseless to him and does not succeed. Having one’s ear cut off was a disgrace and prevented a person from performing sacred duties.
An Anonymous Young Man.
Only the Gospel of Mark mentions this unnamed young man. This mysterious detail has sparked many theories. Some biblical scholars believe it is a historical memory, possibly referring to John the Apostle or Mark himself; others see it as an allegorical symbol for every disciple facing the scandal of the Passion.
Jesus Before the Council.
According to Jewish law, every accusation must be supported by at least two witnesses. Verse 55 suggests that the trial will not be fair. Bringing about the death of Jesus had been a long-standing goal of the Jewish authorities (Mk 3:6; 11:18; 12:12; 14:1; 14:11). However, the testimonies are so false that they do not agree with each other. The high priest had no choice but to ask Jesus directly, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the blessed God?” Jesus does not hesitate to answer, “Yes, I am,” a name that evokes the liberating God of the Exodus (Ex 3:14). Jesus’ answer is considered blasphemy for two reasons—one religious, for insulting God by calling Himself Messiah (Lv 24:15ff), and the other political, for despising the law (Nm 15:30) by proposing radical changes in the religious institutions of Israel.
Mark emphasizes that everyone agreed to decree Jesus’ death.
Peter’s Denials.
While Jesus remains steadfast before the high priest defending the kingdom’s cause, Peter breaks down and denies his Master. The denial reveals that Peter recognizes Jesus as the Messiah but rejects his path, which involves the cross. The story doesn’t end without Peter recalling Jesus’ words (14:30) and weeping in repentance and shame.