Mark 14 – Betrayal, Communion, and the Road to the Cross
Mark 14 draws us into the final hours before the crucifixion. From a woman’s extravagant worship to a disciple’s betrayal, and from the Last Supper to Gethsemane’s agony, this chapter unveils Christ’s love, obedience, and the human heart’s weakness.
The Long Night Before Redemption
Mark 14 marks a shift from public ministry to private anguish and betrayal. It is the longest chapter in Mark’s Gospel and captures intense emotional and spiritual moments:
✔ A woman anoints Jesus for burial.
✔ Judas agrees to betray Him.
✔ Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper.
✔ Gethsemane reveals His human sorrow.
✔ He is arrested, abandoned, and falsely accused.
📖 Key Verse: “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.” – Mark 14:36
🔎 Jesus enters the darkest night with unwavering submission to the Father’s will.
Mark Chapter 14 - Overview
Mark 14:1-11 – A Costly Act and a Treacherous Plot
📖 Mark 14:1-2 – “After two days was the feast of the passover… And they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.”
🔎 The religious leaders sought to kill Jesus, but feared the crowd. Their plan reveals political calculation over spiritual truth, as they feared man more than God.
📖 Mark 14:3 – “She brake the box, and poured it on his head.”
🔎 This woman, identified in John 12 as Mary of Bethany, gave something incredibly valuable—an alabaster jar of pure nard, worth nearly a year’s wages. Her act was prophetic, priestly, and deeply personal. She anoints Jesus as King and prepares Him for burial, showing more understanding than even the disciples.
📖 Mark 14:4-5 – “Why was this waste of the ointment made?”
🔎 The criticism reflects a worldly view of value. Judas, in particular (John 12:4-6), saw money rather than meaning. Yet Jesus affirms that acts of love and worship are never wasted.
📖 Mark 14:6-9 – “She hath wrought a good work on me… Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached… this also… shall be spoken of.”
🔎 Jesus memorializes this act forever. True worship—especially when sacrificial—is honored in eternity. Her story stands in contrast to the betrayal that follows.
📖 Mark 14:10-11 – “And Judas Iscariot… went… to betray him.”
🔎 In direct contrast, Judas seeks profit over worship. His betrayal is set in motion right after witnessing Mary’s devotion. This shows how the same moment of divine presence can soften one heart and harden another.*
Mark 14:12-26 – The Last Supper
📖 Mark 14:12-16 – “Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?”
🔎 Jesus sends two disciples to prepare the Passover, fulfilling His role as the true Passover Lamb. The precise instructions and divine foresight show His control even in the face of betrayal.
📖 Mark 14:17-18 – “One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.”
🔎 Sharing a meal signified deep fellowship in Jewish culture. For Jesus to declare betrayal during this sacred feast highlights the depth of the coming wound.
📖 Mark 14:22 – “Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it… This is my body.”
🔎 This moment redefines the Passover. Jesus offers Himself as the fulfillment of the lamb, shifting the focus from Egypt’s deliverance to eternal salvation. The breaking of bread signifies His impending suffering—broken for us.
📖 Mark 14:23-24 – “This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.”
🔎 The cup represents the new covenant, foretold in Jeremiah 31:31-34. Unlike the Mosaic covenant, this one is written on the heart and sealed by Christ’s own blood.
📖 Mark 14:25 – “I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day… in the kingdom of God.”
🔎 A promise of future joy—Jesus looks beyond the cross to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).
📖 Mark 14:26 – “They sang a hymn…”
🔎 Likely part of the Hallel Psalms (Psalms 113–118), traditionally sung at Passover. Even as He walks toward suffering, Jesus sings of God’s faithfulness. This anchors His disciples in hope.
Mark 14:27-42 – Gethsemane: Wrestling with the Cup
📖 Mark 14:27 – “All ye shall be offended because of me this night.”
🔎 Jesus quotes Zechariah 13:7, showing that even the disciples’ failure was foreseen in Scripture. This moment reveals that human weakness cannot undo divine sovereignty.
📖 Mark 14:32-33 – “He began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy.”
🔎 Jesus experiences intense emotional agony—more than fear of physical pain. The phrase “sore amazed” implies astonishment and dread. He faces the full weight of divine judgment for sin.
📖 Mark 14:34 – “My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death.”
🔎 Jesus’ grief was so overwhelming it nearly crushed His physical life. He feels the spiritual burden of sin and separation, foreshadowing His cry from the cross.
📖 Mark 14:36 – “Abba, Father… take away this cup… not what I will, but what thou wilt.”
🔎 The “cup” symbolizes God’s wrath against sin (Psalm 75:8, Isaiah 51:17, Revelation 14:10). Jesus chooses to drink it fully—a voluntary, obedient act of atonement. His submission becomes the foundation of salvation.
📖 Mark 14:37-40 – “Couldest not thou watch one hour?”
🔎 The disciples’ failure to watch and pray illustrates how even the faithful struggle with spiritual alertness. Gethsemane reveals not just Jesus’ strength—but the disciples’ weakness.
Mark 14:43-52 – Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested
📖 Mark 14:45 – “Master, master; and kissed him.”
🔎 Judas weaponizes a kiss—a symbol of love used in betrayal.
📖 Mark 14:50 – “They all forsook him, and fled.”
🔎 Even the strongest disciples falter. Jesus endures this moment alone, yet resolute.
Mark 14:53-72 – Trial Before the Sanhedrin & Peter’s Denial
📖 Mark 14:61-62 – “Art thou the Christ…? I am: and ye shall see the Son of man…”
🔎 Jesus affirms His identity and future glory, quoting Daniel 7:13. His bold declaration seals His fate in the eyes of the religious elite.
📖 Mark 14:72 – “And when he thought thereon, he wept.”
🔎 Peter’s denial fulfills Jesus’ prophecy. His weeping shows that failure doesn’t have to be final—it can be the beginning of repentance.
Mark Chapter 14 - Deeper Study
Overview: The Shadow of the Cross
🔹 Timeframe: The day and night leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion.
🔹 Setting: Jerusalem, the Upper Room, Gethsemane, and the high priest’s court.
🔹 Theme: Devotion and betrayal, obedience and denial—Jesus stands faithful as others fall.
Key Takeaways
🔑 True worship is costly and heartfelt.
🔑 Jesus embraced the cross through prayer before He bore it in flesh.
🔑 God’s will must be chosen even when it crushes our own.
🔑 Betrayal and denial are part of the human story—yet Jesus remains faithful.
🔑 Failure is not the end when there is godly sorrow.
Prophetic Patterns & Dual Fulfillment
🔮 Passover Preparation – Jesus is the Lamb of God, fulfilling Exodus and Isaiah 53.
🔮 Gethsemane’s Garden – A reversal of Eden. In one garden, man fell. In this garden, Christ submits and overcomes.
🔮 Peter’s Denial – A foreshadowing of believers under persecution—and the need for grace and restoration.
Historical & Cultural Context
📜 Alabaster Anointing – Often used for burial rites, this act was deeply symbolic and expensive.
📜 Passover Meal – A deeply sacred tradition representing deliverance from Egypt. Jesus redefines it around His own deliverance of mankind.
📜 Sanhedrin Trials – These were supposed to be just, but Jesus’ trial was filled with false witnesses and was conducted unlawfully at night.
💡 Final Reflection: Will You Stay or Flee?
Mark 14 shows us a Christ who is steadfast while others fall away. From Judas to Peter, from the garden to the court, we see our weakness and His strength.
📌 Will we offer costly worship or seek comfort?
📌 Will we follow when it’s easy—or when it’s hard?
📌 Will we flee—or will we stay near the One who never leaves?
🚀 The shadow of the cross looms—but so does the light of redemption.
The Plot to Kill Jesus
Mar 14:1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
Mar 14:2 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
Mar 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
Mar 14:4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
Mar 14:5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
Mar 14:6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
Mar 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
Mar 14:8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
Mar 14:9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
Judas to Betray Jesus
Mar 14:10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
Mar 14:11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
The Passover with the Disciples
Mar 14:12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
Mar 14:13 And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.
Mar 14:14 And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
Mar 14:15 And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.
Mar 14:16 And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
Mar 14:17 And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.
Mar 14:18 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.
Mar 14:19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
Mar 14:20 And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.
Mar 14:21 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.
Institution of the Lord’s Supper
Mar 14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
Mar 14:23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
Mar 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
Mar 14:25 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 the kingdom of God.
Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial
Mar 14:26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Mar 14:27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
Mar 14:28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
Mar 14:29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
Mar 14:30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Mar 14:31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
Mar 14:32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
Mar 14:33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
Mar 14:34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
Mar 14:35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
Mar 14:36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Mar 14:37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
Mar 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
Mar 14:39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.
Mar 14:40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
Mar 14:41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, 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.
Mar 14:42 Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
Mar 14:43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
Mar 14:44 And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.
Mar 14:45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
Mar 14:46 And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
Mar 14:47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
Mar 14:48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?
Mar 14:49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
Mar 14:50 And they all forsook him, and fled.
A Young Man Flees
Mar 14:51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
Mar 14:52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
Jesus Before the Council
Mar 14:53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
Mar 14:54 And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
Mar 14:55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
Mar 14:56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
Mar 14:57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,
Mar 14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
Mar 14:59 But neither so did their witness agree together.
Mar 14:60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
Mar 14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
Mar 14:62 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.
Mar 14:63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
Mar 14:64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
Mar 14:65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
Peter Denies Jesus
Mar 14:66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
Mar 14:67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
Mar 14:68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
Mar 14:69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
Mar 14:70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
Mar 14:71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
Mar 14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
Date Written
Around 55-65 A.D.
Written By
John Mark
Language
Greek
Verses
72