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Scott's Reference Library
Mark 14:1 through Mark 15:47 (NIV)
1Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away,
and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way
to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2“But not during the Feast,” they said, “or the
people may riot.”
3While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as
Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume,
made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste
of perfume? 5It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money
given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
6“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a
beautiful thing to me. 7The poor you will always have with you, and you can help
them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8She did what she
could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9I
tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what
she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray
Jesus to them. 11They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him
money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
12On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to
sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us
to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
13So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man
carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14Say to the owner of the
house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the
Passover with my disciples?’ 15He will show you a large upper room, furnished
and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
16The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told
them. So they prepared the Passover.
17When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18While they were reclining
at the table eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray
me—one who is eating with me.”
19They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely not I?”
20“It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with
me. 21The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that
man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been
born.”
22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave
it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
23Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank
from it.
24“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to
them. 25“I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine
until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”
26When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
27“You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
28But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
29Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
30“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster
crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
31But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never
disown you.” And all the others said the same.
32They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit
here while I pray.” 33He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began
to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to
the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
35Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the
hour might pass from him. 36“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible
for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
37Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to
Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38Watch and pray
so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body
is weak.”
39Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40When he came back, he
again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what
to say to him.
41Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and
resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the
hands of sinners. 42Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
43Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a
crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of
the law, and the elders.
44Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man;
arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45Going at once to Jesus, Judas said,
“Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47Then one of
those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest,
cutting off his ear.
48“Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords
and clubs to capture me? 49Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple
courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50Then
everyone deserted him and fled.
51A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When
they seized him, 52he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
53They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and
teachers of the law came together. 54Peter followed him at a distance, right
into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed
himself at the fire.
55The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against
Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56Many
testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58“We heard him
say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another,
not made by man.’” 59Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
60Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going
to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”
61But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed
One?”
62“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand
of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
63The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he
asked. 64“You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65Then some began to spit at him;
they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the
guards took him and beat him.
66While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high
priest came by. 67When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
68But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he
said, and went out into the entryway.
69When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around,
“This fellow is one of them.” 70Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of
them, for you are a Galilean.”
71He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, “I don’t know
this man you’re talking about.”
72Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the
word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown
me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Mark 15
1Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of
the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him
away and handed him over to Pilate.
2“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
3The chief priests accused him of many things. 4So again Pilate asked him,
“Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”
5But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
6Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people
requested. 7A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who
had committed murder in the uprising. 8The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do
for them what he usually did.
9“Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate,
10knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to
him. 11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release
Barabbas instead.
12“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate
asked them.
13“Crucify him!” they shouted.
14“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
15Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus
flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
16The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and
called together the whole company of soldiers. 17They put a purple robe on him,
then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18And they began to
call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19Again and again they struck him on
the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage
to him. 20And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put
his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
21A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was
passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the
cross. 22They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place
of the Skull). 23Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not
take it. 24And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to
see what each would get.
25It was the third hour when they crucified him. 26The written notice of the
charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. 27They crucified two robbers with
him, one on his right and one on his left. 29Those who passed by hurled insults
at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the
temple and build it in three days, 30come down from the cross and save
yourself!”
31In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among
themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32Let this
Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and
believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
33At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani?“—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
35When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling
Elijah.”
36One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered
it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take
him down,” he said.
37With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39And when the
centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he
died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
40Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary
the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41In Galilee these
women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up
with him to Jerusalem were also there.
42It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening
approached, 43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was
himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for
Jesus’ body. 44Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning
the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45When he learned from
the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46So Joseph bought
some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in
a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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.
VERSES 1-14
They bound Christ. It is good for us often to remember the bonds of the Lord
Jesus, as bound with him who was bound for us. By delivering up the King, they,
in effect, delivered up the kingdom of God, which was, therefore, as by their
own consent, taken from them, and given to another nation. Christ gave Pilate a
direct answer, but would not answer the witnesses, because the things they
alleged were known to be false, even Pilate himself was convinced they were so.
Pilate thought that he might appeal from the priests to the people, and that
they would deliver Jesus out of the priests’ hands. But they were more and more
urged by the priests, and cried, Crucify him! Crucify him! Let us judge of
persons and things by their merits, and the standard of God’s word, and not by
common report. The thought that no one ever was so shamefully treated, as the
only perfectly wise, holy, and excellent Person that ever appeared on earth,
leads the serious mind to strong views of man’s wickedness and enmity to God.
Let us more and more abhor the evil dispositions which marked the conduct of
these persecutors.
VERSES 15-21
Christ met death in its greatest terror. It was the death of the vilest
malefactors. Thus the cross and the shame are put together. God having been
dishonoured by the sin of man, Christ made satisfaction by submitting to the
greatest disgrace human nature could be loaded with. It was a cursed death; thus
it was branded by the Jewish law, Deuteronomy 21:23. The Roman soldiers mocked
our Lord Jesus as a King; thus in the high priest’s hall the servants had mocked
him as a Prophet and Saviour. Shall a purple or scarlet robe be matter of pride
to a Christian, which was matter of reproach and shame to Christ? He wore the
crown of thorns which we deserved, that we might wear the crown of glory which
he merited. We were by sin liable to everlasting shame and contempt; to deliver
us, our Lord Jesus submitted to shame and contempt. He was led forth with the
workers of iniquity, though he did no sin. The sufferings of the meek and holy
Redeemer, are ever a source of instruction to the believer, of which, in his
best hours, he cannot be weary. Did Jesus thus suffer, and shall I, a vile
sinner, fret or repine? Shall I indulge anger, or utter reproaches and threats
because of troubles and injuries?
VERSES 22-32
The place where our Lord Jesus was crucified, was called the place of a scull;
it was the common place of execution; for he was in all respects numbered with
the transgressors. Whenever we look unto Christ crucified, we must remember what
was written over his head; he is a King, and we must give up ourselves to be his
subjects, as Israelites indeed. They crucified two thieves with him, and him in
the midst; they thereby intended him great dishonour. But it was foretold that
he should be numbered with the transgressors, because he was made sin for us.
Even those who passed by railed at him. They told him to come down from the
cross, and they would believe; but they did not believe, though he gave them a
more convincing sign when he came up from the grave. With what earnestness will
the man who firmly believes the truth, as made known by the sufferings of
Christ, seek for salvation! With what gratitude will he receive the dawning hope
of forgiveness and eternal life, as purchased for him by the sufferings and
death of the Son of God! and with what godly sorrow will he mourn over the sins
which crucified the Lord of glory!
VERSES 33-41
There was a thick darkness over the land, from noon until three in the
afternoon. The Jews were doing their utmost to extinguish the Sun of
Righteousness. The darkness signified the cloud which the human soul of Christ
was under, when he was making it an offering for sin. He did not complain that
his disciples forsook him, but that his Father forsook him. In this especially
he was made sin for us. When Paul was to be offered as a sacrifice for the
service saints, he could joy and rejoice, Philippians 2:17; but it is another
thing to be offered as a sacrifice for the sin of sinners. At the same instant
that Jesus died, the veil of the temple was rent from the top to the bottom.
This spake terror to the unbelieving Jews, and was a sign of the destruction of
their church and nation. It speaks comfort to all believing Christians, for it
signified the laying open a new and living way into the holiest by the blood of
Jesus. The confidence with which Christ had openly addressed God as his Father,
and committed his soul into his hands, seems greatly to have affected the
centurion. Right views of Christ crucified will reconcile the believer to the
thought of death; he longs to behold, love, and praise, as he ought, that
Saviour who was wounded and pierced to save him from the wrath to come.
VERSES 42-47
We are here attending the burial of our Lord Jesus. Oh that we may by grace be
planted in the likeness of it! Joseph of Arimathea was one who waited for the
kingdom of God. Those who hope for a share in its privileges, must own Christ’s
cause, when it seems to be crushed. This man God raised up for his service.
There was a special providence, that Pilate should be so strict in his inquiry,
that there might be no pretence to say Jesus was alive. Pilate gave Joseph leave
to take down the body, and do what he pleased with it. Some of the women beheld
where Jesus was laid, that they might come after the sabbath to anoint the dead
body, because they had not time to do it before. Special notice was taken of
Christ’s sepulchre, because he was to rise again. And he will not forsake those
who trust in him, and call upon him. Death, deprived of its sting, will soon end
the believer’s sorrows, as it ended those of the Saviour.