Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 14

These verses introduce the passion and resurrection narrative. Passover is the Jewish festival commemorating the occasion when the angel of the Lord passed over the homes of the Hebrews on the night he killed all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians (cf. Exodus 12:13, 23, 27). The lambs used in the feast were slain on the fourteenth of Nisan (March/April), and the meal was eaten that evening between sundown and midnight. According to Jewish reckoning, that would be the fifteenth of Nisan, since the Jewish day began at sundown. The Feast of Unleavened Bread followed Passover and lasted seven days (cf. Exodus 12:15–20; 23:15; 34:18). Since the Last Supper was probably a Passover meal and took place on Thursday night, this decision to arrest Jesus must have taken place on Wednesday of Passion Week. The phrase “only two days away” is better translated as “on the second day,” i.e., “tomorrow.” For a long time the religious authorities had been looking for a way to get rid of Jesus (cf. 3:6; 11:18; 12:12). Now they renewed and intensified their efforts. But it was necessary for them to proceed with the utmost caution. Since Passover (like Tabernacles and Pentecost) was one of the pilgrim feasts, great throngs of people invaded the Holy City to celebrate it. The chief priests and teachers of the law realized that it would be too risky to move in on Jesus with such a highly excitable crowd present. The possibility of a riot was too great. It would be wiser to wait for a more propitious moment—perhaps after the pilgrims had left the city to go home. God’s purposes were otherwise, and this part of their plan miscarried. Perhaps the unexpected help from one of Jesus’ disciples (14:10–11) changed their minds, and they decided to go through with their wicked scheme despite the presence of the Passover pilgrims.

These verses introduce the passion and resurrection narrative. Passover is the Jewish festival commemorating the occasion when the angel of the Lord passed over the homes of the Hebrews on the night he killed all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians (cf. Exodus 12:13, 23, 27). The lambs used in the feast were slain on the fourteenth of Nisan (March/April), and the meal was eaten that evening between sundown and midnight. According to Jewish reckoning, that would be the fifteenth of Nisan, since the Jewish day began at sundown. The Feast of Unleavened Bread followed Passover and lasted seven days (cf. Exodus 12:15–20; 23:15; 34:18). Since the Last Supper was probably a Passover meal and took place on Thursday night, this decision to arrest Jesus must have taken place on Wednesday of Passion Week. The phrase “only two days away” is better translated as “on the second day,” i.e., “tomorrow.” For a long time the religious authorities had been looking for a way to get rid of Jesus (cf. 3:6; 11:18; 12:12). Now they renewed and intensified their efforts. But it was necessary for them to proceed with the utmost caution. Since Passover (like Tabernacles and Pentecost) was one of the pilgrim feasts, great throngs of people invaded the Holy City to celebrate it. The chief priests and teachers of the law realized that it would be too risky to move in on Jesus with such a highly excitable crowd present. The possibility of a riot was too great. It would be wiser to wait for a more propitious moment—perhaps after the pilgrims had left the city to go home. God’s purposes were otherwise, and this part of their plan miscarried. Perhaps the unexpected help from one of Jesus’ disciples (14:10–11) changed their minds, and they decided to go through with their wicked scheme despite the presence of the Passover pilgrims.

This is the second time Jesus was anointed by a woman . In order to highlight the contrast, Mark places this incident about the love and devotion of Mary between the hatred of the religious leaders (vv.1–2) and the betrayal of Judas (vv.10–11).

The incident took place in the home of Simon the Leper at Bethany. The occasion for the dinner is not specified. Simon was probably a leper who had been healed. The retention of the name “the Leper” would suggest this—indeed he was probably healed by Jesus. Perhaps the dinner was an expression of gratitude for this. Mark does not identify the woman who anointed Jesus, but we know from John’s gospel (12:3) that she was Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. The “nard” (perfume) was made from the root of a plant found chiefly in India and was very expensive. Mary took the bottle and broke the neck of the jar so that she could pour the ointment profusely over Jesus’ head.

Matthew writes that it was the disciples who reacted so indignantly (Matthew 26:8), while John says it was Judas Iscariot . Judas probably expressed the most vigorous dissent because he was the treasurer of the Twelve. Their chief concern was mercenary. The perfume had a value of more than the average value of wages for three hundred days. The mention of the poor is natural because it was customary for the Jews to give gifts to the poor on the evening of the Passover. The insensitivity of Jesus’ disciples to this beautiful expression of love and devotion is amazing, especially since they had often enjoyed the generous hospitality of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus while in Bethany.

Matthew writes that it was the disciples who reacted so indignantly (Matthew 26:8), while John says it was Judas Iscariot . Judas probably expressed the most vigorous dissent because he was the treasurer of the Twelve. Their chief concern was mercenary. The perfume had a value of more than the average value of wages for three hundred days. The mention of the poor is natural because it was customary for the Jews to give gifts to the poor on the evening of the Passover. The insensitivity of Jesus’ disciples to this beautiful expression of love and devotion is amazing, especially since they had often enjoyed the generous hospitality of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus while in Bethany.