The Gospel of Mark
The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus: Mark 14-16
As we read through chapters 14 and 15, we can see that it is chapter 15 which tells the story of the crucifixion. All the events in this chapter take place in public (except the mockery of the soldiers) and they form a complete story of how the Romans tried and executed a political agitator, the King of the Jews. We will be seeing this in detail when we come to read the chapter.
Chapter 14 by contrast is the more complex of the two. It is made up of a number incidents all of which take place in private, or semi-public at best. All of these lead up to the handing over of Jesus to the Romans by the Jewish leaders (15,1).
Broadly speaking therefore we can say we have a Jewish chapter (Mk 14) followed by a Roman chapter (Mk 15).
Chapter 14: Overview
Chapter 14 opens with a new beginning announcing the coming Passover (14,1). This is a simpler opening of the Passion story than that of Matthew (Mt 26,1-3) Matthew also mentions Jesus by name in Mt 26,1 whereas, oddly, Mark continues with the pronoun until verse 6 and not again until verse 18 (the NRSV has added "Jesus" in 14,1).
We can see how the evangelist has edited the chapter using his sandwich technique.
The first sandwich comes at the beginning of the chapter: there is the plot to arrest Jesus (14,1-2) followed by the anointing at Bethany (14,3-9) and it is closed by Judas joining the plot (14,10-11).
The second sandwich comes at the end of the chapter: Peter follows Jesus to the High Priest's courtyard (14,53-54) then there is the Jewish interrogation of Jesus in the house (14,55-65) before the sandwich closes with Peter's denials (14,66-72).
In between the two sandwiches, there is first the supper scene (14,12-25) in the upper room (14,15) which has a clear introduction in verse 12.
Then there is a change of place in verse 26 when they go out to the Mount of Olives where there is a short exchange between Jesus and his disciples. (14,26-31). They go on to place called Gethsemane for the prayer of Jesus (14,32-42) and his arrest (14,43-52). Prayer and arrest are clearly spearated by the opening words of verse 43.
The locations involved therefore are Bethany (14,3-9), the upper room (14,12-25), the Mount of Olives (14,26-31) and Gethsemane (14,32-52), the high priest's house (14,53-72).
Return now to the main page for our reading plan.
Chapter 14: Another Look
Making out a list of scenes and seeking a common theme, it is notable that every other incident in this chapter is about betrayal:
- 14,1-2: Betrayal
- 14,3-9: Anointing
- 14,10-11: Betrayal
- 14,12-16: Preparations
- 14,17-21: Betrayal
- 14,22-25: Meal
- 14,26-31: Betrayal
- 14,32-42: Prayer
- 14,43-45: Betrayal
- 14,46-52: Arrest
- 14,53-54: Betrayal
- 14,55-65: Trial
- 14,66-72: Betrayal
Overall we have the contrast between the fidelity of Jesus and the infidelity of his followers. The first three scenes (Bethany) and the last three (the High Priest's house) can be read as sandwiches because there is a marked contrast between the inner and outer episodes.
We can return now to the main page to read all this in more detail.