COMMENTARY ON MARK


LESSON 146

 

      Mark 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. 2 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.”

(Mark 14:1-2; Matt 26:1-5; Lk 22:1-7)

THE WHEELS OF PROVIDENCE BEGIN TO TURN


INTRODUCTION

               The time appointed by God before the foundation of the world is at the door, and the activities in Jerusalem, particularly among the religious leaders, are focused on a single objective. This is something Jesus will do only once. There will be no rehearsal for the event, and the destiny of humanity hinges on this single act. The will of the Father is to be fulfilled as well – a purpose that had been cast in stone before the worlds were created. Yet, Jesus is a Man with perfect composure. He has answered earnest, and not so earnest, inquiries. He has cleansed the Temple of defiling buyers and sellers. He has beheld how men cast their money into the Temple treasury, and has drawn attention to a particular widow, whom, He said, gave more than all of the others. Then, having been approached by Peter, Andrew, James, and John, He has taught them concerning certain signs that would precede the destruction of Jerusalem, His own second coming, and the end of the world. All of this has been a remarkable display of His nature – a nature that would soon be devoted to interceding for those who come to God through Him. He will be no less considerate in His intercession than He was during this most critical hour. In fact, His grace will be even more prominent. He will be no less effective in dealing with the crises that will face His people than He was in facing His own. He will dispense to trusting souls all of the grace required to meet their appointments, just as He was given strength and grace to meet His unique appointment. That is something you want to see in the record of His closing hours – the composure with which He fulfilled the Father’s will. That peace – His peace – is precisely what He dispenses to those who have a lesser work to do, but which still requires all of the strength they have.


THE APPOINTED TIME APPROACHES

               Mark 14:1a After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread . . .”


               Mark has concluded the period prior to this statement with Jesus’ discourse to four of His disciples concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, His coming, and the end of the world (Matt 24:3).


               END OF THE AGE/AGES VERSUS END OF THE WORLD. Most of the modern versions use the expression “end of the age” instead of “end of the world.” The word “world” is translated from the Greek word aivw/noj, one meaning of which is“age,” or, more precisely, “a period of existence.” LIDDELL-SCOTT Lexically, it also defined as “the material universe.” THAYER However, lest we be led only to think of this in terms of a period of time, it must be remembered that time, in the strictest sense, is defined by the existence of the world. Thus the Scriptures often speak of when “the world began” (Lk 1:70;John 9:32; Acts 3:21; 2 Tim 1:9), and “the end of the world” (Matt 13:39,49; 28:20). While, from the standpoint of time, this can be considered an “age,” I do not believe this word generally leaves a proper impression. The term “the world” properly takes us to the definitive beginning of Genesis 1:1, when the material universe was created. Peter also defines the conclusion of all things by the destruction of the material universe (2 Pet 3:10-12). In my judgment, “the end of the age” does not carry the same impact as “the end of the world.”


               AFTER TWO DAYS. Mark goes directly from the Olivet discourse to a period defined as “two days before the Passover.” Luke records, “Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover” (Luke 22:1). Matthew records a number of things that took place between the discourse, concluding the record of those events, with Jesus saying, “Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified” (Matt 26:2). In order to accent the aggressiveness of Christ’s teaching, and how active He was until the time of His betrayal, I want to briefly review Matthew’s account of what Jesus did during the periods of time prior to these “two days.” Here are some things said and done by Jesus after Mark 13:37 and before Mark 14:1.


               AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH. Jesus declared His coming would be “as the days of Noah were,” saying the people would be “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the ark.” They did not know “until the flood came, and took them all away.” When Jesus comes, the taking away would be very precise. Two would be in the field, only one would be taken. Two women would be grinding at the mill, only one would be taken (Matt 24:37-42).


               WATCH LIKE THE MANAGER OF A HOUSE. Jesus likened watching for His return to the head of a house who, if he knew when the thief would come, would diligently watch, and not allow his house to “broken up.” (Matt 24:43-44).


               WATCH LIKE A RESPONSIBLE STEWARD. A faithful and wise steward who had been made the head of the household, Jesus said, would be diligent to feed and care for the house while the master was away. If he was found “doing” his work when the master came, he would be made ruler over the goods, instead of a mere steward. If he was thought his master was delaying his coming, and began to smite his fellowservants and indulge in eating and drinking, the Lord would cut him of, and put him with the hypocrites, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt 24:45-51).


               WATCHING LIKE WISE VIRGINS. The Lord also likened waiting for His return to ten virgins who “went out to meet the bridegroom.” Five were wise, and made provision for a long wait. Five were foolish, and made no such provisions. While the Bridegroom tarried, the oil in the lamps was finally consumed while they all fell asleep. When they awakened, only the five who brought extra oil were allowed to be with the Bridegroom. Jesus warned His disciples to watch for His return, because they did not know the hour in which He would come (Matt 25:1-13).


               THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS. The Lord likened the Kingdom of God to a man “traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.” According to the ability of each, he gave five talents to one, two talents to another, and one to another. Then he took his journey. While he was gone, two of the men increased the amount given to them, while one buried his in the ground, considering it too much of a risk to invest it. He reasoned that the master was an austere man. When the master returned, the faithul stewards were awarded abundantly. The unfaithful steward saw his talent taken from him and given to the one who had increased his talents from five to ten. That servant was then cast “into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt 25:30).


               THE SEPARATION OF THE SHEEP FROM THE GOATS. Matthew then records Christ’s arresting words concerning the separation of the sheep from the goats – the saved from the lost – identifying the telling sign of His sheep as having a care for His brethren, and the mark of the goats as neglecting His brethren (Matt 25:31-46).


THEY SOUGHT TO TAKE HIM BY CRAFT

                1b . . . and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by craft, and put Him to death”


               Matthew identifies this time with all of the “sayings” recorded in Matthew 24 and 25. “And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, He said unto His disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified” (Matt 26:1-2). According to Matthew’s account, the words of Jesus were uninterrupted from Matthew 24:4 through 25:46. This being the case, all of these sayings were spoken to four men: Peter, Andrew, James, and John (Mk 13:3). If this is true, it provides a sterling example of the eagerness of Jesus to teach those who want to “learn from” Him (Matt 11:28).


               THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND SCRIBES. Jesus had repeatedly told His disciples of the intentions that would be carried out by “the chief priests and scribes” (Matt 16:21; 20:18; Mk 8:31; 10:33; Lk 9:22). These men were at the heart of the Jewish system – the priests administering the ordinances, and the scribes handling the Scriptures. Yet these two groups, who should have been the first to recognize the promised Messiah, were instead the first to reject Him. But now, only because their hour had come, they aggressively seek a means to capture Jesus. Here is where a much larger gathering commenced, that would finally include “Herod, Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel” (Acts 4:27). Unknown to them, they were gathering together to do what God’s hand and counsel “determined before to be done” (Acts 4:28). They were fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah, “He is despised and rejected of men” (Isa 53:3) – not just any men, but the choice men of the chosen race!


               Matthew tells us that “chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people,” assembled together “in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas” (Matt 26:3). I cannot help but notice how the office of the high priest had degenerated. Here we are told that he was living in a “palace,” which by proper interpretation was a mansion: “The dwellings of the higher classes usually had two (courts), one exterior, between the door and the street; the other interior, surrounded by the buildings of the dwelling itself. The latter is mentioned Matthew 26:3.” THAYER


               SOUGHT HOW TO TAKE HIM BY CRAFT. These enemies knew that, because of the people, they could not simply arrest Jesus. Because of His many good works, He was popular among the citizenry. Prior to this, the presence of the people had thwarted their efforts, “because His hour was not yet come” (John 7:30). A short time before the events of our text, these very men had “sought to take hold on Him, but feared the people,” so abandoned their plans (Mk 12:12; Matt 21:46). Now, however, since the time appointed by God is approaching, He releases them, so to speak, to do their will.


               Even now, however, they must be creative in the manner in which they seize Jesus. Mark says they sought how to take Him “by craft,” “trickery,” NKJV “stealth,” NASB or “in some sly way.” NIV This would mean something similar to snaring a bird, or some other animal, by means of a decoy. In other words, they were seeking to lure Jesus into some situation where they could capture Him without the people knowing it. Matthew says they “consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety” – which is translated from the same word (Matt 26:4).


               This confirms the inability of those in the grip of the wicked one to learn. Although they had been outsmarted by Jesus every single time they tried to trap Him, yet they continued to think they were able to outmaneuver Him. Of course, they had no idea they were operating under the government of the God of heaven, who had established the boundaries within which they were confined.


               AND PUT HIM TO DEATH. Their aim was to rid themselves of Jesus of Nazareth. His presence had impacted upon their “place” within the Jewish nation (John 11:48). Christ’s presence is always disruptive to the enemies of God. However, what would really happen when Jesus died was totally hidden to these wicked men. By means of this death, which they thought they were accomplishing, Satan would be destroyed (Heb 2:14), principalities and powers would be plundered (Col 2:15), sin would be put away (Heb 9:26), peace would be made (Col 1:20), we were reconciled to God (Rom 5:10), and death was abolished (2 Tim 1:10). How well Paul was moved to state the case: “ . . . the hidden wisdom . . .Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor 2:7-8).


               SATAN ENTERS JUDAS. At this time, when the “hour” for the “power of darkness” came to pass (Lk 22:53), Satan is said to have entered into Judas. “And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve” (Luke 22:2-3). Arriving when they were discussing how to take Jesus subtlety, Judas “communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him unto them.” They were glad to hear this, and covenanted with Judas “to give him money.” He then “promised, and sought opportunity to betray Him unto them in the absence of the multitude” (Lk 22:5-6). When once a space was made for Satan to work, he seized upon the opportunity.


WHEN THE INCONSIDERATE CONSIDER

               2 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.” Matthew records nearly the same words, the text reading “among the people” rather than “of the people.” Here we see the Satanic shrewdness of the leaders as they discuss how to lure Jesus into a compromising situation where they can have Him killed.


               David frequently spoke of the wicked laying snares for the righteous. Many of his statements find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ Jesus. “They also that seek after my life lay snares for me . . . they commune of laying snares privily . . . The wicked have laid a snare for me . . . The proud have hid a snare for me. . . In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me”(Psa 38:12; 64:5; 119:110; 140:5; 142:3).


               SOMETHING TO BE SEEN. When God delivered Jesus into to the hands of His enemies, and even to the devil himself, they appeared to become invincible, finally crucifying the Lord of glory. However, their apparent success was not owing to their ability, but to the lowering of hedge around Jesus. In the case of Jesus, the purpose was to take away the sins of the world through Him laying down His life. There are, however, other times when God has lowered the hedge around His people. The primary example of this is Job (Job 1:10,12; 2:6). In that trial, it appeared as though Job was powerless and his enemies were impregnable. But they were not. A similar case is that of Paul, who received a thorn in the flesh, in which it appeared as though he was nearly helpless (2 Cor 12:7). There were also seemingly endless trials in which the foe appeared all powerful (2 Cor 11:23-28). However, as in the case of Jesus Himself, they could do not more than God appointed to be done.


               There is also the matter of correction, when the Lord chastens his children “with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men” (2 Sam 7:14). Jesus referred to this as being delivered “to the tormentors” (Matt 18:34-35). Here too, however, it God who is Lord over all, and it is His will that is ultimately being fulfilled.


               I mention these things because the Lord Jesus was fully conscious of this Divine manner. Even though the suffering and death that was before Him was grievous, He knew His Father was over all. That is why He could set His eyes on “the joy that was set before Him” (Heb 12:2), enduring the cross and despising the shame – while His enemies gloated in their seeming victory. It is also why He could maintain such composure leading up to His death.


               NOT ON THE FEAST DAY. The “Feast Day” of reference is “the Passover” (Lk 22:1). This was the feast young Jesus attended with His parents at the age of twelve (Lk 2:41-42). It is generally considered that “the feast of the Jews” mentioned in John 5:1 was the second Passover Jesus attended. John also mentions that another Passover that was “at hand” when Jesus fed the five thousand (John 6:4), which is probably the third Jesus is said to have attended. This being true, our text is now the fourth Passover mentioned during the lifetime of Jesus. That would mean Jesus went to Jerusalem to observe the Feast of the Passover every year during His ministry. It also ought to be noted that Jesus attended several of these special feasts. He attended “the Feast of Tabernacles” (John 7:2-10). He was also present during “The Feast of Dedication” (John 10:22). This was not a Feast instituted under the Law, but was a celebration of the dedication of the Temple during the days of Judas Maccabaeus in December of 165 B.C. It was during this occasion that Jesus delivered the discourse on the Good Shepherd. During these occasions, Jesus often wrought miracles, which were duly noted by the people. His enemies knew that a city filled with such people could cause trouble for them.


               LEST THERE BE AN UPROAR AMONG THE PEOPLE. Many Jews gathered at these feasts. During the ministry of Jesus, it appears as though they had become accustomed to seeing Him there. Often they would seek Him, and ask concerning Him. For example, at the Feast of Dedication, “the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, Where is He?”(John 7:11). The same thing occurred as people began to gather for the Feast of the Passover that is mentioned in our text: “Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that He will not come to the feast?” (John 11:56). In fact, John specifically states that some people came to this feast in expectation of seeing Jesus. “On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem” (John 12:12). That was, in fact, the occasion of the Triumphal entry of Jesus, when He rode on a colt into the city, amidst the shouts and praises of the people.


               Now the enemies of Jesus are reasoning with the popularity of Jesus in mind. They reason that if they seize Jesus during the Feast, it will cause an uproar among the people. Thus they say, “Not on the feast day!” However, they are not orchestrating the events. Soon one of Jesus’ own disciples will confront them, offering to hand Jesus over to them away from the people. This was the hand of God through which He would deliver Jesus up “for us all” (Rom 8:32). The determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God was at work here (Acts 2:23). Rather than avoiding the Feast day, Jesus would be offered as “our Passover” during the very Feast they sought to avoid.