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Mark 14

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.

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

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.

And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.

For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

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.

And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

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?

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.

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?

And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.

And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?

And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.

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.

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.

And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

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.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

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.

But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

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.

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.

And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.

And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;

And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.

And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

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.

And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?

Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.

And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.

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.

Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.

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.

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.

And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.

And they laid their hands on him, and took him.

And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?

I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.

And they all forsook him, and fled.

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:

And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.

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.

And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.

For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,

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.

But neither so did their witness agree together.

And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

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?

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.

Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?

Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

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.

And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:

And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.

But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.

And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.

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.

But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

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.

What does Mark 14:24 mean?

Explanation

Mark 14:24 is a verse from the Christian New Testament, specifically from the Gospel of Mark.

The verse is a part of the narrative of the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion.

In this verse, Jesus refers to the wine as "my blood of the new testament," signifying the establishment of a new covenant between God and humanity.

The symbolism of blood here is important, as it refers to the sacrificial system of the Old Testament where animal blood was used to atone for sins.

Jesus is therefore presenting himself as the ultimate sacrifice, whose blood is shed for the forgiveness of sins.

"Which is shed for many" underscores the inclusive and wide-reaching scope of this new covenant, suggesting that it is not limited to a specific group, but is for all who accept it.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark, thought to be the earliest written Gospel, was composed around 65-70 AD, a time when the early Christian community was undergoing persecution.

The Last Supper reflects the Jewish Passover tradition, during which Jewish people commemorate their liberation from Egypt.

The new testament or covenant discussed in Mark 14:24 is an allusion to the theological concept of Jesus as the prophesied Messiah who would establish a new covenant with the people, superseding the old covenant that was based on Mosaic Law and sacrifices.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse is interpreted in various ways:

Traditional Christian View: This is seen as the institution of the Eucharist, a sacrament in Christianity where believers partake in the bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus's sacrifice.
Covenant Theology: The phrase "new testament" is tied to the idea of the "New Covenant" promulgated by Jesus, whereby the relationship between God and mankind is facilitated not by law but by grace and faith.
Dispensational Theology: In this view, the shedding of Jesus's blood marks the starting point of a new dispensation in God's dealing with humanity, shifting from the era of law to the era of grace.
Liberation Theology: The emphasis on the blood being shed "for many" is seen as a call to serve and liberate the oppressed, emphasizing social justice and collective salvation.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse suggests multiple applications:

It calls for Christians to remember the significance of Jesus's sacrifice and to participate in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, with reverence.
It emphasizes the inclusivity of Jesus's message, encouraging believers to extend compassion and forgiveness to all.
It reminds Christians that their faith is built on a promise of redemption and encourages them to live in a way that reflects that covenant.

Cross-References

Matthew 26:28: "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
Luke 22:20: "Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."
1 Corinthians 11:25: "After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."
Hebrews 9:15: "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."
Jeremiah 31:31: "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:"

Language Study

The phrase "my blood of the new testament" in Greek is "τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ αἷμά μου τῆς διαθήκης." The key terms here include:

αἷμά (haima): blood, which in Judaic tradition, is intimately connected with life and sacrifice.
διαθήκης (diathekes): testament or covenant; in a biblical context, it refers to a divine covenant or agreement.
πολλῶν (pollōn): many; this signifies the collective reach of the covenant, extending beyond a limited group of individuals.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Cultures and religions outside of Christianity also have concepts of covenants and sacrifices that atone or bring about some form of redemption.

In ancient Mesopotamia and among the Israelites, blood covenants were not uncommon, signifying unbreakable oaths.

In other religious traditions, such as Hinduism, the idea of sacrifices is not foreign, but it holds different significance and is not seen as a means to establish a new covenant with the divine.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science has no way to evaluate the supernatural claims of this verse (like the transformation of wine into blood), as they fall outside the purview of empirical analysis.

However, science can provide insights into the psychological and social effects of ritual and shared beliefs. Participating in communal rituals like the Eucharist can foster a sense of unity and shared identity.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer varying interpretations of Mark 14:24:

John Calvin: saw the cup not as blood itself but as a symbol of the blood of Christ, emphasizing faith in the participant.
Martin Luther: introduced the concept of consubstantiation, suggesting that the body and blood of Christ are present "in, with, and under" the forms of bread and wine.
Modern Scholars: Some modern scholars argue that the Last Supper narratives provide a theological reflection on Jesus's death in the context of Passover, inviting believers to see Jesus as the Paschal Lamb whose sacrifice brings liberation.

Mark 14

Mark 14

What does Mark 14:24 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 14:24 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?