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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 14:62 mean?

Explanation

Mark 14:62 presents Jesus' response to the high priest during his trial before the Sanhedrin, the ruling Jewish council.

When asked if He is the Christ, the Son of the Blessed, Jesus affirms His identity with "I am." This phrase alone carries deep significance as it echoes the divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14, where God identifies Himself as "I AM THAT I AM." Jesus' use of "I am" is a direct claim to divinity.

He further states that the Sanhedrin will see the "Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." The title "Son of Man" is often used in the Gospels, referring to the prophetic vision in Daniel 7:13-14, where a figure with divine authority comes with the clouds of heaven.

By stating this, Jesus is claiming a role in the divine judgment and the establishment of God's kingdom.

This claim is both messianic and apocalyptic, implying that Jesus sees Himself as the one who will fulfill God's redemptive plan for the world.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The passage occurs during the Passion Week, the final days of Jesus' earthly ministry leading up to His crucifixion.

The setting is Jerusalem, during the Jewish celebration of Passover, a highly charged time in the Jewish calendar when the city would have been filled with pilgrims.

It is at night, and Jesus is being tried by the Sanhedrin, who are seeking to establish a charge against Him to justify his execution.

This trial is irregular in that it is held at night and quickly, indicating the urgency and the desire of the Jewish authorities to convict Jesus.

The Sanhedrin felt threatened by Jesus’ growing influence and His challenges to their authority and interpretations of the law.

Theological Insights

From a Christian perspective, this verse demonstrates Jesus' messianic consciousness and His role in salvation history.

The imagery of being seated at the right hand suggests divine authority and honor, consistent with the understanding of Christ's exaltation and role in interceding for humanity.

The "coming in the clouds of heaven" implies a future return or parousia in Christian eschatology, where Christ will return in glory to judge and restore.

In contrast, a Jewish perspective at the time might interpret Jesus' claim as blasphemous, as it attributes divine status to a human being.

Some contemporary Jewish interpretations consider Jesus a significant historical figure but not the Messiah or divine.

Practical Applications

The verse calls believers to recognize the divinity of Jesus and to anticipate His second coming with hope and accountability, knowing that He holds final authority. It can inspire Christians to live lives of integrity and justice, considering that they are accountable to a higher power.

Furthermore, trusting in the intercessory role of Christ can encourage believers to seek a deeper relationship with God.

Cross-References

Daniel 7:13-14 (KJV): "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him."
Matthew 26:64 (KJV): "Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."
Acts 7:55-56 (KJV): "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."

Language Study

The key phrases in the original Greek text of Mark 14:62 include:

"Ego eimi" (ἐγώ εἰμι): Translated as "I am," which echoes the divine name in Greek Septuagint (LXX) in Exodus 3:14 ("ego eimi ho on").
"Son of man" (υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου): This term has messianic and apocalyptic connotations based on its use in the Book of Daniel.
"Sitting on the right hand" (καθήμενον ἐκ δεξιῶν): A position of honor and power, supporting the idea of Jesus sharing divine authority.
"Power" (τῆς δυνάμεως): Often attributed to God, denoting strength, ability, and sovereignty.
"Coming in the clouds" (ἐρχόμενον ἐπὶ τῶν νεφελῶν): Signifying a divine or heavenly appearance, often associated with judgment or majesty.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons can be made with various ancient cultures that had concepts of divine figures manifesting in the skies.

For example, in Greco-Roman mythology, gods descending from Olympus often signified momentous events.

Similarly, various cultures have depicted divine judgment scenes with gods governing the fate of humanity from a lofty throne.

The use of cloud imagery is also not unique to Judaism and Christianity; it often symbolizes the divine presence and mystery across different religions.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science acknowledges the natural phenomena of clouds and the inability to physically sit upon them; thus the phrase "coming in the clouds of heaven" must be understood metaphorically in scientific terms.

Nonetheless, the account is valuable as a historical record of the belief systems and worldviews of the time, and through disciplines such as the psychology of religion, the impact of such beliefs on human behavior and societies can be studied.

Commentaries

Varied interpretations from different theological commentators exist regarding this verse.

Some consider it a clear proclamation of Jesus' divinity and future return in glory.

Others approach it as metaphorical language reflecting the apocalyptic hopes of the early Christian community.

Albert Barnes, for instance, noted that Jesus' use of "I am" definitively asserted His divine nature.

Matthew Henry commented on Jesus being both the Son of man, emphasizing His humanity, and the right hand of power, asserting His deity.

John Wesley focused on the nature of the kingdom Jesus would bring, contrasting earthly expectations with the spiritual reality.

These differences in interpretation among commentators underscore how this verse touches on fundamental Christian doctrines of Christology and eschatology.

Mark 14

Mark 14

What does Mark 14:62 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 14:62 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?