v1-2: The time of the Passover, fulfilling the Scriptures, the carefully planned intention and foreknowledge of God; Acts 2.23. At that time, the Passover and Unleavened Bread feasts had become one. The chief priests' intention was to avoid having Jesus arrested during the feast, because there would be many people around. But their plans and intentions had to change (v10-11).

v3: In contrast to the scheming of the priests, the woman came to Jesus, showing her devotion. The costliness of her act contrasted with Judas' greed. There was doubtless a story behind the name, "Simon the leper"; perhaps he had been healed by Jesus, and now opened his home to his healer, friend, and Saviour.

v4-5: The criticism from the disciples was led by Judas; they only saw the physical deed, not the spiritual reality; Jesus knew her heart, and received the woman's adoration (also 12.42-44).

v6-9: The Lord Jesus gave her a high commendation; a good work; a work in preparation for His burial (v8); and a work to be proclaimed everywhere (v9). The woman's love for Christ has now been proclaimed throughout the world, yet she remains nameless, so that our attention if fixed on Christ.

There are many standards of behaviour, many based on culture or class, but we must learn what the Lord commends.

v10-11: "One of the Twelve"; Mark's description of Judas Iscariot is powerful; he had seen and heard so much, He had spent 2-3 years with Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of Man. All through that time his heart remained unchanged. All along, Jesus Himself knew what was to happen.

Judas preferred the physical before the spiritual, and in the end lost both; see 8.35-37. His was a sad end, yet a lesson to those who appear to be included but are not.

v12: As in v1-2, the Passover lamb was sacrificed on the first day of Unleavened Bread.

v13-14: Jesus had evidently arranged beforehand for the meal; these arrangements were made quietly, so as to avoid unnecessary opposition; such opposition had to come anyway.

v15-16: The room was furnished and prepared; it was not an accident, nor even a miracle, that the two disciples met the man carrying a pitcher of water.

Since 9.30-32, events had moved inexorably towards Jesus' death.

v17-21: The Twelve were together; from John 13.30, we know that Judas Iscariot did not share the Passover itself; his departure fits between verses 21 and 22.

v18-20: The question "one of you" was met by the response, "Is it I?"; here was a challenge to personal faithfulness, and an encouragement to examine ourselves. Sadly, later the statement is "you will all fall away" (v27). 1 Cor 11.28; having examined themselves, the eleven ate the Passover.

v21: The Lord Jesus had perfect knowledge of what was to happen; but Judas still had the responsibility for his own actions, and would suffer accordingly.

v22-23: "while they were eating"; the ceremony had become more complex that when originally instituted; the actual 'Lord's Supper' was just part of a larger meal. The eleven ate together of the bread, and drank the wine; a tiny band of men, all about to flee, yet would turn the world upside down.

v24-25: A reference to Jesus' death and later ascension; He looked forward with confidence to a meal in eternity with those who loved Him.

v26: The normal Jewish tradition was to sing Psalms at the feast times; Psalms 113-118 were used at Passover.

v27-31: All the disciples would forsake Jesus (v50; "everyone deserted Him"); although Jesus had spent much time explaining what was going to happen, they had not grasped the reality of it.

v28: His resurrection was predicted and promised; for the disciples this meant restoration, even though they would fail Him. The fact that Jesus could go to Galilee was an indication that He would rise again; see 16.7.

This prophecy also helps to explain why, when the risen Lord appeared, He did so to incomplete groups; on one occasion Thomas was missing, on the lake there were only seven of the Eleven. During the forty days, between resurrection and ascension, they went to Galilee, and perhaps at different times; the apostolic group certainly did not remain together throughout the period. At some point they all regathered to Jerusalem, in accordance with Jesus' words in Luke 24.49. Equally, at some point all Eleven were together to hear Christ's 'Great Commission,' in Matt 28.16-20.

v29-31: In this situation, Peter was insistent and argumentative, while Jesus was calm and clear. The disciples struggled to understand all that they had heard, and what was beginning to happen; their Friend's imminent death, with His betrayal, mistreatment, etc.

v32: Gethsemane, the 'Olive Press', a place of suffering; esp. Jesus' secret suffering, before the public suffering in the trials. This is pictured by the grain offering baked in the oven, Lev 2.

v33-34: Peter, James and John saw a little of the suffering, but they could not enter into it.

In practical terms, the scene was set for the crucifixion, through Jesus' conflict with the Jewish leaders, His entry into Jerusalem, the cleansing of the temple, and His teaching. But in the spiritual realm, Gethsemane marked a crucial part of the battle between God and Satan, between ultimate good, and the author of evil. It is significant that the religious leaders were ignorant of this aspect of the battle. The words here describe a deep suffering; "deeply distressed and troubled ", "my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death"; see Heb 5.7.

v35-36: The cup of bitterness and suffering. There was no question of Jesus fearing the cross, "The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him" (v21); He knew He would be buried (v8), and raised (v28), He actually despised the shame of the cross (Heb 12.2). It was in Gethsemane that real suffering happened, and that was what Jesus prayed and agonised about. We read that Jesus fell (or staggered); an indication of the weight of the cup which Jesus knew was ahead.

Here, Jesus' prayer was met by silence, just as it was from the cross, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' How painful was this experience!

The first Adam, in a garden, disobeyed the command concerning sin. Sin entered the world. The final Adam, in a garden, faced the dilemma, endured huge sorrow, but obeyed the command and gave His live. Sin is defeated.

v37-38: The three disciples lapsed into sleep, spiritual lethargy and inactivity, and tiredness, both mental and physical; they had endured much during the last few days and hours. While they slept, Jesus had already suffered for one hour; Luke 22.44 records more of this suffering.

We need to watch and pray, lest we are tempted. We can easily declare our love for Christ, but when the challenge comes, we may fail Him.

v39-40: The pattern was repeated, with the Lord continuing to pray, and the disciples still sleeping.

v41-42: The disciples slept on; they were certainly not ready to respond to the coming crisis as Jesus was arrested and taken away.

"Enough!" Jesus woke the three; it was time to rise. Jesus Himself was ready to face the coming trial. He knew that His betrayer had done his work.

v43: Judas had come with a great crowd, perhaps expecting a fight; Judas clearly had not understood Jesus' heart. This was no guerrilla fighting force, but a new army proclaiming peace with God!

v44-45: Judas approached Jesus was a friend, "Rabbi!" and kissed Him; such were the words and actions of the traitor. Better the rebukes of a friend than the kisses of an enemy. The word to described his actions means 'to affectionately kiss,' and is also used in Matt 26.49. Doubtless his kisses were noisy, to ensure the soldiers knew who to arrest.

v46-50: A time of chaos, as the disciples tried to protect Jesus; one even drew a sword (v47); Luke records that Jesus healed Malchus, whose ear was cut off (Luke 22.50-51). Jesus insisted that the armed soldiers were unnecessary.

v51-52: Mark's personal testimony; a young man, possibly a teenager, in Jerusalem for the feast. The events of Gethsemane were witnessed by the writer of the gospel.

v53: The Sanhedrin was hurriedly convened, late at night.

v54: Peter followed Jesus as a distance; if we keep our distance from Christ, we become vulnerable to temptation.

v55-57: The chief priests seemed to lead the attack on Jesus. They condoned lies, in blatant disregard for the law they claimed to uphold. The real attitudes of their hearts were revealed here.

v58-59: See also 15.29-30; Jesus' words were misinterpreted, see John 2.19, for He spoke about the temple of His body.

v60-62: The high priest brought the evidence to a close, and asked Jesus to respond. Jesus did not reply to the words of the false witnesses (v61); to have explained in detail what He meant was to cast pearls before swine.

The second question was more direct, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jews used the title "Blessed One", rather than speak the actual name of God.

The reply was clear, and ensured that Jesus would be condemned; "I Am"; a clear claim to deity (Ps 110.1; Is 52.8; Dan 7.13), and a promise of His return in judgment.

v64: Christ had been condemned; the Jews could spit on a condemned man (Is 11.3; John 7.24).

v65: We may ask why they covered Jesus' eyes; did they fear His gaze?

v66-72: Whilst Jesus endured the mockery of a trial, Peter had his own trial, before ordinary people; John 18.15-17.