Mark 14:1  “After two days it was the Passover…”
The commentary that mentioned the timing suggested this means what is about to be told happened two days before the Passover.  Makes sense.  It shares the story of the anointing in Bethany and includes info that Peter probably got after the fact.  He would understand later that it probably occurred during this time.  Not sure how this jives with John’s account of it being six days before the Passover.  Nothing clear cut in the commentaries.  Part of the issue is probably how each writer chose to designate the time of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  John also has a habit of throwing things in when he remembers them.  Will need to do more study on that.

1  “…the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him…”
Peter wouldn’t know this beforehand.  Probably heard about it after the fact.  John was known by the family of the High Priest so he may have acquired some inside info afterward.

3  “…Bethany at the house of Simon the leper…”
Possibly family and/or friends of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

4  “…there were some…”
Peter doesn’t name names, but John tells it was Judas who objected to the anointing.

7  “…you have the poor with you always…Me you do not have always”
Jesus was kind and full of compassion.  But He wasn’t big on so-called social justice.  There were times He didn’t heal people.  He didn’t always feed people.  He left a lot of poor people when He ascended.  The point is, you must put Him first in order to be able to minister to those who need it.  He is, has been, and always will be the most important.  Those who stress what would Jesus do seem to leave this part out.

10  “Then Judas…went to the chief priests…”
This episode may have pushed Judas over the line.  He may have finally realized Jesus wasn’t going to be the leader he and others hoped.  Or maybe he thought the betrayal would force Jesus to fight back.  Sad any way you look at it.  Had so much and came so close to throw it all away.

12  “…when they killed the Passover lamb…”
Not sure, but this may have been after sundown on Thursday evening, which would have been considered Friday.  My understanding that the Passover lambs were sacrificed around 3:00 on Friday, the same time Jesus died on the cross.  Seems like I also remember reading where they sometimes had the meal before the actual Passover time.  Will need to find some more references on this to be sure.  But if it is on Thursday evening, it would work.  After sundown would already be counted as Friday.  They would have the meal, institute the Lord’s Supper, go to the garden where Jesus was arrested, then follow Him to the homes of the High Priests.  Later in the day Jesus would be condemned and put on the cross where He would die at 3:00, hastily prepared, and put in the grave before sundown.

13  “…a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water…”
Interesting note.  Why not just say go to such and such a house.  Was it just a moment for Jesus to show His power to know.

28  “…after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee”
Wonder if Jesus planned to see them in Jerusalem or actually didn’t plan to appear to them until they had gone to Galilee.  One commentary suggested He gave them the plan to give them hope, but it didn’t rule out seeing them before.  But it seems He set them up to be obedient and go on to Galilee.  Probably what should have happened is that after He died and was put in the tomb, they should have anticipated the resurrection and gone on to Galilee to wait for Him.  But they didn’t grasp the resurrection so they hid in the upper room.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.