Mark 4:31

4:31 It is like a mustard seed ¹  that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground –

Mark 8:28

8:28 They said, ²  “John the Baptist, others say Elijah, ³  and still others, one of the prophets.”

Mark 14:20

14:20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who dips his hand ⁴  with me into the bowl. ⁵ 

[4:31]  ¹ sn Mustard seeds are known for their tiny size.

[8:28]  ² tn Grk “And they said to him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[8:28]  ³ sn The appearance of Elijah would mean that the end time had come. According to 2 Kgs 2:11, Elijah was still alive. In Mal 4:5 it is said that Elijah would be the precursor of Messiah.

[14:20]  ³ tn Grk “one who dips with me.” The phrase “his hand” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[14:20]  ⁴ sn One who dips with me in the bowl. The point of Jesus’ comment here is not to identify the specific individual per se, but to indicate that it is one who was close to him – somebody whom no one would suspect. His comment serves to heighten the treachery of Judas’ betrayal.