VII. The Servant's passion ministry chs. 14--15

This section of Mark's Gospel records the climaxes of many themes that the writer had introduced. Mark chose to concentrate on the passion or sufferings of Jesus rather than simply to give a record of all the events of the last week of Jesus' life. Out of Mark's 661 verses, 242 (37%) deal with the last week, from the Triumphal Entry through the Resurrection, and 128 concern Jesus' passion and resurrection.³²⁸Over half the events Mark recorded in the last week (53%) deal with Jesus' sufferings and triumph, the two major themes in the last three chapters

 A. The Servant's anticipation of suffering 14:1-52

Several themes peak in this section. Here we have the clearest evidence that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God (cf. 1:1; 8:29). Here, too, Jesus' conflict with the religious leaders, His foes, came to a head (cf. 3:1, 6; 11:18; 12:12). The ignorance and selfishness of Jesus' disciples, His friends, also peaked (cf. 3:19; 6:1-6; 8:31-10:52). Finally the Servant's ministry climaxed in His giving His life as a ransom for many (cf. 10:45).³²⁹

 B. The Servant's endurance of suffering 14:53-15:47

Jesus' sufferings until now had been anticipatory. Now He began to experience pain resulting from His trials and crucifixion. As the faithful Servant of the Lord who came to do His Father's will, His sufferings continued to increase.

Jesus underwent two trials, a religious one before the Jewish leaders and a civil one before the Roman authorities. This was necessary because under Roman sovereignty the Sanhedrin did not have the authority to crucify. The Sanhedrin wanted Jesus to suffer crucifixion (John 18:31). Each trial had three parts.

Jesus' Religious Trial

Before Annas

John 18:12-14, 19-24

Before Caiaphas

Matt. 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:54, 63-65

Before the Sanhedrin

Matt. 27:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71

Jesus' Civil Trial

Before Pilate

Matt. 27:2, 11-14; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-38

Before Herod Antipas

Luke 23:6-12

Before Pilate

Matt. 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:39-19:16