Mark 14:1

This and the final two chapters comprise the heart of all that Christianity means. Mark and the other three sacred authors devote more space to the narrative of the arraignment, trials, mockery, suffering, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ than to any other subject. The events and circumstances of this final week of Jesus' ministry are the most important of all human history. Here the decisive battle for human redemption was won; the Seed of Woman bruised the head of the serpent; everlasting righteousness was made available to men in Christ and the moral justification for any further divine toleration of Adam's race was accomplished. On Calvary, and in the events leading up to it, Satan threw in his last reserves, committed his total strength, and brought evil to its mightiest crescendo at the cross, where the tides of moral shame and darkness reached their all-time flood. The sufferings of the Son of God were such as to chill the stoutest heart; and, when it is considered that a single word from Christ could have annihilated his foes, the marvel of ages is that he endured it all to redeem fallen and sinful men. Oh Christ, blessed is thy Holy Name!

Now after two days was the feast of the passover and the unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him with subtlety, and kill him: for they said, Not during the feast, lest haply there should be a tumult of the people. (Mark 14:1-2)

THE PLOT OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS

Clearly, the chief priests did not wish to have a public execution of Christ during the feast, the popularity of our Lord with the masses being far too great to risk such a thing. How then did it come to pass otherwise? As the anti-type of the passover lamb, it was fitting that the Lord should be sacrificed at the Passover season, as the Father's plan required, and as Jesus himself prophesied (Matthew 26:1-5). The Lord, not the priests, was the architect of the crucifixion.

Take him with subtlety ... They intended to assassinate Jesus in a gangland type murder. The religious leaders of Israel had, in such a purpose, descended to a record low plane of immorality.

From its placement, both here and in Matthew, the next event related seems to have triggered the betrayal by Judas and a dramatic change of strategy by the priests.