Mark 14:12-26

D. THURSDAY: THE LORD'S SUPPER

TEXT 14:12-26

And on the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the passover, his disciples say unto him. Where wilt thou that we go and make ready that thou mayest eat the passover? And he sendeth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him; and wheresoever he shall enter in, say to the good man of the house, The Master saith, Where is my guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he will himself shew you a large upper room furnished and ready: and there make ready for us, And the disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
And when it was evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they sat and were eating, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you shall betray me, even he that eateth with me. They began to be sorrowful, and began to say unto him one by one, Is it I? And he said unto them, It is one of the twelve, he that dippeth with me in the dish. For the Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.
And as they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed, he brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take ye: this is my body. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the mount of Olives.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 14:12-26

767.

Just when was the first day of unleavened bread? i.e., according to our timeand according to Jewish time?

768.

Who was responsible for sacrificing the passover lamb?

769.

Had Jesus eaten the passover with His disciples before this occasion?

770.

Why did the disciples feel responsible for preparation of the passover? How elaborate was the preparation?

771.

Where were Jesus and His disciples when He gave the instructions for the Passover preparation?

772.

Who were the two disciples?

773.

Was there anything strange about a man carrying a pitcher of water?

774.

What was the purpose of these rather strange instructions?

775.

Why was the householder so willing to offer his large upper room? (There is a good deal of traditional information as to who owned the upper roomread some of it.)

776.

What was the reaction of the disciples when they saw the words of Jesus fulfilled?

777.

At what time was the Passover eaten?

778.

Why did Jesus predict His own betrayal? Be specific.

779.

Did any of the disciples feel they were capable of betraying Him?

780.

How specific was Jesus in pointing out His betrayer?

781.

What is meant by the expression dipping bread in the same dish with me.?

782.

If Jesus was betrayed in fulfillment of prophecy why blame the one who did it?

783.

How could a man be better off if he was never born?

784.

What is involved in blessing bread?

785.

What type of bread was broken? What had it symbolically represented before Jesus used it to represent His body?

786.

By reading all the accounts of the Lord's Supper attempt to reconstruct the order of service in the passover feast.

787.

If there was just one cup in the institution of the Lord's Supper how is it we use more than one?

788.

Some can believe the bread underwent a change when Jesus said This is my bodythe fruit of the vine did the same when He said this is my blood. How can such a thought be gathered from the text?

789.

Did Jesus drink fermented grape juice?

790.

Did the apostles have any idea what covenant was meant when Jesus referred to the blood of the covenant?

791.

When were the words of promise in Mark 14:25 fulfilled?

792.

Why sing a hymn?

793.

What thoughts filled their hearts as they departed?

COMMENT

TIME.Thursday evening, April 6 (14th Nisan), A.D. 30. With the Jews the 15th Nisan had begun.
PLACE.Jerusalem, in an upper room with the disciples.

PARALLEL ACCOUNTS.Matthew 26:17-25; Luke 22:7-18; Luke 22:21-23; John 13:21-26.

INTERVENING HISTORY.Christ spent Tuesday eve, all day Wednesday, and part of Thursday in retirement at Bethany, it is supposed, The historians, however, do not indicate how or where Wednesday was spent, but on Thursday the Lord came in from Bethany to eat the passover, OUTLINE.The Passover Made Ready. 2. The Last Passover Feast, 3. The First Lord's Supper.

ANALYSIS

I.

THE PASSOVER MADE READY, Mark 14:12-16.

1.

The First Day of Unleavened Bread. Mark 14:12; Matthew 26:17; Luke 22:7.

2.

The Two Disciples Sent, Mark 14:13; Matthew 26:18; Luke 22:8.

3.

The Guest Chamber Prepared. Mark 14:16; Matthew 26:19; Luke 22:13.

II.

THE LAST PASSOVER FEAST, Mark 14:17-21.

1.

The Lord Cometh with the Twelve. Mark 14:17; Matthew 26:20; Luke 22:14.

2.

The Traitor Pointed Out. Mark 14:18; Matthew 26:21; Luke 22:20; John 13:26.

3.

The Traitor's Fate Predicted. Mark 14:21; Matthew 26:24; Luke 22:22.

III.

THE FIRST LORD'S SUPPER, Mark 14:22-26.

1.

The Emblem of the Lord's Body, Mark 14:22; Matthew 26:26; Luke 22:19.

2.

The Emblem of the Blood. Mark 14:23; Matthew 26:27; Luke 22:20.

3.

The Blood of the New Covenant. Mark 14:24; Matthew 26:28; Luke 22:20.

4.

Departure to Gethsemane. Mark 14:26; Matthew 26:30.

INTRODUCTION

The most probable hypothesis combines these accounts as follows: Christ gives two of his disciples directions as to the preparation of the passover supper for himself and the twelve (Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13); when the even is come he goes with the twelve to the place prepared for them, where an unseemly strife occurs as to which shall be greatest (Luke 22:24-30); this Christ rebukes by washing the feet of the disciples (John 14:1-20); all then take their places at the table (Matthew 26:20); Christ prophesies his betrayal (Matthew 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-21; Luke 22:21-23; John 13:21-26); Judas, learning that his treachery is known, goes out to complete it (John 13:27-30). The supper, which has been interrupted by this incident, now goes on and ends with the institution of the Lord's supper at the close of passover feast (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25). After or during this meal Christ gives his disciples the instructions and utters for them the prayer recorded in John, Chapter s 14-17 inclusive.Abbott. At the close of the discourse recorded in John, Chapter s 14-16, and the prayer of chapter 17, the Lord and his disciples left the upper chamber, went out into the darkness of the night, passed out of the city gates and across the Kedron to the ascent of the Mount of Olives, where he retired within the garden of Gethsemane.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

I.

THE PASSOVER MADE READY.

Mark 14:12. And the first day of unleavened bread. Strictly speaking, the 15th of Nisan (part of our March and April), after the Paschal lamb was killed, but here the 14th day (Thursday). See Exodus 12:16. This suggests one of the most difficult questions of Scripture chronology, whether the Lord ate the passover one day before the regular Jewish passover, or at the same time. Pressnse, Millman, Ellicott, Townsend, Alford, Neander, Farrar, and many other great authorities, hold that he ate it the day preceding, and died on the day and about the time the Jewish passover lambs were slain. This view I have accepted and shown the reason why in the Commentary on John, pp. 208, 209. [1] The statements of John that the supper was eaten, the Lord betrayed and condemned before the passover, seem positive. For a fuller discussion we must refer to the Commentary of John. When they killed the passover. Or at which the passover was sacrificed, as in the Revised Version. The word passover signifies a passing, and commemorates the manner in which the Israelites were spared in Egypt when the Almighty passed over their houses, sprinkled with the blood of the lamb, without slaying their first-born. This name, which originally denoted the lamb, was applied later to the supper itself, then to the entire feast (Exodus 12). The passover was the feast of spring, after the death of winter; the national birthday feast; the springtime of grace, pointing to the birth of the true Israel. The rabbis claimed that, (1) all were to be present; (2) they must offer thanksgiving offerings; (3) it was a feast of joyousness, looking forward to their complete deliverance. Where wilt thou that we go and prepare. the passover? According to the directions given in Deuteronomy 16:1-5, the passover must be eaten in the place where the Lord's name was recorded, or where the tabernacle or temple was located. Jesus was at Bethany at this time. As that place was within a Sabbath day's journey of Jerusalem, the passover could be eaten there according to the rabbis, and the disciples might have supposed that this would be the Lord's decision. The preparation involved the selection of a guest chamber (Mark 14:15), the selection, sacrifice and cooking of the lamb, the procurement of unleavened bread, and the bitter herbs. That we go and prepare. The lamb had, we may believe, already been bought on the 10th of Nisan, according to the rule of the law, the very day of which He, the true Paschal Lamb, entered Jerusalem in meek triumph.Cambridge Bible, That thou mayest eat. Note the reverential feeling that dominated the disciples. They did not say, in order that we may eat the passover. They hid themselves behind their Lord.

[1] B. W. Johnson's commentary on John.

Mark 14:13. Two of his disciples, Luke gives their namesPeter and John. Saith unto them. There can be no question that this direction was given them in superhuman foresight. The city. Jerusalem. A man bearing a pitcher of water. A very unusual sight in the East, where the water is drawn by women. He must probably have been the servant of one who was an open or secret disciple, unless we have here a reference to the Jewish custom of the master of a house himself drawing the water with which the unleavened bread was kneaded on Nisan 13th. On the evening of the 13th, before the stars appeared in the heavens, every father, according to Jewish custom, had to repair to the fountain to draw pure water with which to knead the unleavened bread.

Mark 14:14. To the goodman of the house; or, master of the house. The expression, goodman, as used by Tyndale, and preserved in our Authorized Version, is a relic of an olden time, when the heads of a household establishment expressed to one another, in their habitual intercourse, their mutual esteem. In some parts of the country the custom still lingers, and husbands and wives address each other as goodman, goodwife.Morison. The guest chamber. The Revision says, correctly, my guest chamber. The correct reading, my, is suggestive. Our Lord lays claim to it. During the passover week, hospitality was recognized as a universal duty in Jerusalem; pilgrims and strangers were received, and rooms were alloted to them for the celebration of the feast. But it is not probable that a room would have been given to entire strangers without previous arrangement; and the language which the disciples are instructed to use, The Master saith unto thee, seems to me clearly to indicate that the goodman of the house recognized Jesus as Master; in other words, was in some sense at least a disciple.Abbott. Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover? The Master saith. It is a personal question, a proposal to the inner life of all. It is an offer of the one infinite divine blessing; for, in receiving the Master, Christ, the Son of Mary and the Son of God, we receive all the real good there is in earth and heaven.F. D. Huntington.

Mark 14:15. He will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared. A room on the second floor. Some think it was the Alijah, or the room on the housetop. Furnished; i.e., with tables and couches. Prepared. Already swept, and clean, and in order for the feast. Even at the present day, the very humblest Jewish family generally has at the passover time the walls of the house white-washed, the floor scrubbed, the furniture cleaned, and all things made to put on a new appearance. Make ready. The further preparations necessary for the passover. There are evidently two preparations for the passover mentioned in this sentence; that of the room, already made by the proprietor, and that of the lamb, with its accompaniments, bread and wine and bitter herbs, which was now to be made by the two disciples, and which they did make, as recorded in Mark 14:16, where we learn no new fact but the simple execution of the Savior's orders.

Mark 14:16. They made ready. That is, they procured a paschal lamb, multititudes of which were kept for sale in the temple; they procured it to be killed and flayed by the priests, and the blood to be poured at the altar; they roasted the lamb, and prepared the bitter herbs, the sauce, and the unleavened bread.Barnes. As the new day opened, at sunset, the carcass was trussed for roasting, with two skewers of pomegranate wood, so that they formed a cross in the lamb. It was then put in an earthen oven of a special kind, resting, without bottom, on the ground, and was roasted in the earth. The feast could begin immediately after the setting of the sun and the appearing of the stars, on the opening of the 15th of Nisan, which was proclaimed by new trumpet-blasts from the temple.Geikie.

II. THE LAST PASSOVER FEAST.

Mark 14:17. In the evening he cometh with the twelve. It was probably while the sun was beginning to decline in the horizon that Jesus and the disciples descended once more over the Mount of Olives into the Holy City. Before them lay Jerusalem in her festive attire. White tents dotted the sward, gay with the bright flowers of early spring, or peered out from the gardens and the darker foliage of the olive plantations. From the gorgeous temple buildings, dazzling in their snow-white marble and gold, on which the slanting rays of the sun were reflected, rose the smoke of the altar of burnt-offerings. The streets must have been thronged with strangers, and the flat roofs covered with eager gazers, who either feasted their eyes with a first sight of the sacred city, for which they had so often longed, or else once more rejoiced in view of the well-remembered localities. It was the last day-view which the Lord had of the Holy Citytill his resurrectionEdersheim's The Temple and its Services.

Mark 14:18. As they sat and did eat. Or, rather, reclined at table. The passover was originally eaten standing; but this was altered by the Jews when they came to the land of promise and rest. One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. This indefinite announcement would give Judas an opportunity of repentance; but it produced no effect. The announcement by Jesus of his knowledge of the traitor was needed to show the apostles that the manner of his arrest was no surprise to him. The words would seem to have been intentionally vague, as if to rouse some of those who heard them to self-questioning.

Mark 14:19. They began to be sorrowful. The very thought of treason was to their honest and faithful hearts insupportable, and excited great surprise and deepest sorrow. John (John 13:33) describes their perplexed and questioning glances at each other, the whisper of Peter to John, the answer of our Lord to the beloved disciple, announcing the sign by which the traitor was to be indicated. Unto him. They both inquired among themselves (Luke 22:23), and of Christ. Is it I? Their language expresses in the original a much stronger negation than in our versionSurely not I, Lord?

Mark 14:20. One. that dippeth with me. This answer, apparently given only to John (John 13:25-26), does not designate the betrayer to the disciples. According to the Jewish ritual, the administrator in the course of the supper dipped the bitter herbs in a prepared sauce, and passed the dish to the rest, This Christ now did. His reply to the question of John was simply an emphatic reiteration of his previous declaration (John 13:28), He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. That it did not designate the traitor to any of the disciples is clear from John 13:28. Judas alone perceived that his treachery was known to Christ.Abbott.

Mark 14:21. The Son of man indeed goeth. He marches with unfaltering step in the way to the scene of death, as marked out by the divine prophecies. Yet that does not exculpate the authors of his betrayal and murder. Good were it for that man, etc. A proverbial expression of the most terrible destiny, forbidding the thought of any deliverance, however remote.Schaff. Observe incidental confirmation of the doctrine elsewhere taught, that for the finally lost soul there is no redemption.Abbott.

III.

THE FIRST LORD'S SUPPER.

Mark 14:22. As they did eat. While they were still at the passover table. One memorial institution had now ended its mission; as it departed another was ordained. Jesus took bread. The bread that was broken was a round cake or cracker of unleavened bread. Throughout the entire passover week no leavened bread was allowed in the house. Exodus 12:8; Exodus 12:15. The administration of the Lord's Supper was subsequently termed the breaking of bread. The bread, then, is (1) a symbolic reminder that Christ is God's unspeakable gift to us, (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 9:15;) (2) that the gift is perfected only in that he is broken for us, (John 3:14; John 10:15; John 12:32;) (3) that it is efficacious only as we partake of him, i.e., receive him into ourselves, so that he becomes one with us as he is one with the Father, (John 17:23,) as the bread when eaten becomes part of our nature, and so the sustainer of our life. This is my body. His language here closely conforms to that of the Jewish ritual. When the lamb was passed the master was asked by one of the children, What is this? and the father replied, This the body of the lamb which our fathers ate in Egypt. Christ uses, but modifies, the same formula. Does any one suppose the lamb slain in Egypt was miraculously multiplied through all the subsequent ages?Abbott. The word for is denotes only likeness in all metaphors and in the explanation of all symbols. The seven good kine are seven years; These bones are the house of Israel; The seed is the Word of God; This is he who hears the Word; The field is the world; The rock was Christ; -The women are two covenants; The seven lamps are seven churches. Resemblance and representation are certainly implied in these and similar statements, but nothing more.Biblical Museum. In view of this usage how illogical are those who insist, contrary to their senses, that the bread is literally the flesh of Christ.

Mark 14:23. He took the cup. The cup was provided for the celebration of the paschal feast and was at hand as well as the bread. As before he gave thanks, and then commanded: Drink ye all of it. Observe that he simply said of the bread, Take, eat; but of the wine, Drink ye all, as if he intended to uproot the Catholic innovation of denying the cup to the laity.

Mark 14:24. This is my blood. A sign or emblem of my blood. This formula occurs again from the forms of the passover feast. The blood is the life (Leviticus 17:14). He laid down his life. It pleased the Lord to bruise him (Isaiah 53).Jacobus. Up to this time the blood of bulls and goats had represented Christ's blood: henceforth the simple wine of this memorial supper should represent it (Hebrews 9:13-14). New testament; or, covenant. Covenant is the preferable sense here, as in most passages where the word occurs in the New Testament: the new covenant is contrasted with the covenant which God made with our fathers (Acts 3:25). It need hardly be remarked that the title of the New Testament is derived from this passage. The new covenant was, that God would renew and save all who believed in Jesus. In ancient times the ratification of important covenants was made by a sacrificial feast. Shed for many. Shed, in one sense, for all, for the benefits of the blood are offered to all; but many accept it and are saved.

Mark 14:25. I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine. He is done with earthly rites, and at this sad moment points them to a future re-union at the marriage supper of the Lamb, The ordinance now receives its prophetic meaning (Cf. 1 Corinthians 11:26, till he come) directing believers to the perfect vision and fruition of that time, through the foretaste which this sacrament is designed to give.Schaff. Drink it new. At the marriage supper of the Lamb. Revelation 19:9.

Mark 14:26. When they had sung an hymn. It was customary to conclude the passover by singing the Psalms from 115th to 118th. To the Mount of Olives. To the garden of Gethsemane which was on the slope of that mount.

FACT QUESTIONS 14:12-26

937.

On what day of the week did Jesus eat the Passover? What Jewish month?what day of the month? To which of our months does this correspond?

938.

Please mark carefully the order of progression of the nine or ten incidents beginning with the preparation for the passover and ending with retirement in the garden.

939.

When and where did the prayers and promises of John 14-17 occur?

940.

What is meant by the expression the first day of unleavened bread?

941.

What problem of chronology is found in Mark 14:13? What was the conclusion of B. W. Johnson? Do you agree? Discuss.

942.

Show the progressive use of the term passover. How did it become a birthday feast?

943.

What does Deuteronomy 16:1-15 say about the place of the eating of the the passover?

944.

What was involved in preparing the passover? How could it have been lawful to eat the passover in Bethany?

945.

When was the lamb for the passover purchased?how related to the activities of Jesus?

946.

How did the disciples show respect for Jesus in their question about the passover?

947.

Who was the man with the pitcher of water?show the possible significance.

948.

Why use the word goodman?

949.

How did Jesus refer to the guest chamber or the upper room? Why?

950.

What is an offer of the one infinite divine blessing?

951.

What preparation in the room had the householder made?what preparations were the disciples to make?

952.

Where was the lamb purchased?in what preparation did the priest engage?

953.

Besides the roasted lamb what was on the paschal table?

954.

In what particular manner was the lamb roasted?is there any possible symbolism here?

955.

Silver trumpets were blown in the nightwhen and why?

956.

Please read and re-read the beautiful description of Edersheim on Mark 14:17. Pauseclose your eyesconjure up the scene in your mind's eye.

957.

When was the posture at the table changed?

958.

Why the indefiniteness of the announcement of the betrayal of Judas?it had a dual purposewhat was it?

959.

Why were the apostles so surprised?how did they express their surprise?

960.

What strong expression did the apostles use in inquiring about their betrayal?

961.

The answer of Mark 14:20 was not given to allto whom? Why? How did Judas know?

962.

Was the passover meal finished before Jesus instituted His Supper?Discuss.

963.

What type of loaf was used? Why?

964.

Show how very appropriate is the expression breaking of bread when referring to the Lord's Supper. Specify three ways.

965.

Show how closely the words this is my body conform to the Jewish ritual.

966.

Show how illogical those are (Roman Catholics) who insist the bread was literally the flesh of Jesus.

967.

What Catholic innovation is uprooted in Mark 14:23?

968.

Before Jesus said of the fruit of the vinethis is my blood what had represented Christ's blood?

969.

Why is covenant a better word than testament? What was the covenant?

970.

Was the blood shed for many or for all? Explain.

971.

When wasor willthe promise of Mark 14:25 fulfilled? Will we drink grape juice in heaven?

972.

What hymn was sung? Why? Read the hymn for an answer.