The Lord's Supper Series

The Lord’s Supper

Mark 14:12-26

- Reminder, final msg in Mark, Wed Oct 22, will be “open forum” style

- Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant”

- The past several messages gave us LOTS of information with a huge emphasis:

-- PREPARATION! We need to be prepared and to pay attention!

-- There is a coming day where Jesus will return, this is a promise

-- For us, we have not only this promise but job to KNOW what He taught

- Today we continue the final week of Jesus’ life and ministry

- It is very important to note that nothing that happens catches Jesus off-guard

-- There is a preparation for these events, and Jesus knows what is to happen

-- Some suggest that perhaps to avoid the agony God spared Him knowledge

-- But if the Son of God needed sparing, how could He suffer for us? (Isaiah 53)

- These events unfold for us in clear, dramatic form for us to learn from

- Read Mark 14:12-26

∆ Point 1 – Preparing for Passover (12-16)

- Jewish custom has them celebrate this feast on the 8th day of Passover (v12)

-- It is the Feast of the Unleavened Bread

-- Since they are in Bethany, the disciples knew this had to be prepared for

-- Their question is one of ceremony, and so they ask “where” to celebrate

-- Being their leader, they ask Jesus what he would prefer and where

- So He sends the disciples to go and prepare a place for the meal (v13)

-- Mark does not record which disciples, but Luke does record these men

-- Luke 22:8, “Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

- Jewish custom and work would have women carrying jars of water

-- They would fetch water for the day’s events (cooking, washing, etc.)

-- Therefore, to see a man doing this would’ve been unique

-- APP: This is why Jesus tells them to look for him – he’d be easy to spot

- Jewish custom requires residents, if they have room, to allow it to be used

-- For Passover, this was a sign of courteousness for a fellow Jew

-- Man already had the room prepared (v15); Disciples just needed to meet him

- Peter and John would prepare this meal for them to celebrate Passover

-- APP: Meal is specific menu which reminds them of their past struggles

- Turn to and read Exodus 12:8-20

-- Lamb is a memory of the lamb’s blood spread on the doorposts

-- Unleavened bread reminds them of the haste in which they left Egypt

-- Bitter herbs are a reminder of the suffering they endured under Pharaoh

-- Later in time, they added in the drinking of wine during the meal

- TRANS: The Lord’s Supper provides a very intimate setting for the Disciples

-- It also gives Jesus the opportunity to talk very openly with these men

∆ Point 2 – Betrayal and the First Covenant (17-22)

- When the evening arrived, Jesus arrived at the location with the Disciples

-- They had spent the day in Bethany, only a few miles away from the city

-- The Jewish day begins at sundown, so this is Thursday night in Jerusalem

- While they are eating (v17) Jesus makes a prediction that worried them

-- Consider this: You are eating with the Lord, and He calls one of them out

-- Surely, this would cause a massive panic throughout the Disciples

-- Their reaction is typical, and I’m sure we can see ourselves in this also

- You see, having dinner with someone is a special bond of trust/friendship

-- Celebrating the Passover was a sign of intimacy, of communion

-- We observe the same: Lord’s Supper is sign of fellowship, common bond

-- It is a sense of community that they are celebrating and look what happens

- Jesus announces that one of them will betray Him; it’s treacherous! (v18)

-- More so: It is one of the intimate ones who’ve been with Him for 2 yrs.

-- APP: The disciples didn’t know what Judas did in v10-11; but Jesus did!

- The disciple’s sadness (v19) is completely understandable here

-- This brings them to question Jesus, one by one, and ask Him directly

-- Surely, even Judas would ask this question to maintain his cover-up

-- He would not want to reveal to any that he had betrayed Jesus

- Jesus’ only response is that it is in fact one of the Twelve (v20)

-- But He does not reveal the exact one (probably out of common sense)

-- Consider: Had He said it was Judas, Peter would’ve acted rashly

- Judas’ betrayal was for his own selfish reasons, to force Jesus to act