The Last Supper – Part I
TRANSLATION
(12) And on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread when they sacrifice the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go to make preparations for you to eat the Passover meal?” (13) And he sent two of his disciples telling them, “Go into the city, and there you will meet a man carrying a jar of water. Follow him, (14) and, wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ (15) And he will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. There prepare (the Passover) for us.” (16) And the disciples set out, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them. And they prepared the Passover.
(17) When evening came, he arrived with the twelve. (18) And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” (19) They were grieved and asked him, one by one, “Am I the one?” (20) “It is one of the twelve,” he told them, “the one who dips (bread) into the dish with me. (21) For the Son of Man goes just as it is written about him. But woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
OBSERVATIONS
In this first segment of Mark’s recounting of the Passover meal which Jesus shared with his disciples, we find two emphases. First, Mark took pains to show his readers that Jesus had made all the preparations for finding and securing the place where they were to eat together. Then he focused on the grievous truth that it was one of the twelve disciples who betrayed Jesus. Repetitions included “Passover” (twice in vs. 12 and once each in vss. 14 & 16), “disciples” (four times in vss. 12, 13, 14, & 16), “the twelve” (vss. 17 & 20), “room” (vss. 14 & 15), and “betray(ed)” (vss. 18 & 21).
OUTLINE
I. Jesus sent his disciples to prepare the Passover meal. (12-16)
II. Jesus cast a pall over the meal by foretelling his betrayal by one of the twelve. (17-21)
IDEA STATEMENT
Jesus’ sovereignty over the events leading up to his death was seen in his preparations for the Passover meal and his awareness of his coming betrayal.
APPLICATION
The collective response of the disciples to Jesus’ announcement of his betrayal should cause us to reflect deeply. Instead of inquiring “Who is it? or “What could he mean?”, each one asked himself the more honest question, “Am I the one?” Judas’ identity as the betrayer had not, as yet, been disclosed to the twelve. Each apparently sensed within himself a latent capacity to betray his Lord.
If we are honest with ourselves, each of us should have the same response to Jesus’ statement. None of us has eradicated from our lives the possibility of betraying our commitment to him. Every time we sin, we rebel against Jesus’ right to rule in our lives. In each of us hides the heart of a traitor apart from the enabling power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to keep us faithful. Unless we walk in conscious dependence on God, our next action could all too easily dishonor the Lord. In no way does this exonerate Judas. His betrayal of Jesus remains one of the worst crimes in human history. However, we should take no comfort in thinking, “Well, at least I didn’t do what Judas did.” Each of us is capable of such a heinous act apart from the grace of God.