Chapter 43

Passover
Mark 14:12-31 (NKJV)

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12 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?” 13 And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. 14 “Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 15 “Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.” 16 So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover. 17 In the evening He came with the twelve. 18 Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.” 19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” And another said, “Is it I?” 20 He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. 21 “The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.” 22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 “Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.” 30 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” 31 But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all said likewise.

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Mark 14:12-16
Passover prepared

Christ’s disciples enquire where to prepare for eating the Passover meal together. Jesus sends out two with specific and secret instructions, presumably to avoid detection and hostile interest until His time to die. In the city they meet and follow a man carrying a pitcher of water—normally women’s work—to a house owner. They ask where the guest room is for celebrating Passover. As Jesus predicts, the owner shows them a large, furnished and prepared upper room. This will be a special Passover with His disciples before Jesus, the Lamb of God, is slain.

Mark 14:17-21
Passover kept

At the Passover together that evening, Jesus tells them that His betrayer is among them. Only Jesus and Judas know his identity. Each disciple, humbly unsure of himself, asks Jesus Is it I? Jesus says someone eating with Him is the betrayer. He must go to die through the prophesied betrayal, but Jesus laments, woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he never had been born. John’s Gospel records that Judas soon leaves to arrange his Master’s betrayal.[1]

Mark 14:22-26
The Lord’s supper

As they eat the Jewish Passover, Jesus gives the bread and the cup new meaning for His followers. Anticipating His coming death on Calvary, He breaks the bread to picture His body, broken on the cross. Then He uses the cup of wine to picture His blood shed for many. He will not drink wine again until after His death, when He will drink it new in the kingdom of God. This predicts, after dying on the cross for our sins, His powerful bodily resurrection and ascension into Heaven! As the hour of the cross approaches, they sing a hymn together and leave for the Mount of Olives. The first Lord’s Supper is over.

Christians observe it regularly to remember Christ’s sinless body broken for them and His blood shed to forgive their sins. The Christian church will remember Him like this until He comes again in glory!

Mark 14:27-31
Beware of rash claims!

Jesus says He is the Shepherd who will be struck that night. They, His sheep, will stumble and be scattered. He promises to appear to them again after His resurrection. Peter immediately and rashly claims, Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be. Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him three times before the rooster crows twice. Peter insists that this will not happen: he will not fail. All the other disciples follow Peter’s rash claim. Later, they all fail.[2] Beware of making rash claims and promises, impossible to keep without God’s grace and help, and a close, obedient trust in Him.

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[1]   .  John 13:30.
[2]   .  Mark 14:50 says they all forsook Him and fled in his hour of capture.

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Questions on Chapter 43
Mark 14:12-31 Passover.

A. In how many ways do these verses show again that Jesus is in control?   Mark 14:13-16   Mark 14:18, 20-21, 25, 28, 30

B. Contrast Peter’s over-confidence with Jesus’ knowing he would fail. How should humility and trusting God interact?   Mark 14:29-31   John 18:27   Luke 22:31-34   1 Corinthians 10:12    2 Corinthians 12:10

C. Of what do the broken bread and the cup of wine remind us?  How does this relate to the fact that Jesus will come again?   Mark 14:22-24   1 Corinthians 11:24-25   Mark 14:25

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