Bible Study series: Mark 14:12-21. As he was celebrating the biblical meal, he predicted his betrayal. Is it I? they asked, one by one. The atmosphere was tense in Jerusalem.
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Scripture: Mark 14:12-21
12 On the first day of feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to depart to prepare so that you may eat the Passover meal?” 13 He commissioned two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city; and a man, carrying an earthenware vessel of water, will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he may enter, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guestroom where I may eat the Passover meal with my disciples?”’ 15 Then he will show you the large, furnished, and prepared upstairs room. You prepare that place for us. 16 His disciples left and went into the city and found the man just as Jesus said, and they prepared the Passover meal.
17 When evening came, he went with the twelve. 18 As they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth: One of you will hand me over, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be grieved and say to him, one by one, “Surely it is not I, is it? 20 He told them, “One of the twelve, the one dipping with me in the dish.” 21 For on the one side, the Son of Man goes just as it is written of him, but on the other, woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is handed over! It would have been better for him if that man had not been born!” (Mark 14:12-21)
Comments:
Mark 14:12-31 is another intercalation (“sandwich”) between the institution of the Lord’s Supper (14:22-26a) placed between Judas’ betrayal (vv. 17-21) and the prediction of Peter’s denial (vv. 26-31).
12:
For the two feasts of Unleavened Bread and Passover, see vv. 1-2. The Passover meal and feast of Unleavened Bread were so close together that they were used interchangeably.
I really like the phrase “Passover lamb” (“lamb” is implied). The ones who sacrificed were the priests in the temple, not the disciples. There is a symbolic message in the word. As we saw in vv. 1-2 and 1 Cor. 5:6-8, Jesus is our Passover lamb. And so, Mark is drawing the comparison between Jesus and the Passover lamb. His blood smeared on the door of your heart protects you from God’s judgment at the final judgment. However, please be aware that God is judging / evaluating you every minute of every day. Sometimes he likes what he sees, and at other times he tells you that you need an attitude adjustment.
See Heb. 12: 5-11, which talks about the discipline of the Lord out of his love. And 1 Peter 4:17 says that judgment begins with the household of God—now, here on earth.
Everyone Shall Be Judged by Their Works and Words
13-16:
“commissioned”: it may be a too heavy translation. It is the common word “send,” but it can also be translated as “commission.”
As for making the arrangements, Luke’s Gospel says Jesus sent Peter and John.
“a man” this one Greek word puts it past doubt that Jesus knew the man, and Mark did not want to reveal him. Or Mark may not have known who he was, but he recalled that the arrangements went smoothly, so he concluded that Jesus knew who the person was, but Mark did not. A man carrying a water jar was unusual, since this was woman’s work. A man would have been carrying an animal skin of wine. So the man was probably waiting for the disciples and used a water jug to signal them..
Incidentally, the more elaborate Seder dinner was invented after the NT, so they did not eat the Seder meal as it is currently done.
The preparation for the meal: acquiring the lamb sacrificed at the temple, unleavened bread, wine, bitter herbs and fruit sauce for dipping. Strauss notes that whether the lamb was acquired or not depends on whether this was a true Passover meal or whether Jesus was instituting his new Passover, early (p. 620).
The disciples ask about preparations. There is nothing wrong with asking for instructions. God does lead step by step. Jerusalem was a busy, crowded place right now. So the fact that he gave these instructions still means they had to watch and observe.
I like how Jesus said, “Where is my guestroom.” He took authority, and the owner of the house allowed it. Some scholars believe that this is the Upper Room (or upstairs room) of Pentecost (Acts 1:13), where they had assembled when the Spirit fell on them. But of course the evidence is circumstantial: in the city of Jerusalem and a large upstairs room, but that is all the evidence I can find. No one knows for sure.
17-20:
“reclined”: they ate at low tables and pillows for seats to lean on. Let’s not picture them sitting at a modern table with chairs (or benches), regardless of Da Vinci painted at his Last Supper.
When Jesus said that the betrayer was the one wo dipped his bread with him, he probably meant that it was one of the twelve, since they were all dipping their bread. So the betrayer was one of the twelve. But who exactly? John 13:21-30 says that Jesus gave a morsel to Judas, and then Judas departs to do his “mission.”
This whole scene is sad. Jesus knew who was about to betray or hand him over—Judas. And Judas set the betrayal in motion in the previous pericope (vv. 10-11). (A pericope, pronounced puh-RIH-koh-pea is a section or unit of Scripture.) But he did not realize that Jesus knew also. So Judas still did not grasp his Lord’s knowledge. It’s ironic—which means some who lives in ignorance but thinks he is getting away with it. Judas actually asked, probably because he saw the other disciples ask, whether he was the one who would betray him.
21:
“Son of Man”: it both means the powerful, divine Son of man (Dan. 7:13-14) and the human son of man—Ezekiel himself—in the book of Ezekiel (numerous references). Jesus was and still is in heaven both divine and human. It could rightly be translated as “Son of Humanity.”
4. Titles of Jesus: The Son of Man
Jesus reminds everyone of the prophecies about his death, just as Scriptures say. Which Scriptures? Ps. 41:9 says that the one who shares my bread has turned against me. He is about to quote Zech. 13:7 in v. 27, which says the shepherd will be struck down, and the sheep will scatter. Or Is. 53:12 says that the Suffering Servant has poured out his soul to death. Whichever verses is assumed, this does not excuse the betrayer (Judas). Man has a certain level of free will. Yet God sovereignly works the circumstances and even allows Satan to enter a man who has vices in him—to accomplish his purposes.
Next, Jesus makes a sweeping statement designed to shock. “It would better for him if he had not been born.” I don’t want to take anything away from the philosophical theologians and their discussion on whether it would be better not to be born than to betray someone, but I believe Jesus is simply stating how egregious the sin of betrayal is, when the betrayer had spent so much time with the Lord. His statement does imply, however, that punishment is worse than nonexistence (not born). So the professional theologians may have their discussions.
For the notion that Judas may have repented and showed the fruits of repentance, please see my comments on Matt. 27:3-10.
GrowApp for Mark 14:12-21
1. Jesus carefully worked out a plan for a sacred meal. Do you believe God is working out a plan for you to grow in holiness? Does God use circumstances to train you to grow in his Son? Tell your story.
RELATED
10. Eyewitness Testimony in Mark’s Gospel
2. Church Fathers and Mark’s Gospel
2. Archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels
14. Similarities among John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
SOURCES
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