Communion & Betrayal (Mark 14)

Did Jesus’ betrayer eat with Him? Were the bread and wine literally His body and blood, symbolic, sacramental, or a mystery? Did the disciples all desert Him? Did Jesus answer false accusations? Did He confess who He is? Do we? Let’s look at Mark 14.

Was there a plot by religious leaders to kill Jesus?

It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” (Mark 14:1-2 ESV)

Giving to the poor is good and important, but are there some things more important?

While He was in Bethany at the house of Simon who had a serious skin disease, as He was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of pure and expensive fragrant oil of nard. She broke the jar and poured it on His head. But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this fragrant oil been wasted? For this oil might have been sold for more than 300 denarii and given to the poor.” And they began to scold her. (Mark 14:3-5 HCSB)

What did Jesus teach them about the fragrant oil?

But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me, because you’ll always have the destitute with you and can help them whenever you want, but you won’t always have me. She has done what she could. She poured perfume on my body in preparation for my burial. I tell all of you with certainty, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” (Mark 14:6-9 ISV)

What did Judas do? Have you ever been betrayed by a close friend?

And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him. (Mark 14:10-11 KJV)

Were the disciples ready to prepare for the Passover?

And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” (Mark 14:12 LSB)

Was a large upper room available? Is there some mystery of faith as to how the disciples would find their way?

And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you; follow him; and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ And he himself will show you a large upstairs room furnished and ready; prepare for us there.” (Mark 14:13-15 NASB)

Did the disciples find things just as Jesus had told them?

The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. (Mark 14:16 NIV)

Did Jesus predict his betrayal? Were the disciples sorrowful?

In the evening He came with the twelve. Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.” And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” And another said, “Is it I?” He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. 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.” (Mark 14:17-21 NKJV)

Do we demand that the bread is literally Jesus' body, symbolic of His body, or a sacrament (giving a spiritual blessing via physical means)? Is Jesus' body somehow present in the bread, or do we speak humbly and simply call it a mystery?

Is this like Jesus' “I am” statements? Jesus said, I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35), I am the Light of the World (John 8:12), I am the Door (John 10:9), I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14), I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25), I am the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6), I am the Vine (John 15:1,5). What does the word “is” mean?

As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had blessed, he broke it, and gave to them, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body.” (Mark 14:22 WEB)