The Last Supper (Part 2)
Mark 14: 12-26
In our last study we began to look at this beautiful passage dealing with the Last Supper in the Upper Room. Jesus had met with His disciples as they prepared to eat the Passover meal. This was a feast the Jews had celebrated for centuries as they commemorated the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage, through God’s mighty hand.
The central focus of the Passover was the offering of the lamb and partaking of the Passover meal. We discussed the significance of the meal in our last study. Sadly, the Lamb of God had come to deliver humanity from their sin, and yet, most of those who knew Jesus did not embrace Him as their Lord and Savior. He had come to earth with purpose – to die for our sin. Apart from salvation in Christ, there is no means of forgiveness and reconciliation to God.
As we continue to discuss the details in the text, I want to conclude our study of: The Last Supper. As a reminder, last time we discussed:
I. The Preparation for the Meal (12-16)
A. The Occasion (12)
B. The Instruction (13-15)
C. The Devotion (16)
II. The Proclamation at the Meal (17-21) – In these verses, Jesus makes a statement that stuns the disciples. Consider:
A. The Announcement (17-18) – And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. [18] And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. At this moment the meal had been prepared; Jesus and the twelve disciples were there eating. We cannot know what the disciples were thinking at that moment, but it would seem likely that it was a mood of celebration. No doubt the men had been talking among themselves about various things. I can imagine possibly a time of silence as they are eating, and then Jesus breaking the silence as He spoke these words. Can you imagine how they felt as they heard these words? These men had walked away from the lives they had known to follow Him. They had been with Jesus through the good times and the bad. At an event to celebrate God’s faithfulness, Jesus declared that one of the twelve would betray Him!
B. The Anguish (19) – And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? As the disciples heard the heartbreaking words of Jesus, one by one they began to question – Lord, is it I? These men were grieved in the heart, greatly afflicted with sorrow. We all know that Judas Iscariot was the betrayer, but they all began to search their hearts and question whether they would betray their Lord. No doubt the other eleven could not imagine doing such and horrendous deed, but they questioned whether they would be capable of such an act of betrayal. Clearly, these men were not expecting betrayal from within.
The disciples literally questioning their own loyalty to Jesus has convicted me many times over the years. As close as these men were to Jesus, they also knew the depravity of the human heart. While they did not think they were capable of such betrayal, they wanted to be sure. I don’t think any of us truly know what we are capable of in a moment of weakness in the flesh. We boast of our faith, and yet we don’t even know the depths of our own heart. Jer.17:9 – The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? That is why it is so important to walk closely with the Lord, striving to deny the flesh and conform to His image!
C. The Answer (20) – And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. Jesus revealed they would not have to wonder about the betrayer – he would share a dish with the Lord. Mark doesn’t reveal the betrayer in this passage, but we know it was Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, the one who served as treasurer for the group. John revealed an interesting aspect of the Upper Room. John 13:26 – Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. In that culture, the host would often give a “sop” to a distinguished guest among the group, as a form of respect and love. We know that John was close enough to Jesus to literally lean upon His breast. Clearly, Judas must have been beside Jesus as well because they were sharing a dish with which to dip their bread.
This reveals much more than Jesus identifying the one who would betray Him. Through Jesus offering Judas the sop, we see the devotion of Christ to all men through His tender mercy and grace. Judas had already agreed with the Sanhedrin to betray the Lord, but the act had not been committed yet. I am convinced Jesus was extending grace to Judas, seeking to reach him before it was too late. Although he would betray the Lord, Judas was loved of Jesus!
D. The Admonition (21) – The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born. Jesus declared the events that would soon transpire would not be the result of Judas’ betrayal. His death on the cross to redeem humanity had been planned before the foundation of the world. However, the betrayal of Judas would not be without consequence for him. Jesus declared it would have been better if Judas had never been born. It would have been better if he had never existed than to live in this life and be the one responsible for betraying the Lord. Judas had walked with the Door of salvation. On this faithful night, he lay next to the Savior. In a few hours he would kiss the Lord to identify Him as the one the Sanhedrin sought to destroy. He had been exposed to Light, knowing the Truth, and yet willfully choosing to deny the Truth and abandon the faith. In a final appeal, Jesus revealed the enormity of what Judas had conspired to do. He would betray Christ, deny the faith, die lost, and spend eternity in hell.
This was so tragic and unnecessary. Judas had the opportunity to be saved, but he chose to deny Christ and the sole means of salvation. He was loved of the Lord but refused to submit to Him in salvation. None have to die lost. Jesus came to seek and save all who were lost. He provided the means of salvation, but we have to receive Him, responding to His gracious offer through repentance and faith!
III. The Principles in the Meal (22-26) – As Jesus and the disciples conclude the Passover meal, He revealed abiding principles revealed through their time of fellowship. Notice:
A. The Picture (22-24) – And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. [23] And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. [24] And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. At the conclusion of the Passover meal, Jesus shared what we now consider the Lord’s Supper. He used the elements of the meal to illustrate the sacrifice He would make in order to redeem us from sin and provide for our salvation. The bread Jesus broke and shared with them pictured the sacrifice He would make as He offered Himself the atoning sacrifice for sin. 1 Cor.11:23-24 – For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: [24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
As Jesus passed the cup, He encouraged them to drink of it, revealing the blood He would shed as He died on the cross to cleanse us from our sin. In order for sin to be atoned, blood had to be shed. Jesus emphasized the shedding of His blood for our atonement. As the grapes were crushed in order to extract their juice, so would Jesus be crushed under the load of sin and the righteous judgment of the Father. What He was about to do for all humanity would cost His life! 1 Cor.11:25-26 – After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. [26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
B. The Promise (25) – Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Jesus revealed the assurance of victory over sin, death, and hell. He did not drink of the cup that night but assured them He would drink again after His resurrection, during the Millennial Kingdom. Death and suffering were quickly approaching for the Lord, but He knew it would not be final. He would rise again triumphant! Although the disciples were confused and afraid, these words would bring comfort for them later. We too have reason to rejoice, resting in the power of our risen Lord!
C. The Passion (26) – And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Supper being over, they then sung the final Hallel Psalm and made their way to the Mount of Olives. (This is why we always conclude the Lord’s Supper with a hymn.) As I read these words, I was reminded of the commitment and passion of Christ. His betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion are just a few short hours away. Knowing all that would happen that night, Jesus faithfully embraced the work He came to fulfill. He knew this was His purpose for coming. While His humanity would dread the suffering and abuse, His deity compelled Him to move forward as the atoning sacrifice for our sin. Jesus never wavered, being fully committed to redemption’s plan!
Conclusion: This has been a wonderful study of a powerful event in the lives of Jesus and the disciples. We see the Lord’s great love for humanity and His willingness to die in our place. Each time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we do so in remembrance of His great love and sacrifice. He alone secured our salvation, and we rest in His finished work!
Have you responded by faith and repentance to the offer of salvation? If not, come to Christ as He leads you. If you are saved by His grace, rejoice in the provision that was made for you while resting in the power and promises of the risen Lord!
