This portion of Mark’s gospel reads like a novel of intrigue and suspense. With the Passover on the horizon, the religious elite are plotting to murder Jesus. A woman, identified in John’s gospel as Mary, anoints the head of Jesus with costly perfume and it makes Judas angry. Not because it could have been sold and the money given to the poor, as John also records as being Judas’ objection, but because he was a thief and regretted the lost opportunity to steal. So he went out in anger and had a secret meeting with the chief priests.
How that must have thrilled them! Just when they’re saying to each other, “This is our big chance. We know He’ll be in Jerusalem for the Passover, so while He’s here we’ll look for a chance to waylay Him. But we can’t do it during the actual festival. Wouldn’t be popular with the people. It’d be tantamount to having a wardrobe malfunction at the Superbowl”.
Suddenly, in walks Judas Iscariot. “Hey guys. I’ll scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine. How much are you willing to give me in exchange for the Nazarene?”
Are you seeing it? The greed? The hatred? It wasn’t patriotism that turned Judas. It wasn’t because he was disappointed that Jesus hadn’t overcome Rome and set up His kingdom. It was because he might have had a chance to misappropriate a large amount of funds through the sale of that nard and the redirection of the monies into his own pocket, and now that his lust had been freshly primed, it had to be satisfied.
So he runs out to the enemies of the One he has been calling ‘friend’ for over three years, and sells Him out.
So let’s settle in at verse 12 now, and just follow this story and see how everyone is working in the shadows in order to accomplish their plans, and how Jesus is in control the whole time.
SECRET SOLDIERS
Let’s get a fresh look at the verses.
“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?’ And He sent 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; 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 upper room furnished and ready; and prepare for us there.’
Every commentator I’ve read agrees that a man carrying a pitcher of water would have been an uncommon site, since fetching of water would have been considered woman’s work. Remember, it was Passover time in Jerusalem, and the city would already be overflowing with citizens and travelers coming in from all over for this festival.
So in the hustle and bustle of movement no one would have paid much attention to the man carrying water, but to the disciples it was a secret sign.
Every war of man has had its secret soldiers. There are the Generals and other officers, the grunts in the field, the tacticians, the quartermasters, artillery units and so on; but there are also the unheralded, often ignored and forgotten private patriots, who go about their normal daily business until they receive some secret instruction and then they quietly carry out their duties behind the scenes. No noise, no fuss, just do what they’re told and go back to their routine.
These are the brave and humble folk who pave the way for infiltrating troops. Who gather information and spirit it out of enemy territory back to Headquarters where it can be analyzed and used to protect fighting men or undermine the enemy’s efforts.
They also give food and safe haven to stranded or separated soldiers who are wounded or lost and need a place to hole up until reinforcements arrive.
There are countless stories of these people playing invaluable roles in our own country’s battles. One of them comes from the Civil War. Elizabeth Van Lew lived in a mansion in Richmond Virginia, but she was a Christian and therefore sympathized with the Union concerning slavery and the maltreatment of people because of the color of their skin.
During the entire conflict Elizabeth was very outspoken about where she stood and underwent a great deal of persecution and abuse from the citizens of Virginia because of it.
Nevertheless, she bought slaves only to set them free, refused to knit socks and make shirts for the Southern troops like the other women, but taking bibles and religious books to them instead, and spent a great deal of her time at Libby prison where captured Union soldiers were kept, nursing their wounds and giving them whatever comfort she was allowed.
While at the prison she would learn of Southern troop movements and strengths from the Union soldiers who heard conversations between their guards and would put two and two together; then Elizabeth would secretly pass the information on to Northern units to give them advance warning.
When Richmond finally fell to the Northern advances, General Grant went straight to Elizabeth’s home and had tea with her on her veranda.
Elizabeth did so much in support of the Union during the war and gave so much of her family wealth into the effort, she died a pauper. After her death the people of Richmond, who still hated her, had her house torn down in an effort to erase her memory. But a Union soldier from Massachusetts whom Elizabeth had cared for, sent a large tombstone that can still be seen at her grave, the inscription praising her for her tireless efforts in the war against slavery.
There has never been a lack of people like this in God’s army either.
There are the names we all know. Every generation has its ‘Generals’, its great preachers and powerful church builders, apologists like C.S.Lewis and George MacDonald, Theologians like John MacArthur and F.F. Bruce.
Then there are the foot soldiers in the field. The pastors, missionaries, seminary teachers; and the quartermaster corps. The suppliers of needs. The people God has blessed with wealth who in turn bless those around them in need.
Then there are the secret soldiers like Elizabeth Van Lew. People who just go about their lives, but are always in touch with Headquarters. Always ready to receive instruction and carry out the Lord’s commands without question and then go about their way, without the thanks of men and often without others even knowing what they’ve done.
These are the ones we often refer to as the prayer warriors, but that can be misleading. They are pray-ers, indeed, or they would not be alert to the Holy Spirit’s leading. But their contribution to the effort often goes further than prayer and translates into action.
Now Bible commentators have varied some in their opinions of just who this mystery man with the water pitcher was, here in these verses of Mark 14 and also in Luke 22 and Matthew 26. I guess they have to differ on some things or they’d never get their books sold.
Some suggest that on one of His earlier visits to Jerusalem Jesus prearranged things with this man or the house owner himself, or sent others of His disciples to do so.
Personally, as I read these accounts in these three gospels, I have no trouble at all believing that the owner of this house into which the man carried the water was one of God’s secret soldiers.
I believe he walked with God and one day God said to his heart, “You’re going to have a group of special visitors for Passover. Therefore, prepare your upper room with furniture for 13, and at a certain time tomorrow send your manservant to one of the city wells. Have him fill a pitcher with cool water, and carry it up to that room. They’re going to need it for a foot-washing”.
If you think it through, you realize a number of aspects to this account that would explain Jesus’ methods here. First, there wouldn’t have been a lot of available space for groups gathering for Passover. Most homes were one story and only the wealthy had more than one floor. Consequently, space would be taken up quickly, and for many this time of year was probably an opportunity to rent their available space and make some extra income.
Secondly, the owner of this house would have no way of knowing that Jesus was going to have to avoid the Pharisees and scribes until the time was right. But God knew.
So He sets His servant to work, and the dutiful servant gets things ready, probably knowing and understanding very little of why he was doing it.
I wonder how many of us are prepared to receive leading from the Lord, recognize it as such, and just do what we’re prompted to do without question.
We always want answers, don’t we?
I’ll bet if I surveyed some of our senior citizens I’d find quite a few who can remember a time when children generally responded to their parent’s commands with immediate and unquestioning obedience.
It seems any more that the knee jerk response to a command given to a child is ‘why?’ Why do I have to? Why can’t so-and-so do it?
And I’m not trying to knock the kids here. It’s a societal thing, and it’s not just the children. Most of us do it, don’t we?
Why do I have to pay more taxes? Why do they have to make Woodgate Road a 35 mile per hour speed limit? Why do I have to wait in line so long at the express check out?
We’ve been taught, largely in just the past generation of years, that authority is to be questioned, challenged, and whenever possible, circumvented. And I honestly think for Christians that has bled over into their spiritual life and whether conscious of it or not, we read the Commands of God in His Word or we’re prompted in our heart by His Spirit, and we balk at obedience or just go on with an attitude that it’s intended for the other guy, but not me.
Now putting this back in a military framework; soldiers in training, right from the very first moments of basic training, are taught to obey immediately and without question, orders from their supervisors. Or any ranking officer, for that matter.
Sometimes it seems ridiculous.
When I got off the bus at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in September of 1969, it was 2:30 in the morning, humid, about 80 degrees, and I was tired as was everyone on that bus.
From the moment the bus rolled to a stop and the doors opened, a man in a Smokey the Bear hat was screaming at us to grab our luggage, get off the bus and line up.
We moved as quickly as we could to do that, and once we were lined up and with a lot of swear words still ringing in our ears, this drill sergeant yelled for us to put our luggage down.
But our bags didn’t hit the pavement all at the same time so he yelled for us to pick it back up. Then came the command again. “Luggage, DOWN!” It fell like rain. So we picked it back up.
Finally, about the fifth time he yelled the command, our suitcases hit the pavement as one piece of luggage, and he was satisfied.
Then he marched us to our barracks, gave us four minutes to shower and shave, and then we all went to bed with little pieces of toilet paper all over our faces to stop the bleeding, and he called lights out, informing us that he’d be back at 4:30 AM to begin our orientation.
Now that sounds harsh. But it’s for a reason. Because if a soldier isn’t ready to obey a command instantly and without deliberation or debate in peacetime, then on the battlefield he’s going to get himself and probably others killed.
Let me tell you another story and then I’ll move on from this point.
One of my instructors in Bible College told of a time he felt moved to send a check to a good friend of his who was a missionary in the Philippines.
A certain amount was impressed upon him, so he got the funds, mailed them to his friend, and thought no more of it.
Months later his friend was in the States and they got together. His friend told him that a need had very suddenly arisen that threatened the continuance of his work in the Philippines. The same day he became aware of that need, my instructor’s check arrived in the mail, and it was for the exact amount that was needed. At that time it took weeks for mail to travel from the United States to the Philippines, so the Lord moved my instructor to mail that money long before any human was aware the need would arise. Due to his prompt obedience, the money arrived the very day it was needed.
God knew the magnitude of the events that would be set to motion that day in Jerusalem. No man could have known. Just think for a moment of all the sermons and Bible studies you’ve been exposed to from the accounts of the time Jesus had in that Upper Room with His disciples. His teaching about His body broken and His blood poured out, from which we derive the doctrines of the Lord’s Supper. The determination of Judas to go out and get his job done. The washing of the disciple’s feet and the important lesson Jesus taught them and us about service and love of the brethren through it.
All this home owner knew was that he was to prepare a room for thirteen men to celebrate Passover in, and he did so and went his way.
Secret soldier.
SECRET TRAITORS
Let’s not harbor any misconceptions about Judas. He didn’t suddenly turn bad there in the Upper Room. He was in this group from the day Jesus came down from the mountain and chose His twelve, and personally, I believe Jesus knew then that Judas was the betrayer, and I also believe Judas was a traitor from the beginning.
John said Judas was a thief. In John 13:29 the Apostle said Judas had the money box, indicating that Judas was the group’s treasurer. Now isn’t that interesting? Matthew was the accountant in the group! He had been a tax collector.
I wonder if Judas insisted on being the treasurer.
Peter: Ok, guys, we need to elect a treasurer so all our money is safe in one place.
Judas: OO-OO! ME! I’ll do it!
Peter: Well, why not Matthew? He’s used to handling money…
Judas: Yeah, and he was in cahoots with the Romans. What makes you think we can trust him?
Matthew: Oh, go ahead Peter. Let Judas do it. I don’t want to be accused later of stealing his precious drachmas.
Y’know… there’s an awful lot that’s left unsaid. Remember when Peter went to Jesus about tax time and Jesus said to go catch a fish and there would be a coin in the fish’s mouth to pay taxes with?
That makes me wonder, if Judas was the treasurer, why wasn’t he taking care of that?
Were they out of money? Did anyone ever wonder why Judas always had new sandals on or seemed a little fatter than the rest of them?
Do you ever think about things like that? I do. Obviously…
So here are these twelve guys who for more than three years have slept on the same ground, eaten at the same tables and around the same campfires, fished in the same small boats, whispered to each other about this strange fellow they were all following, hearing His teaching and witnessing His miracles, and yet the entire time Judas is a secret traitor and the other eleven are not so secretly clueless.
There are people like that in the churches across our land and probably around the world today. It’s why Jesus warned about false prophets and ravenous wolves.
You’ve heard this or sayings like this, that if something looks like a chicken and smells like a chicken and clucks like a chicken it’s probably a chicken. Right? That’s valid but in this case it’s not always true.
There are lots of people out there who drive the car with the fish on the back and listen to Michael W. Smith or whomever, and use all the church lingo, and get on the committees and vote on all the issues and know exactly when to say ‘praise the Lord’ and when to smile serenely and when to frown piously. They look like a Christian and smell like a Christian and cluck like a Christian, and lay the occasional egg ~ like the rest of us Christians… but they’re ravenous wolves.
Judas had already made up his mind that he was going to gain financially somehow from having to tolerate these ignorant buffoons for three years, and now he had actually gone to the chief priests and made his deal, and now he was just biding his time, looking for an opportunity to betray Christ.
Do you think he was still laughing at the jokes and involving himself in the conversations and nodding his head in agreement when Jesus said something spiritual, and oo-ing and ah-ing at the miracles?
You bet he was.
Listen to James Brooks on verse 18
“In ancient Semitic society eating together was one of the most meaningful indications of friendship, and few actions were more despicable than betraying a friend at or shortly after a meal.” - New American Commentary - MARK, James A. Brooks, 1991 Broadman Press
Jesus warned about the wolves because they so cleverly hide themselves.
But let’s look at this in another light today.
What about the Judas in us? What about the wolf in us? Do you doubt that its there? If you do you are in danger.
I found a poem that I’d like to share with you.
THE JUDAS HEART - Sandra Griffin
The Lord walked with the disciples.
He loved them all, with no exception.
He called them. from their nets. away
And all from their own profession.
There was one that walked with Him.
By name, he as called Judas, Simon’s son;
One given to weakness of trust.
His was a spirit most undone.
At the Passover meal, they gathered
In an upper room, each man
With Jesus; the hope for their people.
The Passover meal began.
Jesus warned that he would be betrayed
By one they knew not who.
"Is it me, my Lord?"they each had asked.
’Tis something they would not do.
They asked who would do such a thing.
Jesus said, "It will be Him that dips sop with me.
He will be the one. Betrayal he will bring."
Judas dipped in the bowl, with the Lord,
And met the Master’s eyes.
Jesus spoke, softly, "Do what you must do, quickly,"
And Judas left with no replies.
He stole away, through the night,
To meet with those he knew.
The prize thirty pieces of silver, he received,
Just as the Lord knew he would do.
Judas, speaking to the priest and leaders of the law
To whom he had committed to do this deed,
"You will know Him as the one I kiss.
He will be the Jesus. Follow, now, my lead."
To the garden, where the Lord was kneeling in prayer,
Came the priest and soldiers, seeking Him.
Jesus met them on the path;
My Lord, Christ, who never knew any sin.
With the darkness all around them,
Peter sought to defend and raised a sword.
The others shrank into the shadows,
In fear of the arresting of their Lord.
Judas cried, "My Lord," and greeted Him
With the kiss of a betrayer’s heart
For thirty pieces of silver. That night,
Judas had sealed his part.
The rest we know from Bible history.
The tender Lamb of God was slain
And Judas, seeing what he had done,
Would hang himself before the day would wane.
His thirty pieces of silver, he returned -
Which bought the potters field a grave for Him;
Called, to this day, even yet,
A field of blood, beneath the hangman’s limb.
We think "how very awful,"
Betrayed for silver in thirty pieces.
What a terrible thought we have.
Hatred for the Judas heart, unleashes.
But, I have another thought.
Have I, myself, sold Him for less -
Maybe an extra hour of sleep, on Sunday,
Or passing the gossip of untruthfulness?
Or, the sin of omission
When I heard an untruth spoken and yet not
Let others know the better.
In the field of blood, have I bought Judas’ plot?
Or, was He sold for even less, by me,
When ungodly words I heard, then repeated -
Or at unsavory jokes I laughed
When, in truth, I should have retreated?
Judas sold my precious Lord
For thirty pieces of silver, that day.
I suppose, as I view my own life,
I’ve sold Him for less along the way.
Forgive me, Lord, as I seek your heart.
Forgive me, I am so grieved within my own sin
For giving You up in my sinful bent.
Forgive me, once again.
Judas was not much different then I am.
In sin, he reaped the sinful harvest -
Sold for thirty pieces of silver,
A Judas heart missed the home of the blest.
We are sowing, by our deeds, unto the harvest.
We will reap just what we sow today.
Have you sowed unto the harvest a Judas Heart
Or have you surrendered to the Master’s way?
Until the day we’re glorified, believer, we’ll have to guard against the Judas in us. We’ve been given a new nature from above but the old nature has not died. You all know these things; you’ve heard them before and you aren’t learning a new thing here.
Just let me draw this to a close encouraging you to the best defense you have against the power of that nature. Be a secret soldier.
By that, I don’t mean a secret Christian. I mean stay in touch with Headquarters and as you go about your day be prepared to receive orders and respond in obedience without question.
Any seemingly insignificant prodding you may receive in your spirit that witnesses to you that it is from the Holy Spirit, do it and go your way.
You don’t see the whole picture, and only eternity will tell what great things for the Kingdom of God may be set to motion or helped on the way by your obedience. You may just be carrying a pitcher of water to be used in a ceremony, or showing hospitality to a stranger.
But as you have done unto the least, so you have done for Him.
(some support texts: John 6:64-71 13:10,11,18 17:12)
