“A Very Busy Thursday”

“A Very Busy Thursday”

Series: “The Gospel Truth”

Text: Mark 14:12-31

Introduction: (What?)

On Thursday, the fifth day of “Holy Week”, the disciples were extremely busy preparing for the Passover, participating in the Last Supper, discovering that a plot was underway to betray Jesus, wondering who was involved in the plot and declaring their unshakable devotion to Jesus. This is another “find yourself in the passage” moment. It is easy for us to condemn Judas and the other disciples for their betrayal of Jesus, but we must consider our part in the plot.

Examination: (Why?)

1. Getting ready (VV 12-16)

The first day of Unleavened Bread was the fifth day of Holy Week and also the day when the Passover was commemorated. Having heard nothing regarding the details of their Passover meal, the disciples asked “Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover so that You may eat it?” The fact that they would celebrate Passover was a given. In their minds that was the reason they had come to Jerusalem in the first place. At this point they did not realize that there were other reasons for their being in Jerusalem.

In response to their question; “So He went two of His disciples (Luke ID’d them as Peter and John) and told them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, the Teacher says, ‘Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.’ So the disciples went out, entered the city and found it just as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover.” (vv 12-17)

Several things in this passage lead us to believe that Jesus had already made arrangements for the guest room. The first is that a MAN carrying a jar of water would meet them. This was a chore usually done by women. Seeing a man carrying a water jar would certainly catch the eye of the disciples, and they would know without doubt that this was the one they should follow. The second thing that makes this seem prearranged is that the room was already furnished and ready for them, and the owner led them there without question.

The preparations that the two disciples were to make included going to the temple to purchase an approved lamb, have it slaughtered by the priests and some of its blood sprinkled on the altar and securing and preparing the unleavened bread to remind them of the haste with which the Jews left Egypt, the bitter herbs which brought to mind the bitterness of their bondage in Egypt and a sauce of crushed fruit made with apples, dates, pomegranates, nuts and honey which reminded them of the fruit in the Promised Land.

Once they were prepared, they went back to Jesus and the rest of the disciples and partook of the Passover feast (Seder). “When evening came, He arrived with the Twelve.”

2. The shocking statement (vv 18-21)

Have you ever been at a festive occasion where something was said that changed the whole atmosphere of the event? That is exactly what happened at this Passover feast. Get the picture in your mind. Jesus and His disciples were “reclining” at the table. This was the custom for a formal dinner. Probably there was a buzz of conversation going on around the table as they ate. Suddenly… “While they were reclining and eating Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me---one who is eating with me.’” (v 18) BOOM! After a sudden hush had fallen over the group, they each began to react to this shocking statement. “They began to be distressed and to say to Him one by one, ‘Surely not I?’” Each of the 12 responded. Eleven truly wanted to correct Jesus while Judas spoke to cover what he was about to do. Had he not responded, the others would have immediately suspected him. In response to their question, “He said to them, ‘It is one of the Twelve---one who is dipping bread into the bowl with Me. For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had never been born.’” (vv 20-21)

If you have been in a Jewish or Mediterranean restaurant with a large group at the table, you would know that there would be several bowls of olive oil on the table, within reach of each person. The bread would be dipped into the bowl nearest you. Quite likely Judas was seated near Jesus, and they were dipping into the same bowl. Jesus’ initial statement covered the whole group. However, this statement narrowed the focus considerably.

Commentator Rodney Cooper notes that “While Judas betrayed Jesus for his own selfish reasons, behind his action was a divine purpose. The upcoming events concerning the Son of Man were not chance occurences. The Scriptures were being fulfilled (Isa. 53). Yet, the phrase, “Woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man,” shows that he was responsible for his decision and its consequences in betraying Jesus.” Judas had a choice. However, when he took the bread that Jesus offered him, the die was cast. In the Gospel of John 13:23-30 we find, “When He had dipped the bread He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. After Judas ate the piece of bread Satan entered him. So Jesus told him, ‘What you are doing, do quickly.’.. v 30 After receiving the piece of bread, he immediately left. And it was night.” Using this timeline we find that Judas did not partake of the first “LORD’s Supper”.

3. The “Last/First Supper” (vv 22-25)

This particular dinner with Jesus and the Disciples is often called, “The Last Supper” because it is the last time that they would eat together before Jesus’s crucifixion. While it WAS the last supper they would have together, it was also the FIRST time that the bread and wine would take on new meaning as the body and blood of Jesus.

“As they were eating, He took bread, blessed it and broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take it, this is My body.’ Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell 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.’” (vv 22-25)

From that time forward the “LORD’s Supper” took on new meaning. No longer was it just looking back to God’s deliverance of the Jews from Egypt, but now it was looking forward to the redemption of all who who believed in, trusted and surrendered to Jesus as Messiah. That redemption came via the beaten body and shed blood on the cross of Calvary.

4. We are all betrayers (vv 26-31)

“After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, ‘All of you will fall away, because it is written’, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” (Zech 13:7) ‘But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.’”

Traditionally the hymn that was sung came from Ps 115-118. Probably you grew up singing “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” which actually has nothing to do with the LORD’s Supper.

“Peter told Him, ‘Even if everyone falls away, I will not.’ Truly I tell you, Jesus said to him, ‘today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.’”

Most of us, like Peter would be quick to assert that we would not abandon Jesus when the going gets tough. Peter was not alone in his assertion.

“But he (Peter) kept insisting, ‘If I have to die with You, I will never deny You.’ And they all (disciples) said the same thing.”

The way most of us betray Jesus today is by keeping silent. We are silent when someone around us takes the LORD’s name in vain. We are silent when our neighbors or people we work with tell their raunchy stories…and we may even laugh along with them. Most of us can remember situations where, after the fact we think, “I should have said something.” Although we don’t want to be like Peter and deny Jesus, we should be like Peter and grieve because of our sin of denial.

This very day people in Afghanistan, who are believers, are being sought out by the Taliban and killed or incarcerated because of their faith unless they deny Jesus as LORD.

A staffer from Campus Crusade for Christ and I were witnessing on the beach in San Diego. We struck up a conversation with a young man, lying on a towel on the beach. When we mentioned Jesus, he told us that he was Jewish and didn’t believe in Jesus. About that time his friend returned from the snack bar. The young Jewish man introduced us to him and told him, with a smirk, that we were talking to him about Jesus. His friend said, “That’s great! I accepted Jesus several years ago.” “What!” the Jewish man exclaimed. “Why didn’t you ever tell me? We’ve been friends since grade school and I had no idea.”

Application: (How should I respond to the message?)

Have you surrendered your life to Christ?

Do your friends and family members know that you are a Christ follower?

Do you have a plan for standing up for Jesus wherever you are?

Will there be anyone in Hell because you denied Jesus by your silence?