Jesus gathered His disciples to celebrate the Passover and to institute the Lord’s Supper. The head of the table not only recalled the Passover sacrifice, but He showed them that He was the true Passover sacrifice.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows (Psalm 23:5).
Mark 14:12-25
12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?”13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him,14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.”16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve.18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?”20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me.21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
The Table Is Set (Mark 14:12-16)
- The Passover feast reminded the people of a spotless sacrifice dying as a substitute for others (14:12).
- The previous Passovers were insufficient coverings but sufficient foreshadowings.
- Even in the tiniest of details leading up to his death, Jesus displays calmness and control (14:13-16).
The Enemy Is Present (Mark 14:17-21)
- The proximity of Jesus’ betrayer revealed the depth of sin’s rebellion (14:17-18).
- While all questioned their capacity for betrayal, eventually they each would be found guilty (14:19).
- Jesus’ divine sovereignty over the cross never negates Judas’ human responsibility of his betrayal (14:20-21).
The Cup Is Overflowing (Mark 14:22-25)
- A seat at the table with Jesus always includes sitting next to other disciples.
- Jesus’ body would be given, and his blood would be spilled so that ours wouldn’t have to be (14:22-24).
- The Passover lamb wasn’t on this table because the true Passover lamb was finally at the table (14:25).
Do I have a seat at the table?
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.