In Exodus, God set Israel free from their Egyptian captivity with the Passover (Exodus 12). Though plague after plague had rained down on Egypt, Pharaoh would not surrender. With a hardened heart, he refused to acknowledge a deity greater than himself. He was the ultimate man, and, like many after him, in his defiance, he would not and could not submit to God. So, after nine plagues of judgment, God promised one last plague. It would finally lead to Israel's freedom from Egypt. In it, an angel of death would enter the land, mercifully passing over every house that had the blood of a sacrificial lamb on its door. Families gathered that night, sacrificed the lamb, placed the blood on the door, and prepared a meal of lamb's meat and unleavened bread. As promised, God came into Egypt that night. The judgment was severe. Alarmed and grieving, Pharaoh finally bent and commanded the people to depart. Israel was free. Because this was a significant event where God purchased the people for himself, a new tradition was established. Israel celebrated a Passover meal each year to commemorate the original Passover event. In today's passage, Jesus will transition this ancient event into a new meal centered around him. The deliverance he won for people at the cross is superior to the original Passover event. The original Passover is a mere foreshadowing of his ultimate sacrifice; he is our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). Often called the Lord's Table, the Lord's Supper, communion, or the eucharist by Jesus' church, it is a practice meant to commemorate the original events of the cross of Christ. So, as we peer into this passage, we must spend some time rejoicing over this meal and all it signifies for us today. But first, some backdrop.

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.

Jesus Prearranged the Venue

Before the cross, Jesus wanted to eat the Passover meal with his disciples one last time. Luke says he greatly longed to eat the meal with them (Luke 22:15). The meal took time to prepare and had to be eaten within Jerusalem's walls (Deuteronomy 16:6). Since the lambs were sacrificed on Thursday afternoon, the meal occurred that night. So the disciples asked Jesus where they should prepare the meal (12). Jesus had prearranged a secret venue. He sent two disciples -- the other gospels tell us it was Peter and John -- into Jerusalem looking for a man with a water pot on his head (13, Luke 22:8). This was an abnormal sight in their society. Once they found the man, they were to follow him to a house and ask its owner for the upper room reserved for Jesus (14). He would show them a large, furnished rooftop patio room where they could prepare the meal for Jesus and the disciples (15). Why all the secrecy? By this point, Judas had been paid to betray Jesus to the religious leaders. By keeping the location secret, Jesus delayed Judas' betrayal until after the meal. Jesus and the disciples often stayed in the Garden of Gethsemane during the feasts (John 18:2). Judas knew that location and could easily lead the religious leaders to Jesus once there. But he had no knowledge of this upper room, so he could not betray Jesus to them from there.

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.”

A Massive Announcement

Once they were all gathered together, Jesus made an announcement before instituting communion. "One of you will betray me, one who is eating with me" (18). Mark presents the disciples searching themselves -- "they began to be sorrowful and say to him one after another, 'Is it I?'" (20). Jesus told them it was one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me (20). This highlights how gruesome this betrayal was -- it would come from a friend who'd eaten this meal with him!

A Significant Statement

Notice Jesus' statement about Judas: "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" (21). First things first: from this statement, it appears Judas did not later repent and receive God's forgiveness for his actions. It would have been better for him not to have been born. I can't imagine this statement made about anyone who receives Christ's forgiveness. As regrettable as our past might be, nothing goes beyond his grace. If we receive it, we should be glad we were born because now we have a future forever with Christ. But Judas didn't have that future. He was remorseful to the point of self-harm, but he was not forgiven. Notice also the way Jesus blended God's sovereignty with man's responsibility. He knew he would die just like the Scriptures foretold, but he still pronounced a woe on Judas. Though these events had all been predicted and prophesied by God, Judas was still responsible for his actions. The sovereign plan of God did not cancel out Judas' moral responsibility. This is the truth of Scripture: God's sovereign stated goals and plans do not diminish humanity's freedom and responsibility. Both are true and deserve our affirmation.

Jesus Was Alone

Mark's point seems to be that Jesus was increasingly alone as he approached the cross. Similar to David, a man whom many close friends and family members betrayed, Jesus could say:

Psalm 41:9 (ESV) — 9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. That's the emphasis -- a friend betrayed Jesus. Someone who ate a meal with him would turn against him. This is Mark's emphasis -- we know because he will conclude this section by foreshadowing the denial of Jesus by the rest of the disciples. And still, even with such betrayal and denial looming, Jesus instituted this new meal for everyone there. This serves as the backdrop of communion. We all come, shortcomings and all, and he serves us. He dispenses grace to those who don't always honor him as they should. He loves us. Don’t miss next week’s article, where we’ll look at the specific elements of this meal and what benefits and blessings taking communion holds for us as believers.