Mark 14:13
Prophecies and Pictures
Mark 4:12 And the first day of unleavened bread,
when they killed the passover, his disciples said
unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare
that thou mayest eat the passover?
I reminded you last week that the Jewish days start when the sun goes
down, not at midnight like our days; and I remind you again that is
not when it gets dark, but when the big ball of fire called the sun
drops below the horizon.
That is important because as Jesus and the disciples finished their
discussion about end times in Mark 13 and began their walk to
Bethany, I believe the sun set and a new day began, making the supper
recorded in \\#Mark 14:1-11\\, where Mary anointed Jesus, occurring on
the Jewish Wednesday. It would still be our Tuesday evening, but for
the Jews, it would be their Wednesday. That would make the next meal
Jesus had, the one with the disciples in the Upper Room, happen on
the Jewish Thursday, the Passover. It would still be our Wednesday
evening, but it was the Jewish Thursday.
I also believe the events recorded in \\#Mark 14:12-16\\ are still
happening on Wednesday. Jesus and the disciples had gone to bed,
slept, and gotten up by then; but it was still Wednesday.
Let me say, there are problems with what I believe. You know that I
believe Jesus died on the Passover; however, I cannot reconcile that
belief to all the Scriptures. But there are also problems with
Scripture no matter what day you believe Jesus was crucified on,
Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. That doesn’t mean that believe there
is a contradiction, but I don’t. It just means I am limited in my
understanding. Even so, I will continue to believe that Jesus died on
the Passover because some Scriptures do support it and because I
cannot believe that Jesus, the anti-type of the Passover, missed
dying on the Passover by one day.
So we are still on Wednesday as our text begins. There isn’t a lot
of information about Wednesday.
1. I think it was Wednesday when \\#Luke 21:38\\ tells us that
Jesus to the temple to teach early.
2. I also think John 12 may record some events that occurred on
Wednesday, but John did not give us an time markers so it
is impossible to know for certain.
Let’s look at tonight’s Scripture with three thoughts:
I. \\#13-16\\ Benevolent Provision
Mark 14:13 And he sendeth forth two of his
disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the
city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a
pitcher of water: follow him.
14 And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the
goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is
the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover
with my disciples?
15 And he will shew you a large upper room
furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.
16 And his disciples went forth, and came int
the city, and found as he had said unto them:
and they made ready the passover.
A. I notice that event is much like God most often works:
quietly, silently, without much notice or fanfare.
B. That night, a large room would be needed for the disciples to
have their last supper with Jesus.
1. \\#Luke 22:15\\ makes it clear that it was the desire of
Jesus to eat with His disciples that night.
a. the desire of Jesus
b. The disciples did not know it was their last meal
together, but Jesus did; and He wanted to spend it
in a quiet meal with the disciples.
2. But the city was crowded, filled with all of the men of
Israel who were required to come for the Passover.
3. Was any room available? If so, how much would it cost?
4. But God benevolently provided—not just a room—but
\\#Luke 22:12\\ says a "large, upper room."
C. How did this come about?
1. It came to pass by obedience to a few simple instructions:
a. Go to the city.
b. Follow a man Carrying a pitcher of water.
c. When he enters a house, ask the owner where is the
bedroom where the Lord and His disciples may eat.
d. Prepare whatever room he shows you.
2. This nothing mountain moving. No thunder. No parting of
the Red Sea.
3. The text does even mention any name dropping or bargaining,
and as far as we can tell—no payment.
4. Yet when these disciples obeyed, God gave them a room!
D. Someone might be wondering, "Was this a miracle?"
1. The answer is YES.
2. I don’t know about you, but in my life I have seen a lot
more of the "follow-the-fellow-carrying-the-water-
picture" miracles than I have "parting-the Red-Sea"
miracles.
3. Just because most of our miracles are based on obedience
to the long-standing teachings of the Bible, does not
make them any less a miracle.
4. Those are the kind of miracles where:
a. …when you need a job, you pray, look for work and
God gives you work.
b. …when you have a bill, you pray, cut back on
expenses, make some sacrifices, and God provides the
money for it.
c. …when you have a problem with someone, you pray, go
see them with a humble spirit, and God fixes it for
you.
5. You say, "Preacher, those aren’t miracles! You are doing
the work."
a. Yes, they are.
b. God is the one who gives us the strength, the ability,
the wisdom, and the opportunities.
c. He is also the One who gave us the glorious Bible that
tells us to look for a job, to work for our money, to
pay our bills, and to reconcile with those we have a
problem with.
6. Too many people are:
a. Looking for God to give them the lottery when God
wants to give them a job.
b. Looking for God to judge their enemy when God wants
them to reconcile with them.
c. Looking for a lot of thunder, for a strong east wind
to blow all night, when God has given instructions
that if followed will produce miraculous results.
II. Brutal Prophecy
A. Timing
Mark 14:17 And in the evening he cometh with the
twelve.
1. If the meal was prepared on Wednesday, once the sun went
down, it became the Passover.
a. By our calendar, it would still be Wednesday evening.
b. But on the Jewish calendar, the meal prepared on
Wednesday would be eaten "in the evening," after the
sun when down.
c. That would make it Thursday, the same day that Jesus
was crucified.
2. Everything that Jesus did from the time He sat at the
table to eat with His disciples to the time His body was
laid in the grave would happen within a 24 hour-time
period, and—I believe—it would all happen on Passover
Day.
B. Prophecy
1. While the meal was friendly, some very brutal truths were
revealed.
2. When we think of about the night on which Jesus was
arrested, we often think of Judas’ betrayal or Peter’s
denial; but the truth is that Jesus knew all of the
disciples would fail Him that night—and He told them so.
a. \\#18-21\\ Judas’s betrayal was prophesied.
Mark 14:18 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus
said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which
eateth with me shall betray me.
19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say
unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said,
Is it I?
20 And he answered and said unto them, It is one
of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.
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.
(1) What a shock Jesus’ words were to all Twelve,
even to Judas!
(a) Judas would not have gone if he had known
that he might be suspected, let alone
accused.
(b) He may have feigned sickness, brought the
troops, or most anything rather than to go
and face the One he had betrayed, knowing
that he was found out.
(c) And the fact that every other disciple
wondered whether they might somehow betray
Jesus indicates just how shocked they were.
(2) But then again, look how well Judas had played
the part of a believing disciple.
(a) Even after Jesus announced one of them was a
traitor…
(b) Even after Jesus handed the sop to Judas…
(c) Even after Judas left the room, the other
eleven never thought Judas was the
betrayer.
(3) How easy it is to pretend to be a believer!!
(4) But then they had other things to consider for
Jesus implicated they would all abandon Him.
b. \\#27\\ The apostles abandonment was prophesied.
Mark 14:27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye
shall be offended because of me this night: for
it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and
the sheep shall be scattered.
(1) Jesus made it clear that He had no good
confidence in any of the Twelve that night!
(2) "All ye" means "All of you!"
(a) Yet, it doesn’t appear as though the
disciples were very concerned over this
prophecy.
(b) In fact, each disciples seemed to have more
confidence in the other members of the
group then in himself!
(c) Maybe that is why they so soon forgot Jesus’
prophecy of a betrayer being among them.
(d) They all believed the others would never
abandon Jesus so they assumed Jesus must be
speaking in parables.
(3) Yet, there was one more prophecy to come.
c. \\#29-31\\ Peter’s denials were prophesied.
Mark 14:29 But Peter said unto him, Although all
shall be offended, yet will not I.
30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto
thee, That this day, even in this night, before
the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should
die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise.
Likewise also said they all.
(1) Apparently, Peter was the only disciple that even
considered the possibility of the whole group
abandoning Jesus.
(a) But he felt certain of one thing.
(b) Even if everyone else abandoned Jesus, he
would not.
(2) Peter’s statement was loud and resolute.
Mark 14:31 …I will not deny thee in any
wise….
(a) There is only one judgment for pride,
humiliation.
(b) Sooner or later, usually sooner, God gives
to the pride a situation that does not just
humble them.
i. It humiliates them.
ii. Peter’s was coming.
(3) However, notice that it was not just Peter who
made that statement:
Mark 14:31 …Likewise also said they all.
(a) Jesus was under no illusion when He dined
with His disciples that night.
(b) He knew what kind of people His followers
were—and are.
(c) Still, He loved us.
(d) Still, He died for us.
(e) Still.
III. \\#22-26\\ Beautiful Picture
Mark 14:22 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.
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.
26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out
into the mount of Olives.
A. We speak of this part of the Last Supper often. Again this
past Sunday night.
B. But how great is a God who take common things and create a
powerful picture?
1. Siting at a supper table, Jesus picked up two of the most
common objects, bread and juice, and painted a picture of
His death that we use to remember Him today.
2. The break, a picture of His body, broken for us.
3. The juice, a picture of His blood, shed for us.
C. As the disciples did not fully understand the prophecies Jesus
gave that night, neither did they fully understand the
picture.
1. But they remembered it.
2. And after Jesus’ body was broken and His blood was shed,
they understood it.
3. And they shared it.
D. And then with joy and a hymn they went out of the Upper Room,
crossed the Kidron Valley, and went to the Mount of Olives.
1. Maybe the same place on that mountain where they had been
the day before to discuss the end-time events.
2. Maybe they had several spots on that hillside that they
liked to visit.
(a) \\#Matthew 26:36\\ and Mark called it Gethsemane.
(b) \\#Luke 22:39\\ said it was the place Jesus was
"wont" to (or in the habit of) going.
(c) And it would appear as though Jesus will pray and
wait until the prophecies to come to pass and the
picture to becomes reality.
What a Savior! What a Passover. What a Passover Lamb!
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