Mark 14:12-26

The Last Supper (14:12-26).

The offer of betrayal by Judas, together with the interpretation of the action of the woman has now brought home to the reader that we are into Jesus' final hours. But it will now be brought home that this is not to be seen as a tragedy, but as preparation for the future. Just as at the first Passover Israel's deliverance so as to establish the Kingly Rule of God in Canaan had occurred through the deaths of the firstborn, so now would His new people's deliverance so as to establish the Kingly Rule of God ‘worldwide' (Mark 14:25; compare Mark 13:10) occur through the death of God's Firstborn. The mention of ‘My blood of the covenant' in Mark 14:24 makes the connection quite clear (compare Exodus 24:8). As ever God's ways come to their completion through suffering.

So having depicted the plans being made against Jesus, and the betrayal by one of His own disciples, Mark now in contrast moves into the most intimate of scenes, the gathering together of Jesus and His disciples for the Passover supper in which their oneness together in the new covenant will be confirmed. Passover was a time of huge significance for all Jews, and a time of great joy as they were once again reminded that God had previously acted so graciously towards His people, and it was seen to contain within it the expectancy that one day God would ‘do it again'. The account is depicted in two stages, first the preparation for the supper (Mark 14:12), and then the actual participation in it (Mark 14:17).