Mark 14:25

Note on ‘I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine until I drink it new with you in My Father's Kingly Rule (14:25).'

The main question here is as to whether Jesus is speaking of drinking with them in the Kingly Rule of God as they took its message out to the world after His resurrection, or whether it only refers to drinking it in the everlasting Kingly Rule of God in Heaven. The first would give expression to a positive hope, a hope that they will be able to hold on to in the dark days ahead, that the Kingly Rule of God already manifested by His presence (Matthew 12:28) will expand and be established in the coming days after His resurrection (Mark 9:1; Acts 28:31) as He once more goes forward with them (Matthew 28:20). The second would refer to a guarantee of heavenly glory in the more distant future while ignoring the days to come when they will be proclaiming the Kingly Rule of God and participating in it. Pertinent to this is the fact that if this does not refer to the advancement of the Kingly Rule of God after His resurrection, it would mean that, according to all three Synoptics, in this final time together He made no reference to their immediate future (while doing so in great detail in John).

Like many parabolic statements of Jesus each can take from this what he will. Of course, we do not necessarily have to see it as limited to one or the other.  We  may differentiate the Kingly Rule of God established on earth in the early church and continuing on through the centuries, from the Kingly Rule of God in Heaven, but it is questionable whether God does (see Hebrews 12:27). To Him they are both one, and we are a colony of Heaven (Philippians 3:20). Men are either under His Kingly Rule or they are not. So the question here is rather as to which aspect of His Kingly Rule is being the more emphasised. Is the emphasis on the fact that this is Jesus' last cup of wine before the everlasting Kingly Rule arrives in the more distant future, thus indicating the certainty that He will soon die, but guaranteeing their hope eventually of an eternal future? Or is it a joyous assurance that they will soon be drinking ‘new wine' together again on the other side of the cross, because His imminent death will be followed by resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit in power, so that the great day when the Kingly Rule of God begins its forward march is not far hence?

Certainly we must not play down the fact that the Kingly Rule of God commenced its marvellous advance from the resurrection onwards (and even before). In Mark it is advancing through the spreading of the word (Mark 4:26; Mark 4:30), will come with power within the lifetime of the disciples (Mark 9:1), and must be received like a little child (Mark 10:15). In Acts it is continually made quite clear that the Kingly Rule of God is advancing through the Apostles (Acts 8:12; Acts 14:22; Acts 19:8; Acts 20:25; Acts 28:23; Acts 28:31), and in Acts 28:23; Acts 28:31 it is emphasised that this was by proclaiming the things concerning Jesus. See also Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 4:20; in both of which the Kingly Rule of God is a present reality.

Central to how we interpret this verse is what Jesus intended by ‘not drinking of the fruit of the vine'. If it was intended to indicate a long abstention it would suggest divine self sacrifice. Was it then an indication of continuing dedication as with the Nazirites (Numbers 6:3), in say His intercession for His people (the priests also abstained from wine and strong drink - Leviticus 10:9)? But why should such a dedication be necessary, especially as He has just been advocating the drinking of wine as a means of participating in Him? On the other hand if we see it as simply indicating the closeness of His death, it could then be a promise that within a short time the triumph of the Kingly Rule of God would be made manifest, as in Mark 9:1; compare Mark 14:62. We can compare how an officer in preparing his men for battle and wanting to indicate how close it was, might indicate it by declaring, ‘this is my last drink. I will not have another drink until we have the victory is ours'.

For a more detailed examination of the idea behind this verse see our commentary on Luke 22.

End of note.