All Part of The Plan
Public Meeting, Week 2 Semester 1, 2022
Mark 14:12 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?”
Some of you guys would already know about Passover, but for the rest of us, you need to know what Passover is in order to understand what’s going on here.
The Jewish people have not always been in Israel. There was a time before when they were slaves in Egypt. This is going back thousands of years. What happened was God rescued them by sending the 10 plagues. The last plague was an angel sent to kill every firstborn son in the land. From Pharoah all the way down to the servants, even the firstborn of the cattle were killed. In order to escape, the Jews were told to kill a lamb and with its blood cover the doors to their house and stay inside. That way the angel will Passover that house. There’s where the name came from. Death Passover you because of the blood of the lamb. It’s one of those defining moments in the life of a people group. Imagine Anzac day here in Australia, except it’s not a battle far away in Gallipoli, it’s right here and we won the battle only just. It really was the foundation of their identity. If not for that day, we would not be here. Our country would not exist. So it’s a pretty big deal.
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.
Man if you were the 2 disciples, I wonder if you’d feel like you’re in a spy movie. Secret agent-ing your way into Jerusalem. Until you remember that a week ago, the same thing happened. Jesus sent 2 of his disciples into Jerusalem and told them that you’ll find a donkey no one has ever ridden, untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, say the Lord has need of it. It’s almost word for word. All of that was done to show that Jesus is the king. Remember when Jesus enters Jerusalem, they sang blessed is the coming kingdom of David. And here you are one week later, the same thing happens. Jesus sends 2 disciples and tells them what to expect.
If you were one of the disciples, what would you think is going on? This must be part 2 right. I bet he’s going to officially take the throne. It’s perfect timing too.
So ok, the disciples go and the room is prepared. Look at verse 17.
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?”
I’ll be honest with you, this moment here terrifies me. We know now that it was Judas, but look how the passage tells us in verse 19 they (all) began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “is it I?” No one was sitting there thinking – I knew it! I bet it’s Judas. I knew there must be a reason why I always get bad vibes from him. No one did that. They never suspected anyone but themselves because they all looked the same on the outside. Judas prayed for people too. Judas cast out demons too. He was there helping in everything. Feeding the poor, going to bible study, coming to public meeting. You couldn’t tell. Even me. So no one here can be complacent. If we don’t keep watch over our faith, we’ll end up betraying it. Like in a marriage, no one wakes up one day and accidentally has an affair. It started the day you stop trying. When you stop fighting for your marriage.
That’s really scary hence why they were so sad and confused. And just when Jesus is about to become king. It doesn’t make sense at all. Why would anyone change sides just when they’re about to win? 3 years of hard work to get to this point and we’re in Jerusalem, the people love us, the authorities are scared of us. We’re actually going to win this election. But someone will betray Jesus? It doesn’t make sense. That’s not part of the plan. Or is it? Jesus gives a clue.
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.”
We know who it is. As for why, look closely at verse 21. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him… As it is written referring to the Old Testament prophecies. This is not some last minute change of heart or an unexpected surprise. It has been written about beforehand. It’s been prepared just like finding the donkey, just like finding the room they’re in – it is part of the plan. The kingdom will come. Only question is how.
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.”
I don’t think anyone here grew up observing the Passover. But if you did, what normally happens is this. The dinner begins with a blessing and then the youngest child/person in the group will ask why is this night different from other nights? Then father/host will tell the story of Exodus and what each element symbolises. They eat lamb because it was the lamb that killed. They used unleavened bread, which is bread without yeast to help it rise. If you make bread you know you have to let it rest and the yeast will work in the dough and then it will rise after a few hours. They used unleavened bread to symbolise how quick they had to move back then. There was no time between the plagues and the angel and all that to sit around and wait for the yeast.
And so there’s like stuff you’re supposed to say and do. Instructions you are meant to follow. It’s a serious thing which nobody messes around with. Then what Jesus should have said when it comes to the bread is “Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, king of the world, who brings forth bread from the earth.” You’re supposed to say blessed are you, God. You bless God. But Jesus took the bread and blessed it. Before you think that’s just nit picking, Jesus says “Take, this is my body.” There’s no question that Jesus has gone off script. This is not what you would expect.
It’s even more confusing with the wine. Jesus says this is my blood. No. The wine symbolises the blood of the lamb. It was what identified the people, the sign that they belong to God. But Jesus says, after they all drank it, that this is my blood of the covenant. You are now in covenant with me. Again, that’s not part of the plan. What’s going on? It’s in verse 25.
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.”
What Jesus meant was that he’s going to die. I will not be with you anymore. This is the last time. That’s what this means. And as it turns out, he was right. because the next day Jesus was arrested and killed. So much for being a king. What happened to the plan? How can we have a kingdom if the king is dead? Unless this kingdom is not a natural kingdom.
Putting it all together
1 Cor. 5:7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
This is Paul writing to the Corinthian church. Now we finally see this was the plan all along. The disciples were eating the Passover and looking backward to Egypt and slavery. Jesus is at the Passover looking forward to the cross. At the cross, Jesus was sacrificed as the Passover lamb. He was the sacrifice that saved people from death. Not just firstborn sons, not just in Egypt, not just for Jewish people. A thousand lambs will not give you enough blood to even make our doorpost slightly pink. His sacrifice is the only thing that can cover us and save us.