Discover the Gospel of Mark in 3 WeeksSample

Preparations (Mark 14:1-31)

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. Mark 14:22-24 (NIV)

Context:

In today’s reading, Jesus institutes the sacrament Christians call communion, the Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper.

The background of this practice is rooted in the Jewish Passover, the feast which initiated the 7-day Festival of Unleavened Bread (see Leviticus 23:4-8).

Passover commemorated a defining moment in Israel’s history. The people were slaves in Egypt, but God heard their cry for deliverance (Exodus 2:23-25). In response, he “passed over the houses of the Israelites…when he struck down the Egyptians” because of the lamb’s blood marked on their doorposts (Exodus 12:23). The blood symbolized God’s provision of atonement for the sins of the people inside the house (Leviticus 17:11).

Additionally, to interpret today’s reading, it may be helpful to know some background about the making of ancient covenants:

• Broken body - in an ancient covenant, the bodies of certain animals were cut in two and laid out for one party to walk through in an act of self-identification. It was a way of solemnly swearing, “May what has happened to these slaughtered animals happen to me if I fail to keep this covenant” (see Genesis 15:9-20 and Jeremiah 34:17-20).
• Blood -was also an important component of covenant-making ceremonies. It symbolized the covenant as a solemn and binding agreement. At Sinai, the Israelites were sprinkled with blood as they officially accepted the terms of God’s covenant (Exodus 24:8).

Observation:

As you read today, notice how the narrative slows right down. Until this point, Mark has mostly told shorter stories connected by a loose narrative. As a result, his gospel has been quite fast-paced. Mark 1-13 covered the period of Jesus’s ministry (about 3 years). Mark 14:1-16:8 covers less than a week.

Highlight the theme of “preparation” as it appears in today’s reading. We observed this theme when:

• The religious leaders prepare to have Jesus arrested (Mark 14:1-2)
• The woman prepares Jesus’ body for burial (Mark 14:8)
• Judas prepares to betray Jesus (Mark 14:10-11)
• The disciples prepare to celebrate the Passover with Jesus (Mark 14:12-16)
• Jesus prepares the disciples for Judas’s betrayal (Mark 14:17-21)
• Jesus prepares the disciples for the new covenant by re-centering the Passover meal around his upcoming sacrifice (Mark 14:22-25)
• Jesus prepares Peter for his upcoming denial (Mark 14:26-31)

Interpretation:

As you read today’s passage in Mark, take some time to close your eyes and put yourself in the shoes of different members of the original audience:

• Imagine what the woman felt when she heard Jesus say that her extravagant act would be reported wherever the gospel about him was proclaimed.
• Imagine what Judas felt in these final days after he had made the deal with the chief priests to betray Jesus, but continued to pose as a committed disciple.
• Imagine the many questions that Peter and the other disciples might have had as they experienced these events.
• Imagine what was going on inside of Jesus as he made these preparations, knowing the great trial ahead and that all of his disciples would desert him.

Finally, reflect on the background of the Exodus, the Passover, and covenant-making ceremonies. How does this historical context contribute to a greater understanding of the significance of communion? Here are some ways we discovered:

• In Jesus, God has delivered us from bondage to our real enemy: sin and Satan (see Colossians 2:13-15).
• Jesus identifies his body and blood as the offering which provides atonement for our sins (see Hebrews 9:1-28)
• Jesus’ sacrifice initiated a new covenant and set aside many of the rituals required under the old covenant (see Hebrews 10:1-18).

Application:

The making of the new covenant came at a great cost, which Jesus paid on our behalf.

The next time you take communion, make a point of:

• Remembering the broken bodies of the animals in ancient covenant ceremonies, representing the curse deserved for those who break covenant. Jesus willingly took this curse.
• Remembering the blood of the lamb, painted on the doorposts and sprinkled on the people, representing the provided atonement. Jesus willingly provided this atonement.