Bible Materials

Mark 14:12-26 (2009)

by Paul Choi   07/11/2009   Mark 14:12~26

Message


JESUS’ BLOOD COVENANT

Mark 14:12-26

Key Verse: 14:24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.”

  Last week we studied that Jesus was anointed by a woman who brought an alabaster jar and poured out the expensive perfume on the head of Jesus. Her abrupt and unexpected devotion to Jesus was criticized by his disciples, but it was greatly praised by Jesus who accepted it as the preparation for his burial. Indeed when she poured out the perfume, she poured out her whole heart for Jesus. She poured out the expensive perfume on Jesus because she wanted to appreciate of Jesus’ love, especially for the forgiveness of sins. What is the most valuable and precious gift on this earth to those who do not deserve to receive?  I believe that it is forgiveness of sin. When your sins are forgiven, we are free indeed. When all your mistakes and wrongdoings are pardoned, you are happy indeed. Forgiving love is the core of Christianity and it is the heart (nature) of God.

  Today’s passage is called “The Last Supper” or “The Lord’s Supper”.  The Lord Jesus had the last meal with his twelve disciples the night before he was crucified. At this last supper Jesus established a new covenant with his disciples in his blood. Today let us study about the meaning of the Last Supper, especially about the meaning of Jesus’ blood covenant.

First, The Passover meal (12-16) Look at verse 12. “On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” As we studied last week, the Passover is one of three Jewish annual holidays which commemorates God’s deliverance for the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt. During the Passover it was customary for all the Israelites to sacrifice the Passover lamb for the forgiveness of their sins. The Passover is also called “the Feast of Unleavened Bread”. During the Passover, the Israelites remembered their hasty departure from Egypt at the night God had struck the firstborns of Egyptians by eating unleavened bread. Customarily the Israelites gathered together to eat the Passover meal as Americans eat Easter meals and Thanksgiving dinners. For the Passover meal, unleavened bread, wine, bitter herbs and a lamb were generally prepared.

  In time past and present, family dinner is a very joyful occasion. My friend Carl is eager to have family meals with his four children. My children are also excited to eat together with their parents and watch family movies occasionally. Jesus’ disciples were not exception. They must have been excited to have meal with their master Jesus. They were fully ready to prepare for the Passover meal with Jesus. On the contrary to the joyous mood of the disciples, the heart of Jesus was heavy and burdened. Jesus knew that it was his last meal with his disciples on this earth. Jesus knew that the immediate following day he would be arrested and crucified on the cross for the sins of the world.  Jesus knew that he would take over the burden of the sins on his shoulders as the Lamb of God and die on the cross. Jesus’ heart must have been greatly anguished and troubled for his coming trial and death on the cross. 

Regardless of his personal inner turmoil, how did Jesus help his disciples to prepare the meal? Look at verses 13-15. “So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, “The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” It was a Jewish custom that anyone in Jerusalem who had a room available would give it upon request to a pilgrim to celebrate the Passover.  In order to have the Passover meal, Jesus must have made an arrangement with the owner of the house. Look at verse 16. “The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.” When his disciples simply trusted in Jesus and obeyed his word, they experienced that all things were prepared according to Jesus’ words. Thus, the disciples prepared the Passover meal by their obedience.

Second, Jesus predicts Judas’ betrayal (17-21) When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.(17) The disciples must have been excited as they entered the large upper room, furnished and ready. However, what did Jesus say to them at table? Look at verse 18. “While they were reclining at the table, eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me-one who I eating with me.” What a tremendous and heart-breaking  message to his disciples, especially those who were eating at the Passover meal! It was like a father who said to his children during Thanksgiving dinner, “One of you will cheat me, sell all my properties, and move out.”  Look at verse 19. “They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely not I?” The disciples stopped eating because they suddenly lost their appetite. They were sad more than shocked. Each one asked to prove their innocence and unchanging loyalty to Jesus. “Surely not I?”

 How did Jesus reply them?  Look at verses 20, 21. “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”  Even these days people in the Middle East take a piece of bread or a piece of meat wrapped in bread and dip it into a bowl of sauce on the table. Especially while they are sharing the bread, they affirm their brotherhood and commitment to each other. By sharing the Passover meal with his disciples, Jesus wanted them to love each other and to become one in God. According to John’s gospel, at this table Jesus washed his disciples’ dirty feet one by one and asked them to love one another. By washing his disciples’ feet Jesus showed a good example of how to bear other’s weak points and love one another.

What, do you think, is the most painful moment in your life? You may endure pain when you are hit by accident. You can tolerate all misunderstandings or criticisms against you. However, it is very hard to endure when you are betrayed, especially by the one whom you trust and love. So in this world, people cut their relationships before they are hurt by betrayal. Betrayal is like piercing a sword into one’s heart.

 According to Matthew’s gospel, Jesus clearly pointed out Judas Iscariot who would betray him, saying, “Yes, it is you.” (Mt 26:25) Jesus already knew what Judas was going to do. Jesus knew Judas’ plan of betraying him. So if he had wanted, Jesus could have removed Judas earlier. At least he could have cut relationship with him before he was hurt. But, he did not do so. Rather, he gave another chance to Judas to repent and restore love relationship with him. Jesus loved Judas to the end. Jesus ate the Passover meal with Judas. Thus, Jesus struggled to love even his enemy.

Jesus’ divine love and forbearance for Judas is liken to God’s unceasing love for sinners. In the beginning the first man Adam betrayed God. God’s heart was broken when Adam disobeyed him and listened to Satan’s lie. God could have destroyed both men and the Garden. But, he did not do so. After punishing men, God provided a way for men to come back to him. God gave one more chance to men to restore the paradise through the offspring of a woman, who indicates Jesus Christ.(Ge 3:15, 12:3) The Bible describes this unceasing love of God for sinners as follows, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Ro 5:8) It is amazing that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How many times do we betray our Lord Jesus a day? How often do we break promises with God? How far we are away from the Lord? Still God forgives us and loves us and waits us until we come back to him.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 moves our hearts. Even though the second son of the Father rebelled against his father and ran away from him, the father did not forget him. Rather he missed him very much. He could not sleep and eat well because of the lost son. When he saw his son’ coming back, he was filled with compassion, ran to him and kissed him. Then, he restored his son ship and relationship and celebrated his son’s coming back. This is God’s unceasing and unfathomable love for sinners and his broken heart for the lost soul. Jesus loved Judas to the end who would betray him. Thus Jesus lavished his love for sinners. Praise Jesus!

Third, the blood covenant (22-26) Look at verse 22. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Here the bread represents the body of Jesus; given for many. One day Jesus declared to the crowd who came to him, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (Jn 6:35) He continued, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (Jn 6:54) When Jesus broke the bread and gave it to his disciples at the table, Jesus really meant that he gave his life for his disciples. Soon, on the cross his body will be pierced by nails, swords and spears. His bones will be crushed and his flesh be torn apart. Indeed Jesus gave his life for sinners like us.

  Look at verses 23,24. “Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered 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.” Here the cup represents the blood of Jesus, which, in turn, represents his poured-out life. Jesus established a new covenant with his disciples in his blood. Why in his blood?  The blood represents life. Hebrews 9:22 says, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” What is the meaning of his establishing a covenant in his own blood? Why did Jesus call it a new covenant? (Lk 22:20) In the past, God established a covenant in animal’s blood with Moses and his people at the Mount Sinai after he had given them the Ten Commandments.(Ex 24:6,8) At that time Moses took animals’ blood and sprinkled them  on the altar for the atonement for men’s sin. (Ex 24:8, Heb 9:19)  However, how could the animal’s blood cleanse wicked and dirty sins of men? The author of Hebrews explains the incompleteness and limitedness of efficacy of animal’s blood and the completion and perfection of the blood of Jesus for the atonement (Heb 9:13,14)

  The following day right after finishing the Passover meal, Jesus will be crucified on the cross. His two hands and foot will be nailed and his side be pierced by the sword. Jesus will pour out his precious blood for the sins of the world. The blood of Jesus which he would shed on the cross is the price of our sins.  The blood of Jesus which he would pour out is the cost for atonement for our sins. The blood of Jesus which he would not spare on the cross is God’s sure sign for the forgiveness of sin. God abolished the annual animal sacrifices and established new way of eternal redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. (Heb 9:12) The blood of Jesus has power to pay all debts of our sins once for all. The blood of Jesus has power to forgive all our sins at a time. The blood of Jesus completed our eternal redemption and satisfied the requirement of God’s righteousness. That is why Jesus established a new covenant in his blood with his disciples. Jesus said in Matthew 26:28, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

  A covenant is an irrevocable and unbreakable mutual agreement between God and men. Jesus established the covenant in his blood, which meant that he would never break his promise with us. Since Jesus established the covenant in his blood for the forgiveness of sin, we can come to him confident and unashamed.( Eph 2:13) In the past, I made a big mistake morally and ethically. I damaged a girl’s life due to my selfishness and sinful desire. I could not forgive myself. I was too ashamed to come to Jesus. But, God helped me to remember his unceasing forgiving love and helped me to depend on the blood of Jesus. Depending on the blood of Jesus, I restored hope and courage to come to him. My heart was filled with the joy of salvation and freedom from the burdens of sins. Praise Jesus!

  The blood of Jesus is God’s sure sign of forgiveness of sins. The blood of Jesus is God’s unceasing love and patience for sinners. The blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin. (1Jn 1:7) That’s why Jesus made a new covenant with his disciples in his blood. Today I want to ask you to establish the blood covenant relationship with Jesus.  I urge you to come to him, confess your sins and receive the forgiveness of sins. That’s the reason Jesus shed his precious blood on the cross. We have no part with him unless our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus. May God richly bless coming Summer Bible Conference at Niagara Falls.  May God help us to learn God’s broken heart for the lost. Amen.


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