The Supper of Remembrance: Embracing the New Covenant
"Now when the even was come, he sat down with the" - Mark 14:12-26
Mark 14:12-26 (KJV) states, "And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. And the Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born. And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. And when he had taken the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."
As we delve into this profound passage from the Gospel of Mark, we find ourselves at the sacred moment of the Last Supper, a pivotal event in the life of Jesus and his disciples. This supper not only marks the conclusion of Jesus’ earthly ministry but also initiates a new covenant that fundamentally transforms our relationship with God. The setting, the acts, and the words spoken by Jesus carry deep theological significance that we need to unpack.
The chapter opens with the preparation for the Passover, a Jewish festival that commemorates the Israelites' escape from slavery in Egypt. Ancient believers understood the significance of Passover as a time of remembrance, yet here we see Jesus reframing this concept of remembrance into something radically new. The manner in which he instructs his disciples to prepare for the Passover illustrates his sovereignty and foreknowledge. Jesus sends two disciples into the city to follow a man with a pitcher of water, which may seem trivial but is filled with divine providence; the specific instructions yield a perfectly prepared place for what was to become an eternal meal of remembrance.
As they recline at the table, Jesus signifies the gravity of the moment by revealing that one among them would betray him. The disciples’ immediate sorrow reflects their profound connection to Jesus, and their nervous questioning, "Is it I?" serves as a reminder of our own susceptibility to falter in faith. With the sobering pronouncement, Jesus prepares them for the heart-wrenching events that are about to unfold, yet even amidst the betrayal, he extends an invitation to communion—the breaking of bread and sharing of wine.
Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, and gives it to them, saying, "Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." The bread, symbolic of his body, foreshadows the impending sacrifice on the cross. Here, Jesus invites us to not only remember his suffering but to internalize the significance of his sacrifice. It’s an invitation to partake in his suffering, to acknowledge the depths of his love, and to embrace the grace that flows from that brokenness.
Then he takes the cup and declares, "This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many." The new covenant represents a shift from the old, sacrificial system to a personal, relational connection with God through Jesus Christ. It signifies that the blood of Christ covers sin once and for all, offering redemption to every believer. It instructs us to drink in unity, remembering that we are all co-heirs in this covenant.
As we engage in communion today, let us remember not just the act of bread and wine but what they represent. They are symbols of Jesus’ sacrificial love and grace extended to us. When he says, "This do in remembrance of me," he calls us not to a mere ritual but to a heartfelt response of gratitude and a life transformed by his love.
Tonight, as we commemorate this Last Supper, may we reflect on our own lives and how we can embrace the new covenant. Let us be vessels of His grace, sharing our love and the good news of Jesus through our actions, so that we too can reflect the light of His sacrifice in a world that desperately needs redemption. In doing so, we not only remember Him; we become living testimonies of His grace.
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Mark 14:12-26 Artwork
Mark 14:12-26 - "On the first day of the Festival 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?” 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 room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?” “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.” 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. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives."
"On the first day of the Festival 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?” 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 room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?” “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.” 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. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." - Mark 14:12-26
Mark 14:26 - "¶ And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."
"¶ And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." - Mark 14:26
Mark 12:26 - "And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?"
Mark 14:12 - "¶ And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?"
Mark 12:14 - "And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?"
Mark 14:51
Mark 15:26 - "And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS."
Mark 12:8
Mark 12:8
Mark 15:12
Mark 13:26 - "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory."
Mark 4:26 (KJVA) 26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
Mark 4:14 - "¶ The sower soweth the word."
Mark 10:26 - "And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?"
Mark 4:26 - "¶ And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;"
Mark 14:17 - "And in the evening he cometh with the twelve."
Mark 14:50 - "And they all forsook him, and fled."
mark 2:1-12
Mark 12:41 - 44
Mark 12:41 - 44
Mark 3:26 - "And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end."
Mark 11:26 - "But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."
Mark 12:41 - 44
Mark 2:1-12
Mark 12:41 - 44
Mark 12:41 - 44
Mark 14:46 - "¶ And they laid their hands on him, and took him."
Genisis 26:12