Consider these questions as you dwell in Mark 14:12-25:

1. In this passage, Jesus reveals that one of the disciples will betray him, causing them all to question if it could be them. How does this moment of uncertainty and tension among the disciples reflect the depth of their relationship with Jesus? How might their reactions resonate with our own struggles with faith and loyalty?

2. Jesus introduces the Lord's Supper, transforming the Passover into a new covenant in his blood. How does this act symbolize the profound shift from the Old Testament to the New Testament? What significance does the blood of Christ hold for believers today, and how does it bring peace and hope in the midst of difficulties?

3. Despite the impending suffering and betrayal, Jesus emphasizes the redemptive purpose behind his sacrifice. How does this perspective help us navigate moments of tension, uncertainty, and difficulty in our own lives? How can we find comfort and assurance in knowing that Jesus's suffering and death were the foundation of the gospel message?

Transcript:

As I've been saying, the last few of these Dwell in the Word episodes. Business is picking up. We know the story. We know where it's going. We are seeing the development of the crucifixion. Last time we saw that one of the 12 was going to betray him. Judas made the plan, but now they are at table. They are preparing. They prepared for the Passover. And then quickly, we're right there. They're at the table. And Jesus is going in a little bit of a different direction, right? Because he has said that he is going to suffer and die, and he has said that someone's going to betray him. But now what is he saying? He's being very specific. Hey, somebody here around the table, one of the 12, is going to betray me. And this causes them to... Yeah, imagine if it was you. Imagine if someone in your family said to you, one of you at this table is going to betray me, or, One of you is going to do something bad to me. You'd be like, Is he talking about me? I don't think I will, but will I? You can't even imagine the emotion that must have been going through these men who serve Jesus.

This is something, and you know that Jesus is a prophet. You know that he is having knowledge of all these different things. He just showed them who was going to give them the upper room for them to meet, to have the Passover. And now he knows, but isn't me? But isn't me? This is the question that the disciples are asking. But in the midst of all of this, in the midst of this drama, this drama that's developing and forming, I wanted to add on the institution of the Lord's Supper here today instead of breaking it apart, because we see the tension here. We see this tension that they're having the Passover. Jesus is talking about what is coming. He's talking about his betrayal. But yet we know that this is going to a good thing, right? The crucifixion is bad, and it's awful. But Jesus is instituting the Lord's Supper here is the new sign of the covenant of grace with us, his people. It goes from, Hey, this is a betrayal. You're going to really hurt me, but it's going to be a good thing for the people of God. It's going to be a new covenant.

And the language is so clear. As we look at verse 24, this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. This is Old Testament language. The disciples would have heard this and said, something new is happening here. But yet they were looking forward at it, wondering if they were going to betray Jesus, wondering how in the world someone with the power that Jesus has, and they believe Jesus was the Messiah, how could the Messiah not only be betrayed, but how could he allow himself to die? Jesus has saved others. Is he going to die now? But then Jesus is letting us know what this is all about. This is the blood of the Covenants being poured out for his people, just as the blood of the Passover Lamb was poured out for the people of God in the Old Testament. It's being poured out for us in the New Testament. And that is important for us to remember, in the midst of all this, in the midst of that tension of what is going to happen here, who's going to betray Jesus? It is going to something good. It's going to this new covenant in the blood of Jesus that is our only hope, that is our only peace, and it is our joy.

Even though the disciples would have seen it as terrible, this is going to be the joyful message that they are going to proclaim in the Book of Acts, that Jesus suffered and died and bore the wrath of God for their sins, just as the Old Testament had prophesied. And so, we remember this message that in the midst of all this tension that was going on, the real thing that was happening was the gospel. It was Jesus going to suffer and die, and his instituting this new covenant in his blood. And so, may we find our peace and our hope in this, even when there is tension, even when there is difficulty, the truth that Jesus has saved us, and he has done it by his blood, and he has guaranteed it for us, that can give us peace. And may we rest and trust in that peace as we live our lives today and live and love and serve in God's world.