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Sunday, 3 March 2013

Mark 14:12-26 - The Last Supper

Preparations for the Last Supper are made. Just as arrangements for the donkey had been made long ago, so arrangements for the Last Supper were also in place. There was nothing about the first Easter that took Jesus by surprise. Even though the preparations had been made long ago, the disciples still had to go and "realise" the arrangements.
The supper then took place. The first thing that Jesus tells them is that one of their number would betray Him. This was news to the disciples in two ways. First, they did not know that anyone was going to betray Jesus, and they most certainly did not know that it would be one of the twelve. This made them sad, and they all denied that it would be them. 
Jesus knows that suffering lies before Him, just as it had been written in the Scriptures, probably with Isaiah 53 most in view. However, even though He would have to suffer much, it would be even worse for the one who betrayed Him. Suffering is not the worst thing that can happen to us.
All three synoptic gospels, and Paul, record the last supper. Jesus sees Himself and His sacrifice as the sacrifice of the New Covenant. A new age was dawning and everything is founded upon Jesus and what He has done. Just as the Passover and Exodus were foundational for Israel, so the cross and resurrection are foundational for the church.

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