Mark 14:12-17
Verse 12 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?”
We are now entering a Passover time which is covered in all 4 of the gospels. Not all of them cover every aspect of the events and so to gain the full story we will be bouncing about a bit to gather parts which will specifically help us see the connection of the Passover festival through time.
The Passover meal needed to be prepared. They needed to find a place to hold it which was large enough for their whole group, make sure they had all the wine, unleavened bread and herbs and such which were needed for the meal. We learn in Mark’s telling of the Passover how Jesus chose a unique way to show where He planned to host the meal. They were told to watch for a man carrying a pitcher of water and follow him and when they arrived at the man’s home to tell the man Jesus wanted to use the place. Men weren’t normally the ones to carry the water so he would have stood out as the guy to follow.
After securing the place, the lamb needed to be killed so it could be prepped for the meal. Only two people were allowed to accompany the sacrifice so Jesus sent Peter and John (Luke 22:8). The lamb would be slaughtered between 3:00-5:00 pm and some of its blood would be sprinkled on the altar. Each of these steps were to help them remember what Moses had told the people of God to do. As Peter and John waited their turn they may have been reminiscing about the various times they had been a part of this celebration.
When they got back to the house of the man with the pitcher, they found the upper room had been prepared for them. This would have meant a low table where they could recline around on pillows for the meal. This is another way the celebration had changed over the years. While the first Passover was to be eaten as if they were to leave any minute – fully dressed including shoes, walking staff in one hand while they ate – the meal was now enjoyed as one would enjoy any celebratory meal, relaxed and comfortable. No matter how normal this preparation may have seemed, Jesus knew this was going to be anything but a regular Passover meal.
Making It Personal
What are some preparations you have for special holidays? How would those preparations change if you knew it was the last time you would celebrate it? How are you preparing for eternity?
Making It Personal Kids
What are some of your favorite preparations for holidays? Why are those activities special to you? How does Jesus want you to celebrate those holidays?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for this inside look at Jesus going through the process of being our Passover Lamb. Use this study to help us see the eternity part of Your plan. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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