August 1930
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
384
Lord o f the Passover chose to give the Last Supper a Paschal character, does not alter the fact that it was not the real Jewish Passover as prescribed in the Pentateuch. [It is well to remem ber in this connection that there were only two real Passovers, one in Egypt and one on Calvary ; all thè others were but memorial feasts. So Holy Communion is not a true Passover, but simply a memorial feast-flCDo this in remembrance."] WHERE WILLEST THOU, etc?—They evidently expected Him to keep the Feast in the ordinary way; they had forgotten, or did not regard* His prophecy recorded in Matt. 26:2. 13—SENDETH FORTH TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES— Peter and John (cf. Luke 22:8). It was His custom to send His disciples out by two’s. A MAN BEARING A PITCHER— He would be easily distinguished, since the women drew the water .in the East (cf. Jno. 4:7) ; but how did Jesus of Nazareth know that he would be there and that they would happen to meet him? How, short of divinity, could the foreknowledge have existed? How, save by divine power, could the coincidence have been arranged? . 14—THE MASTER SAITH—Evidently it was the house of à disciple, but in any case the room would have been provided, since universal hospitality prevailed in the matter. WHERE IS MY GUESTCHAMBER? (this-is undoubtedly the true reading) —'Mark how the Lord claims the man’s chamber as His own. WHERE I MAY EAT THE PASSOVER—He chose to make it a Passover feast (see above on verse 12) and what He chose to make, that it became, although it was not the regular Pas chal Meal. 15— A LARGE UPPER ROOM—Probably the same room as that, mentioned in Acts 1:13, and that in which the disciples were shut up for fear of the Jews (cf. 20:19), It was a large room capable of holding all that would gather together before Pentecost. 16— FOUND AS HE HAD SAID—But who, save the Di vine, could have been in a position to say it? There is the same nlmutenés's of 'foreknowledge as in the case of the ass’s foal. PREPARED THE PASSOVER—That is, the special Passover which He chose to celebrate; the TRUE Passover was to take place the next day', as appointed from all eternity. 17— WHEN IT WAS EVENING—It must have been some what .late in the evening as the first day o f unleavened bread (see verse 12) could not have begun until sunset.. It is always, well to remember that the Lord’s Supper took place and He instituted Holy Communion at. night! 18— AS THEY WERE SITTING AND EATING—This was ceftainly not the regular Passover; that was to be eaten standing (cf. Ex. 12:11) and Christ was always most scrupulous in His observance of the law. ONE OF YOU . . . EVEN HE THAT IS EATING W ITH ME—Joining in that solemn feast as an avowed disciple, yet with deadly treachery in his heart. ; 19—BEGAN TO BE SORROWFUL—.There was not only abhorrence; o f the treachery, but the terrible uncertainty that made,eadh man suspicious- of the others. The joy of the feast was shattered. ; :IS IT I?—The form in the Greek expects a negative answer, and: equals, “ Surely it is not I, is it?” 20— ONE OF THE TWELVE—A solemn reminder of the fact thaWthgv betrayer was himself o f the apostolic band; as though-He would stress the fact that no position and no priv ilege was a safeguard against apostasy ahd sin. HE WHO DIPr PETH W ITH ME IN THE DISH—And was so partaking of Uis hospitality. This was a great aggravation o f the offense. 21— GQETII AS IT IS -WRITTEN OF HIM (cf. Psa. 41:9; Jno. 13:18)—Truly the Old Testament writers did not know- all that was meant by that which they were inspired to write.' Men speak lightly o f the Old Testament, but it is full of
The Lordly Table (Freely adapted from the French)
Here, Lord, Thy table spread, For one more sweet remembrance, Thy death in mystic semblance, A feast o f wine and bread. With holy hands Thy saints draw near. For what have Thy redeemed to fear, Made nigh by precious bloodf W e worship Thee, our God. Rich blessings from above, Which Thine own hand bestoweth, And all Thy mercy showeth, Blessed symbols o f Thy love; In silent accents they proclaim To 'every one that loves Thy name. Eternal victory won, And heav’n on earth begun. — Believer’s Magazine.
Christ (cf. Jno. 5:39). BUT WOE UNTO THAT MAN, etc.— The event was preordained, but that in no wise excused the agent by whom it was accomplished. GOOD WERE IT, etc.-j—A familiar phrase in rabbinical schools. 22— AS THEY WERE EATING—We should ever remem ber that the Lord’s Supper was instituted and first partaken o f in the midst o f a meal. BLESSED-—Not the bread, but the Father; literally, He gave thanks or praise. There was no mystical blessing o f the bread and wine. BRAKE AND GAVE TO THEM—The bread was to be the token of a broken, and therefore dead, body, and not of the living Christ. He added “which is given for. you," signifying the substitutionary nature o f His death. St. Mark’s account o f the Supper is peculiarly abbreviated and, in that sense, incomplete. [Matt. 26:26; Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:23 should be consulted.] 23— HAVING T A K E N ' THE C U P AND GIVEN THANKS—The Greek for giving thanks ( eucharisteo ) is that from,which we get our word “eucharist.” The giving o f thanks is, however, a secondary part of the Feast; its primary purpose is the remembrance of Him as crucified, for the separated bread and wine symbolize the separated flesh and blood, which means death; moreover, the glorified, resurrection body of Christ has no blood, but only flesh and bones (cf. Luke 24:39). Although, o f course Christ is spiritually present at His own board, there is no reference here to a spiritual presence, and no hint here of His presence in any form at future repetitions of the Supper. All this is significant and should be carefully remembered. [Vote.—He said, concerning the Cup, “Drink ye all o f it" (cf. Matt, 26:27). St. Mark tells us they all drank of it. Surely this emphasizes the fact that every communicant should communicate in both o f the elements.] 24— THIS IS MY BLOOD—Again they khew that it was not literally His blood; had it been, they would not have drunk it, for that would have been an abomination to the Jew (cf. Jno. 6:51-66, where the great cause o f offense was the idea o f drinking, the blood, this being absolutely forbidden to the Jews [cf. Lev. 7:27]). OF THE NEW TESTAMENT—Or Cov enant, for the word is used o f both. Perhaps here it first o f all signifies "covenant.” The Old Covenant, of the Law, made on Sinai, was confirmed with blood; now there is a new covenant,, and that is confirmed in His blood.
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