PREPARATION FOR PASSOVER
DISCIPLES CONTEND FOR PRECEDENCE
(Bethany to Jerusalem. Thursday afternoon and, after sunset, beginning of Friday.)
MATT. 26:17-20
MARK 14:12-17
LUKE 22:7-18, 24- 30
The disciples were in Bethany at present but needed to go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Jesus made arrangements (either supernaturally or humanly) that they could celebrate this meal corporately.
"He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” -Matthew 26:18
It's debatable as to whether Jesus' knowledge of this man with the water jar was supernatural or the result of pre-arrangement:
"There can be little doubt that Jesus was acquainted with this man, and that he was a disciple. The direction which he gave his disciples most clearly proves that he was omniscient. Amid so great a multitude going at that time into the city, it was impossible to know that “a particular man would be met” - a man bearing a pitcher of water - unless Jesus had all knowledge, and was therefore divine." -Albert Barnes
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| Man Bearing the Pitcher, Leon Davey |
"A man carrying a jar of water would meet the two disciples, presumably near the eastern gate. This unusual, eye-catching sight suggests that it was a prearranged signal because normally only women carried water jars (men carried wineskins). They were to follow this man, apparently a servant, who would lead them to the right house. They were to tell the owner… The Teacher (cf. Mar_4:38) asks: Where is My guest room. . . ? The single self-designation “Teacher” implies Jesus was well known to the owner and the possessive pronoun “My” implies His prior arrangement to use the room."-BKC
"Luke brings out the parallelism between the Passover and the Lord's supper. Each consisted in eating followed by drinking, and the closeness of the parallel is emphasized by the use of almost the same words with regard to the cup." -Fourfold Gospel
"Mark and Luke add that he would show them “a large upper room, furnished and prepared.” Ancient writers remark that, at the time of the great feasts, the houses in Jerusalem were all open to receive guests - that they were in a manner common to the people of Judea; and there is no doubt, therefore, that the master of a house would have it ready on such occasions for company." -Barnes
"In sending to secure the room in which the paschal supper was being eaten, Jesus had said, "My time is at hand." Such expressions were falsely construed by the apostles. They thought that Jesus was about to set up his kingdom, and began at once to contend for the chief places. Jesus rebukes this false ambition in much the same manner as he had previously." -Fourfold Gospel
"And there arose also a contention among them, which of them was accounted to be greatest. " Luke 22:24
A lesson---during Christ's last moments with his disciples, one friend was busy betraying him and others were quarreling over their positions. If the greatest teacher who ever lived struggled in this regard, then we will too. Characteristically, Christ used the moment to teach and clarify:
Barnes points out that the disciples exhibit their innocence when they inquire if one of them will betray them. They are willing to examine and question their hearts whereas Judas is not. A willingness to examine oneself is a key virtue. We seem to have a innate desire to examine others critically but be blind to our own defects.
"For which is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am in the midst of you as he that serveth." Luke 22:27
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