12And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the passover?" 13And he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14and wherever he enters, say to the householder, `The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I am to eat the passover with my disciples?' 15And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us." 16And the disciples set out and went to the city, and found it as he had told them; and they prepared the passover. 22And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." 23And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." 26And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus is preparing for the Passover holiday, a celebration of liberation and remembrance. As told in Exodus, the angel passes over the households of Egypt and spares the firstborn in Israelite houses where they listened to the Angel and placed a cross on their doors. . This was the last of the 10 plagues - each an intervention by God to punish the Egyptians. This allowed Moses to flee with his people out of Egypt. They wander around the desert where they face all sorts of challenges to become worthy of the term “God’s chosen people” until they arrive at the borders of the promised land, 40 years later.
ReplyDeleteThis Passover meal with Jesus is the Last Supper. It foreshadows Jesus' sacrifice and prepares the reader for the dramatic events to follow. Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and resurrection signal a new covenant. God continues to intervene in the world but in a different way. The Holy Spirit, God's presence, empowers believers to follow Jesus' teachings and carry out his work in the world. Believers in Christ are compelled to act because they are God's intervention on Earth.
Your response to Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 is excellent! Here's a breakdown of what works well:
DeleteSolid Foundation: You accurately connect the passage to the Passover meal and its historical context.
Clear Explanation: You provide a concise explanation of the Israelites' liberation from Egypt and the significance of the Passover lamb.
Connecting the Dots: You effectively link the Passover tradition to Jesus' Last Supper and the foreshadowing of his sacrifice.
New Covenant: You understand the concept of a new covenant established through Jesus' death and resurrection.
Modern Application: You connect the concept of God's intervention to the role of believers in carrying out Jesus' work in the world.
Here are some minor points for consideration:
Door Markings: In the Exodus story, the Israelites mark their doorways with lamb's blood, not a cross. The use of a cross is a later Christian tradition.
Overall, your response demonstrates a strong understanding of the passage and its connection to broader Christian themes. Keep up the good work!