With Jesus in the Upper Room

MARK 14:12-25—The story of Jesus and his disciples in the upper room the night before he was crucified, is one of the most interesting and meaningful of all that made up the greatest life that was ever lived. Even the manner in which the room was selected and located was very unusual—some think it was miraculous, although this is not at all certain.

From a casual reading of the account, and without taking into consideration the customs of that day, the meeting of a man carrying a water pitcher and following him to his house would seem to be either according to a previous arrangement Jesus had made with this man, or else that a miracle was involved. However, neither view is necessarily the correct one.

Those who claim to know something of the customs of the East inform us that ordinarily men do not carry water, that this is done mostly by the women. An exception to this, however, is in the case of attendants of lodging houses where only male guests are cared for. It is pointed out that Jesus and the twelve disciples would, of necessity, have to go to such a house, and that the instructions to follow a man carrying water was, under the circumstances, the simplest method of directing the two disciples to a suitable place where they could prepare for the passover.

In any event that “upper room,” which has become so well known to all Christians, was found and suitable preparations were made in it for Jesus and the Twelve to eat the passover that last night of his earthly ministry. As they sat and ate together Jesus made the startling announcement that one of his disciples would betray him. Doubtless they all sensed that tragedy was near, due to the unusual circumstances of the past few days, and particularly because Jesus had told them that he was going to Jerusalem where he expected to suffer and die. But there was only one among them who knew that the Master would be betrayed by one of his own disciples, and that was the betrayer himself.

Many surprising things had already occurred during these last few days of Jesus’ life, and doubtless the disciples were somewhat unnerved and not sure that they really knew their own minds, for they began to question him saying, “Is it I? Is it I?” It was apparently not until the others had thus inquired, and had perhaps been assured that they would not be overtaken in such treachery, that Judas asked the same question. By Jesus’ reply he realized that his Master already knew the plans which had been made.

To be wounded in the house of one’s friends is one of the worst trials that can come to a person, but Jesus took this experience like a real hero of righteousness. He showed no resentment, and did not rail against his betrayer. He identified him before the others, probably for their peace of mind and to safeguard them from being unwittingly drawn into the plot.

Jesus explained a very important principle of God’s dealings with his people. It had been foretold that he was to suffer and die, but because this was a part of the divine plan of salvation it did not excuse those who, for selfish reasons, helped to carry out the divine arrangement. Of Judas he said that it would have been better for him had he never been born. This is taken by many students of the Bible—and we believe properly so—to mean that Judas will have no further opportunity for salvation, and that he will not be raised from the dead. The fact that he is spoken of in the Scriptures as the “son of perdition” also indicates that his sin was sufficiently willful to merit the penalty of the “second death.”—John 17:12; Rev. 20:14,15; 21:8

Judas sinned against the Holy Spirit, not that he himself possessed the Holy Spirit, but because, during the years he had been with Jesus, he had seen so many evidences of the Spirit or power of God operating through the Master. Regardless of how much Judas may have comprehended of the teachings of Jesus, the compelling testimony of the miracles which he had witnessed was sufficient to make him responsible. And in view of this, to premeditate the betrayal of his Master would be a sin against the Holy Spirit, hence unforgivable.

Jesus’ statement concerning the bread being his body is construed literally by the Catholic Church, supporting their claim that in the Mass the literal body of Jesus is sacrificed over and over again. Those who take this view seem to forget that Jesus made this statement while he was still in the flesh, while he still possessed the body which the Catholics claim literally becomes bread in every celebration of the Mass. At that first Memorial Supper the disciples had Jesus personally with them, yet the Master said of the bread even then, “This is my body.” What did he mean?

Obviously Jesus meant the bread represented his body, and that the breaking of the bread was symbolic of the “breaking” or sacrificing himself as a man—that he gave his flesh for the life of the world. “This do in remembrance of me,” the Master said, thus indicating that the Memorial emblems are merely for the purpose of taking our minds back to his sacrifice, to remind us of his finished work as man’s Redeemer, not that the emblems themselves are different than other bread and wine.—Luke 22:19

In the Memorial Supper, the bread symbolizes the broken body of Jesus, while the wine pictures his shed blood. Both are symbols of the sacrifice of life. There can be no sentient being with a body, nor can there be human life without blood. Earlier in his ministry, Jesus had explained that no one could have life unless he ate his flesh. (John 6:53-55) The same thing is true concerning his blood. Thus the two symbols combine to assure us that every necessary provision has been made for the world to have life on the human plane, and for the church to have it “more abundantly,” as immortal beings on the divine plane.—John 10:10

But there is still a deeper meaning for the Christian in partaking of the Memorial emblems. Paul describes it as representing a “Communion,” or common participation in the body and blood of Christ. (I Cor. 10:16,17) As the Scriptures abundantly testify, this means that we have the privilege of suffering and dying with Jesus, of being planted together in the likeness of his death. (Rom. 6:3-5) It is this that is implied in the thought of following in the footsteps of Jesus. It is a blessed privilege, but few have accepted it. Millions have been glad that Jesus died for them, but in all the Gospel age there have been only a “little flock” who have been willing to die with him.—Luke 12:32

QUESTIONS

Was there anything unusual in the manner in which the “upper room” was selected and located?

Will Judas be raised from the dead? If not, why not?

Give one reason to prove that the Memorial bread is not the actual body of Christ.

What is the difference between the symbolism of the bread and the wine?

What has been one of the contributing factors in making the true church so small in number?

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