Jesus Faces Death

Mark 14:22-26, 32-36

THE greatest outward victory in Jesus’ life; that is, his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and being acclaimed King of the Jews, was soon followed by Gethsemane and the cross. This bitter cup of suffering and death did not come as a surprise to him, for his knowledge of the prophecies had prepared him for it. He knew that his hour had come, and he willingly yielded himself to the sequence of circumstances which culminated on the cross.

It was because Jesus knew what to expect, and that he would be eating the passover supper with his disciples for the last time, that in the upper room where he observed this Jewish rite with them he instituted a new observance for his disciples; namely, the “Memorial Supper.” This was not a new form of the passover supper, but a memorial of that of which the slaying of the passover lamb was a type, that is, the death of Jesus as the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”—John 1:29

Paul later wrote, “Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast.” This was not the feast of the passover, but the supper which Jesus instituted on the night before his arrest and crucifixion when he invited his disciples to eat the bread and drink the wine which he said represented his body and blood. (I Cor. 5:7,8) When he gave the bread and wine to them, he said this IS my body and this IS my blood. However, what he evidently meant was that the bread and wine represented his body and blood.

Jesus’ invitation to the disciples to eat and drink that which represented his broken body and shed blood presents us with a double symbolism. First, it indicates that his followers by appropriating to themselves the merit of his sacrifice, receive life—in this case, everlasting life; and second, it reminds us that we have the privilege of being co-sacrificers with the Master, being crucified together with him, figuratively speaking.—Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20; 6:14

Under the Jewish Law, drinking blood was forbidden under penalty of death. Therefore, when Jesus invited his disciples to drink that which represented his blood, it was the equivalent of an invitation to die. Later, the Apostle Paul enlarged on this thought. Writing to the church at Corinth, he explained that the bread which we break at the Memorial Supper symbolizes our “communion,” or common participation in the body of Christ; and that the cup which we drink represents our common participation in the blood of Christ. The original Greek text makes the matter even clearer, for a word is used which means partnership; that is, we have a partnership in the broken body and shed blood of Christ—the privilege of being planted together in the likeness of his death.—I Cor. 10:16,17; Rom. 6:5

Jesus further explained that his blood, of which he invited his disciples to partake, was the blood of the “New Testament;” or New Covenant. This is the covenant promised by God in Jeremiah 31:31-34. In this promise, the Lord says that he will take away the sins of the people. In order for this to be done there must be the shedding of blood, for without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sins. (Heb. 9:22) The blood of the New Covenant, therefore, is the blood which makes possible the forgiveness of sins according to the promise.

This particular covenant is called “new” in contrast to the old Law Covenant, “which my covenant they brake,” the Lord declared. (Jer. 31:32) There was shedding of blood under the arrangements of the Old Covenant—the blood of bulls and goats. But this blood could not take away sin except in a typical, or illustrative sense. Since no member of the fallen human race, Jew or Gentile, can live without sin, and since the wages of sin is death, it follows that the only means whereby they can have life is through the merit of the shed blood of Christ. And it is his blood which will make possible this great boon to humanity under the terms of the New Covenant.

Actually the New Covenant has not yet been inaugurated, nor does the church receive life under the terms of this covenant. However, the preparation of the covenant began at the first advent of Christ. Christ, through his faithfulness in laying down his life and thus providing the blood which will seal that covenant, qualified to be its chief Mediator. Members of the true church are described by Paul as being “able ministers” of that covenant. Together with Jesus, they will serve as ministers of reconciliation during the thousand years when that covenant is being made with the people.—II Cor. 3:6; 5:18

But the church must first be trained for that high position of joint-heirship with Jesus. Being members of the fallen race, they need the covering of the blood in order that God can deal with them during their training period. Although the church is not developed under the terms of the New Covenant, since its members are in training now to be its future ministers, the blood which justifies and sanctifies them is quite properly described as the blood of the New Covenant. First, it is used to make possible the training of those who will serve the covenant, and then, the same blood will seal that covenant and thus assure the blessing of all the families of the earth as they are brought into that covenant and become reconciled to God under its terms.

It is not too clear just what Jesus meant by drinking the “fruit of the vine” anew in the kingdom with his disciples. It should have been plain to those in the upper room with him, however, that this was the last time they could expect Jesus to be with them at the passover supper. It is also clear that while circumstances would be vastly different, they could look forward to being with their Lord at a future time, when joy instead of apprehension and sorrow would prevail in their midst.

Revelation 19:9 mentions the “marriage supper of the Lamb,” and speaks of the great blessedness of those who would be privileged to be with him at that supper. As this is something to be enjoyed by those exalted to spirit nature, we cannot know just what it will be like. However, it will be an occasion of great joy, for then the sacrifice and suffering of the Gospel age will be over, the church will have received its reward of glory, honor, and immortality, and the blessing of the world of mankind with restitution will be due to begin. Obviously the joy of those who will be in a position to know these things will be unbounded.

After Jesus had instituted the Memorial Supper, he sang a hymn together with his disciples and then went out from that upper room, and out of the city also, to the Mount of Olives. We do not know what hymn this was, but it was probably one of the Psalms of David, possibly one which spoke prophetically of the Master’s death. Many earnest students of the Bible even now observe this custom of closing their Memorial Supper simply by the singing of a hymn, omitting the customary benediction.

Probably the severest trial in the entire ministry of Jesus was the one through which he passed that night in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew that he had come into the world to die as man’s Redeemer; but when the time of his arrest and crucifixion was upon him, his flesh shrank from it. He was still determined to carry out the Heavenly Father’s plan for him, but would have been pleased if a way could be found which would impose less suffering and ignominy.

Perhaps the Master prior to this had not fully realized all that would be involved in these closing hours of his earthly life, or at least may not have seriously considered the matter. But now he was face to face with the reality. He knew that Judas, one of his own disciples had turned traitor and would hypocritically betray him with a kiss. He knew that although he was both the Son of God and the future King of the world, he would be crucified as a blasphemer on the one count, and as a traitor to Caesar on the other. He knew that his enemies would jeer at and malign him, and that his own best friends, his disciples, would temporarily become confused and to a large extent forsake him. It was when these and many other similarly disturbing thoughts flooded his mind that night in Gethsemane that the Master prayed, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me.”—Matt. 26:39

But even so, Jesus had no intention of not being faithful to his covenant of sacrifice with the Heavenly Father, that covenant in which he had agreed to do all that had been written of him in the “volume of the Book.” (Heb. 10:7) He knew the Book said he must die, that he would be led as a lamb to the slaughter; so he quickly reaffirmed his willingness to carry through to the end, to be faithful even unto death. What an example this is for us!

We do not know from day to day what experiences we may be called upon to bear; but, like Jesus, we have entered into a covenant with the Lord by sacrifice, and even as it was with him, we know that we will not have proved wholly faithful to that covenant until we have finished our course in death. So, may we accept the “cup” the Lord may pour for us, knowing that even as it was in the case of Jesus, we will be given strength for every time of need.

QUESTIONS

Was the Memorial Supper instituted by Jesus the night before he was crucified a new form of the passover supper?

What did Jesus mean by the statement that the bread was his body and the wine his blood?

What is represented by our eating the “bread” and drinking the “wine”?

Why did Jesus speak of his blood as being the blood of the “New Testament”?

When will the New Covenant be inaugurated, and who will be its servants?

How do members of the true church now participate in the blood of the New Covenant?

What did Jesus mean when, in the Garden of Gethsemane, he asked that if it were possible the “cup” be permitted to pass from him?

Since we are following in the footsteps of the Master, should we be surprised when God permits severe trials to come upon us?

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