About Mark: By previous arrangement, and the sign of a man carrying a water jar, a house within the walls of the city became the new base of the Christian community at Jerusalem. From here their coming mission to the city would be launched on the Jewish festival of Pentecost (meaning fifty days) after Passover.
Leading up to that event they routinely met in "the room upstairs where they were staying ... constantly devoting themselves to prayer" (Acts 1:13-14). This is probably the same place later mentioned as "the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying" (Acts 12:12). The official plot to kill Jesus was the likely reason for secrecy. Water-carrying was usually women's work, so a male fetching water would identify the contact person, possibly the young man Mark himself.
Bible: Mark 14:12-31, The Passover with the Disciples
12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?" 13 So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there." 16 So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
7 When it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." 19 They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, "Surely, not I?" 20 He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born."
The Institution of the Lord's Supper
22 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24 He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
22 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24 He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Peter's Denial Foretold
26 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, "You will all become deserters; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." 29 Peter said to him, "Even though all become deserters, I will not." 30 Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." 31 But he said vehemently, "Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you." And all of them said the same.
Comment: COMMUNION IN CO-MISSION.
LIKE MANY TEAM VENTURES, the Christian movement began with a strong symbol of unity and commitment, a shared, solemn meal of covenant (24). Judas was with them, his betrayal anticipated (20), but nothing deflects Jesus from the mission for which he had come as the Son of Man (21).
The outcomes of the Messianic mission also rest on the Messiah's disciples, to whom Jesus pledges his loyalty by promising not to drink again the fruit of the vine until the mission is accomplished; when they shall be reunited in the kingdom of God (25). And so he later refuses the proffered wine and myrrh at Golgotha (15:23).
It is strange but typical how only one of the four predictions in 14:27-28 seems to be noticed, and rebutted by Peter. He is offended by the thought that the sheep will scatter, and thus misses altogether the predictions of the smitten shepherd, the resurrection, and their reunion in Galilee.
The bold declarations of loyalty by Peter (14:29, 31) and "all of them" (31), were written in Mark's mind. Gently, Jesus recognises that vehement commitments can be sometimes denied by later actions (30). While we can admire Peter's vow of loyalty, Jesus does not permit it to pass without comment. For he knows that Peter's claim is unwise. Peter underestimates his own frailty, and overestimates his own courage. Jesus understands us and our frailty better than we do. Peter is the idealist, but Jesus the realist. So it is not to condemn that Jesus points our how soon Peter will fail, but to avoid any delusions about dedication. He knows it is easier to claim that our loyalty is greater than others, than to show it.
By that contrast, Jesus' loyalty to his mission, signified in the Last Supper, is all the more noteworthy. Jesus' pathway to the cross is paved with unimaginable pain of body and soul. His body will be broken like the loaf, his blood poured out like the wine, and all for the benefit of those who often overestimate their power and underestimate their weakness.
The form of Mark's account of the Lord's Supper already reflects its use in the church as a reminder and replay of the heart of Christianity. It is a meal by participants in a divine covenant, centred on the self-giving of God's Son "for many". And it looks forward to reunion in the kingdom of God. So the thanksgiving (23 - the Greek word is eucharist) is not just a meal ritual, but the authentic appreciation of latter-day participants in God's marvellous grace given to them too.
Discipleship today: The four predictions in verses 27-28 all became true. The Shepherd was smitten, he did rise up, and they did meet him again in Galilee. And sadly, during the heat of the next few hours the sheep were scattered; the apostles all did desert him, though not the women. So shortly after his bold avowal of loyalty, Peter denied Jesus.
It would also later happen to Mark when for some reason Mark too went back on a commitment. John Mark began with Barnabas and Paul on their first mission journey, but soon left to return to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Paul interprets this as a desertion (Acts 15:38). This causes a brief rift between Paul and Barnabas.
So at different times Peter as well as Mark walked a pathway of failure and regret. But also of renewal and return to co-mission with the Messiah. So too may each of us. That is why the prediction here about Galilee is so important. The women who discover the resurrection are given a particular message for Peter, "Go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead
of you to Galilee; there you will see him just as he told you" (Mark 16:7). With Jesus, failure is never final.
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