Celebrating the Passover

Mark 14:12-21

“And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?” (Mark 14:12)

Matthew and John were originally written in Hebrew, according to Pappias, and were translated into Greek around 70-80 AD,.  Because no copies in Hebrew have survived, and the style of the Greek used in the translation, many scholars have assumed the date of translation was the date they were written.   Mark and Luke were originally written in Greek around 50-55 AD.   

The Hebrew word translated Passover refers specifically to the Passover meal, while the Greek word refers to both the Passover meal and the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread.  Writing in Greek, Mark made a special point to specify that this was the day when the Jews celebrated the Passover, killing and eating the Passover at sundown.   Contrary to what some have taught, Jesus did not partake of the Passover early, according to Mark.   

“And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.  And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?  And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.” (Mark 14:13-16)

During the day Wednesday, Jesus sent two of the disciples to find a place where they could partake of the Passover feast.  The Jews had specified that he was not to be arrested that day to prevent a riot and the spoiling of the Passover, which was the most sacred of their holidays.  As a result Jesus and his disciples were free to move about the city on Wednesday.  Jesus gave the two specific instructions as to what they would find.  Everything turned out just as he described, and by late afternoon they had obtained everything they needed to celebrate the Passover.

Note:  Because of the way Passover was set we can readily determine what day Passover fell in any given year.  If as indicated, Passover fell on Wednesday, this had to be either April 28, 28 AD, or April 25, 31 AD.     If it fell on Thursday as Tradition says, it could only have been April 22, 34 AD.

“And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.  And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.

And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?

And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.  The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.” (Mark 14:17-21)

At sundown Wednesday evening, the Passover officially began, and Jesus met with his disciples for the meal.  The disciples had worked together for about two years.  They thought they knew each other, and Jesus’ statement that one of them would betray him was bombshell.   Judas was the treasurer and they trusted him implicitly.  They were more concerned that they might betray him than that Judas would.  Even when jesus specifically told them it was the one he was giving a piece of bread to, and told Judas to go do what he was going to do, they did not suspect him. 

It would have been better for Judas to have never been born than to be cast into lake of fire  for eternity because he rejected and betrayed the Lord.   Judas’ decision to betray the Lord was not a spur of the moment decision.  Jesus had known all along that Judas would betray him , according to John 6:64.  “But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.”  In John 6:70-71 he warned them all that one of them was not really a believer.  “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?  He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”  Being rebuked for his attitude toward the women who sought to honor Christ was just the trigger that caused Judas to act at that time.   He would die without making things right with the Lord.  

The Plot To Kill Jesus

Mark 14:1-9

“After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.  But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.” (Mark 14:1-2)

In modern colloquial English is common to say an accident happened Friday night about two o’clock when technically, according to our official way of figuring time it occurred Saturday morning at 2:am since the date officially changes at midnight.   Instead of changing the date as midnight, the Jews officially changed it at sunset, when evening officially began.  We need to keep this in mind if we are to understand the sequence of events during Crucifixion week. 

Jesus had ridden into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  He had purified the temple, and had made the Pharisees and Sadducees look foolish in the attempts to discredit him, reinforcing his standing among the people.  They were determined to do whatever it took to Get rid of him.  Tuesday, they assembled to plan to have him killed.  They were concerned that if they arrested him on the day when the Passover was to be celebrated it would cause a riot. 

Under Jewish law, the Passover was to be celebrated, beginning at sunset on Wednesday, which was officially the beginning of Thursday, making it officially two days away, although it would be following day by our way of figuring it.  Jesus had taught publically in the morning, but for the rest of the day, he went into hiding to prevent being arrested, according to John 12:26.  “…  These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.”  That evening he went back to Bethany.

“And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.  And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?  For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.” (Mark 14:3-5)

The previous week, Jesus had come to Mary and Martha’s house, where Mary had rubbed ointment on Jesus feet and wiped them with her hair, according to John 12:1-8.  The night before he was arrested, an unnamed woman came to Simon’s house, and poured an expensive ointment on Jesus’ head.  Matthew 26:6-12 gives almost and identical description, while Luke 76:36-40 appears to be acomposite of the two stories.  Remember that Luke was not one of the disciples and was writing based on the stories others told him.  According to Pappias, writing about 90 AD, John the Apostle said Mark and Luke  sometimes got things out of order. 

“And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.  For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.  She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.  Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” (Mark 14:6-9)

Both times Judas led complaints about the waste of such expensive ointment instead of selling it to give to the poor.  He was more concerned with the money than with the respect shown to Jesus by Mary and the other woman’s actions, as John 12:6 tells us.  “This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”  Both times Jesus sharply rebuked him for his attitude, pointing out that they were honoring him. 

“And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.  And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.” (Mark 14:10-11)

Resentful at having been rebuked by Jesus for his attitude, Wednesday morning, Judas went to the chief priests, offering to betray Jesus to them.  They promised to reward him for his efforts if he succeeded.  He began to look for an opportunity when it wouldn’t cause a riot.   

Be Ready

Mark 13:28-32

“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.  Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.” (Mark 13:28-30)

Jesus had warned the disciples they were not to be concerned about the events that were happening as signs of his return.  He also told them that when the saw the abomination of desolation, then they were to know that the end was close.  Now he uses the illustration that when a tree starts putting out leaves, you know that it is getting close to summer time.  In the same way, when you saw the events Jesus prophesied happening, you will know the Lord’s return is getting very close.  In fact, he said that that generation of people will still be alive when he returns.    

Unfortunately some have translated the leaves on the fig tree as representing Israel being restored to the land in 1948, and based on that and how long a generation lasts, have tried to set a date by which Christ will return.   Jesus referred specifically to when we see the Abomination of Desolation and said nothing about seeing Israel restored.

    

“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. “ (Mark 13:31-32)

Even though the heavens and earth we know today will be destroyed, god’s word will abide forever.  His prophecies will surely come to pass just as spoken.   We need to understand, however, that God has not told anyone when his return is going to happen.  Acts 1:7 tells it is none of our business when it will occur.  “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”  Jesus said no human knows nor do the angels, and that he did not know himself.  Clearly, anyone who sets a date has identified himself as a false teacher. 

“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.  For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” (Mark 13:33-37)

For several years, I served on a volunteer Fire Department.  We rarely fought more than three or fires a year, but because we had no idea when a fire would occur we kept the truck filled with fuel and water, and made sure the battery was charged and the tires were aired up and a dry hoses were loaded so we were ready to roll.  We knew that there would be no time to fill up the truck or load the hoses when a fire call came.   Although we usually had several months between fires, we could not afford to postpone preparing.  We need to have the same attitude about serving the Lord.  

The Rapture

Mark 13:21-27

Jesus had just told the disciples not to let themselves be upset by warnings that wars and natural events signaled the return of Christ.  He said that it wouldn’t happen until they say Jerusalem surrounded by the armies of the Antichrist, and the Jews were forced to flee their homeland for three and a half years.  Things will get so bad at that time that there will be fear for the entire human race being destroyed, and people will be desperately looking for answers.

“And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.  But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.” (Mark 13:21-23)

While there have been and will be false teachers and fake Messiahs throughout the Church age, as people get more desperate, they will become more common.  They will also be more sophisticated and persuasive, using apparent miracles and powers that would convince even those who believe in God, except that they have the Holy Spirit to show them the truth.   He warns not to let the fact that other people accept their claims cause his people to accept them at their word.  He has warned us because some will fall for the lies, as Daniel 11:35 warns.  “And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.”  People will be forced to decide whether they will follow God or the Antichrist.    

“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. “ (Mark 13:24-25)

At the end of the Tribulation period, the events described in Revelation 6:12-17 will occur, according to Jesus.  “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

The Antichrist will set himself up as god, convincing himself and others he has as much power as God, with the help of Satan.  In the last part of his reign,  a series of natural disasters will occur that he cannot prevent, even with Satan’s help, making it clear he really isn’t a god after all.  These events will go far beyond anything man has ever seen and people will reach a point of wanting to die to escape what is happening.  As we have already seen, if God didn’t limit the time, no life would survive. 

“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.  And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.” (Mark 13:26-27)

When it is finally clear that neither mankind no satan have the power to control the universe. Christ will appear in heaven, as  described in Revelation 19:11-15.  “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

Revelation 1:7 tells us, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”  At about the same time I I Corinthians 15:52 also tells us, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”  This calling out of the believers is often called the Rapture. 

Please understand that Jesus's statements, as recorded here, in Matthew 21-31, and in Luke 21:20-28 appear to contradict many popular teachings about the sequence of events during the Tribulation and the Rapture.   

Persecution By Antichrist

Mark 13:14-20

“But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.  But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!” (Mark 13:14-17)

Daniel 11:31-33 describes the time when the vile leader known as the Antichrist places the abomination of desolation in the temple.  “And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. “  He will do this in an attempt to prove he is greater than any other god, setting himself as their god. 

His pride will not carry him very long, according to Daniel 12:11.  “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.”  Approximately three years and seven months after the Antichrist places the Abomination o Desolation, Christ will set up his earthly kingdom, after destroying the Antichrist and his forces, as described in Revelation 19:11-21.  “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.   And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.   And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”

When the Antichrist sets himself up as god, He will attack every group that opposes him,  Initially, the Jews are the focus of his ire, and Jesus warns he will m,ove against them so fast they will not have time to prepare for flight,  As a result pregnant women and those with infants will have an especially hard time.  Revelation 12:13-14 describes this attack.   “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 

And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Unable to destroy Israel, the Antichrist will turn his wrath on the Christians for three and a half years.  A group centered in Babylon, probably Muslim, will make the mistake of opposing him and Babylon will be completely destroyed, but he will not be able to destroy all the Christians or Israel. 

“And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.  For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.  And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.” (Mark 13:18-20)

Because they will have no time to prepare, they need to pray that the flight will take place in summer so they can have time to grow and harvest food for the winter.  The persecution and attempts to destroy them will be far worse even than Hitler’s persecution during the Holocaust.  God has limited the duration of the Antichrist’s reign or none could survive it.  In his efforts to prove himself god, he would destroy all life, much like some of the liberals today who are willing to destroy the United States to regain power.  God will limit the Antichrist’s power for the sake of those who trust Him.  

Persecution Will Come

Mark 13:9-13

“But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.  And the gospel must first be published among all nations.” (Mark 13:9-10)

Jesus had just warned the disciples that in the coming ages they would be confronted with false teachers claiming to be the Messiah.  Many of them would use the events around them to persuade people that they needed to follow them to be prepared for God’s kingdom. 

Satan and his followers have always hated God,and Jesus said the Christians should not be surprised that they were hated.   In John 15:18-23 he had warned them, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.  But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.  He that hateth me hateth my Father also.”

Jesus’ coming and living a sinless life called attention to how bad the others were, and those who took pride in their own goodness resented being shown up.  Rather than changing their own behavior they turned on Christ, attempting to destroy or discredit him.  Jesus warned that when he was no longer there, that hatred would be turned toward his followers.  Throughout history, the most virulent hatred has come from powerful false religions, and especially those who claim to be ‘Christian.’    

I John 4:7-8 advises, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”  The very fact that these groups are filled with hatred toward others proves they are not of God and do not know him, whether it was Judaism in the first century; the Catholic Church during the Inquisition; the Lutherans, Calvinists and Anglicans during the Reformation; or the Muslims today.   As Titus 1:16 says, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

“But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.” (Mark 13:11)

Rather than planning their defense and, Christians are to simply trust God and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through them.  Trusting the Holy Spirit, Jesus was able to silence both the Pharisees and the Sadducees, while the brilliant lawyer, Clarence Darrow was unable to overcome the Evolutionists in the Scopes Trial.  Human wisdom can never match the Holy Spirit’s power. 

“Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Mark 13:12-13)

Relationships will provide no protection against satanically inspired hatred.  People will betray their own families, knowing it will result in death, just as we see in the honor killings in Muslim society.  Christians will be hated in every society, but those who remain faithful to Christ through the persecution will experience the Salvation he has promised while those who have not truly committed to Christ will fall away to escape the trials.  

Beware Of False Teachers

Mark 13:1-8

“And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (Mark 13:1-2)

The original temple had been built by Solomon about a thousand years before.  That Temple had been destroyed by the Babylonians ant rebuilt about four hundred fifty years before.  Continual fighting with teir neighbors had resulted in the temple being badly damaged so Herod the Great had rebuilt it about fifty years before.  The disciple was simply calling attention to the great construction and that the temple had endure through all the things it had been through.   It could easily last for thousands more years.   Jesus warned that the temple would be destroyed, far beyond what even the Babylonians had done, so that not even a single stone would be left in place. 

Thirty nine years later, the Roman army under Titus would completely dismantle the temple, raze the city, and drive the Jews into exile, in 70 AD.  The nation of Israel would not have a land of their won again until 1948, and the Temple has yet to be rebuilt.  They will be unable to practice the Jewish religion fully until the temple is rebuilt.    

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?” (Mark 13:3-4)

Later that afternoon, as they sat on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the temple, the disciples asked Jesus privately about what he had said about the temple being destroyed.    When would it happen and what signs should they be looking for?  Their questions gave Jesus the opportunity to explain many things about the coming Church Age, which will end with his return and the establishment of his kingdom.    Matthew 24 and Luke 21 record additional details of his teaching on the subject.  Knowing these things would make it far easier for them to stay true to god during the period. 

“And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” (Mark 13:5-6)

The first thing they needed to know was that there would be many who started new religions claiming to be the Messiah or to have some new revelation.  They were to be careful not to go along with these leaders because they would deliberately try to deceive them, and many would be led away.  They were not to follow the popular religious fads, but to stick with the word of God.

“And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.” (Mark 13:7-8)

Many of the false teachers would use prophecies based on the wars and possible wars to excite the people and convince than they were teaching the truth.  Jesus said the wars were a natural part of human existence, as were natural events such as earthquakes, famines, or floods, and Believers were not to see them as special signs of his coming or allow themselves to fall for such teachings.  They were just the natural results of wickedness in the world and hold no special significance.  They are not signs of the times as many have taught.   

Sadly, thousands of false teachers have used these so-called ‘Signs of the Times’ and fear to manipulate people and attain fame and fortune, even getting people to donate their homes and businesses to the leader because they wouldn’t need it when the Lord returned.   Apparently it never dawned on them that the church and leader wouldn’t either if what they were teaching was true.   Many others have lived in constant fear as a result of such teachings.