Mark 14:12-16 12And on the first day of the feat of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us that in going we may prepare so that you may 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 master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; and there prepare for us.” 16And the disciples went out and entered the city and found it just as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
This story records the second time Jesus gave specific directions about what the disciples could do in preparation for him to enter Jerusalem (the first time is found in 11:1-3 and the Triumphal Entry). Like the previous episode, Jesus again sends two disciples. Having two go provided a witness to the event and support for the journey. The story shows Jesus’ control and knowledge of the situation. Although he would be facing the cross in a few days, he went willingly as the sovereign “King of the Jews” and not as a martyred victim tossed about by the whims of people.
The feast of Unleavened Bread began with the Passover meal. Mark mentions specifically the Passover lamb, which carries much implication in the gospel story since Jesus would become the final Passover lamb for Christians (1 Corinthians 5:7). The disciples knew that preparation needed to be made, but as guests of the city, they had no place to go. Jesus had become famous by this point, so there may have been offers to host him and his disciples. The disciples were concerned about the traditions and likely did not see the significance of Jesus in the context of this event. Only after Pentecost, when they had time to reflect on the whole story, would they begin to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
Jesus gives very specific directions of what to do, similar to the Triumphal entry. Many Jews interpreted Deuteronomy 16:5-8 to mean that the special Passover lamb was to be sacrificed in Jerusalem, where God’s name dwelled in the temple, which caused the city to be packed with people. Many men could have been carrying a water jug. The man could have been a servant or part of the family of the house. When he got home with the water, the disciples were to follow him in and talk to the master of the house. One amazing point of the story is that the master of the house knew the identity of the Teacher.
Jesus’ directions are amazingly clear, and the disciples find the situation just as he said. The master of the house had a large upper room already furnished and ready for this type of meal. The room had to be big enough for Jesus and his twelve apostles. The room’s size and furnishings suggest that the owner was wealthy. One hundred and twenty disciples later meet in an “upper room,” waiting on the Holy Spirit to come as Jesus promised (Acts 1:13). The two rooms could have been the same place, or at least similar. This experience was a powerful lesson and confirmation to the two disciples of Jesus’ power and authority. Yet, in just a few hours, all the disciples, including the two who went on this special mission, would flee in fear. They would experience emotional highs and lows that would shake their faith and transform their lives.
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