Page 7 - July 2025 - Truth & Tidings

First, He said, “Verily I say unto you, The Presentation of the
One of you which eateth with me shall be- Supper (vv22-25)
tray me” (v18). The shock of these words
caused consternation among the disciples. When Judas had gone and the eleven re-
To eat with someone was a sign of fellow- mained (Joh 13:30-31), the Lord instituted
ship. Psalm 41 aptly expresses how con- His supper. Taking the bread, He blessed
temptible this treachery was: “Yea, mine and broke it, and “gave to them, and said,
own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Take, eat: this is my body” (v22). And tak-
which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up ing the cup, He gave thanks and “gave it
his heel against me” (v9). The disciples to them” saying, “This is my blood of the
“began to be sorrowful, and to say unto new testament, which is shed for many”
him one by one, Is it I?” (Mar 14:19). Their (vv23-24).
questions show a profound awareness of The bread symbolised His body; the
their own weakness, which contrasts with cup, His blood. Aware that He would
later self-confidence (vv26-31). For eleven soon bear “our sins in his own body on the
of the twelve, this was an honest enquiry, tree” (1Pe 2:24) and shed His blood for sin-
and, as F.B. Meyer notes, “Those whose ners, the Lord provided simple symbols
hearts misgive them are not likely to com- designed to call Him to remembrance and
mit the deed of treachery.” But for Judas, to proclaim His death “till he come” (1Co
who joined in the chorus, it was the final 11:23-26).
closing of the door upon repentance. The
Lord restated His prediction so that there He concluded the Supper with a two-
could be no doubt: “one of the twelve, that fold promise: “I will drink no more of
dippeth with me in the dish” (v20). the fruit of the vine, until that day that I
Second, “The Son of man indeed goeth, drink it new in the kingdom of God” (Mar
as it is written of him” (v21). Nothing 14:25). He would never again, prior to the
would stop the ultimate fulfilment of ev- setting up of the Kingdom, drink wine.
ery Old Testament prophecy concerning These words constitute a farewell to His
the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus. disciples. He is determined to accomplish
He would be “delivered by the determi- the suffering He has long predicted. But
nate counsel and foreknowledge of God” He will “drink it new in the kingdom.”
(Act 2:23). They would fulfil all “that was This conveys the hope of resurrection, es-
written of him” (13:29). sential to the fulfilment of all God’s plans
Third, the Lord added, “Woe to that for His kingdom.
man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! The Lord’s anticipation and acceptance
Good were it for that man if he had never of His destiny of suffering are seen in His
been born” (Mar 14:21). Judas’ involve- arrangements for the Passover meal, His
ment in the Lord’s betrayal was the result exposure of the betrayer, and His institu-
of his own wilful choices, and he would tion of the Supper. Such wisdom and full
receive the punishment he deserved. The submission to God’s will show again the
Lord would later describe him as the “son features of the perfect Servant (Isa 52:13;
of perdition” (Joh 17:12). 53:7).

199
TruthandTidings.com I July 2025 199