4. FOR THE Mark 14:12-16 (Matthew 26:1-19; Luke 22:7-13) 12 And on the first day of unleavened bread,-- [On the fourteenth day of the first month all leaven was to be put away from their houses. The lamb for the Passover feast was slain on the fourteenth day of the first month Abib or Nisan in the evening when the sun was setting. The Passover was the most sacred of the annual feasts of the Jews. It commemorated the passing over of the firstborn of the children of Israel when the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain. This feast was observed by Jesus, save one he did not go to, at Jerusalem.] when they sacrificed the passover,--The paschal lamb, which was slain in keeping the Passover. his disciples say unto him,--They were talking about that which had brought them to Jerusalem, the observance of the Passover in the Holy City, and which brought many from the remotest parts of the empire. Where wilt thou that we go and make ready--This question was asked by the disciples, who knew Jesus' custom to observe the requirements of the Jewish law; they, with others, had made a considerable journey to attend this feast, and the time was now at hand. There were some things to be purchased for the feast that would require some time to provide. that thou mayest eat the passover?--They modestly throw themselves in the background, as mere participants, making him the great central figure of the feast. [The lamb was to be prepared--made ready--a place secured where they could do it.] 13 And he sendeth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go into the city,--From Bethany, where they now were, into Jerusalem, where only the paschal supper could be eaten. Peter and John were the two disciples sent. (Luke 22:8.) and there shall meet you a man--No name is given, some think, perhaps, to make the concealment from Judas more complete. We have no means of knowing whether the man they should meet would be an acquaintance or not. He gives the two disciples a sign similar to that which Samuel gave to Saul. (1 Samuel 10:2-7.) bearing a pitcher of water:--The man should be one bearing a pitcher of water. There is no need of imagining more here than the presence of Jesus, by which he knew that the man would thus meet him. The fact here recorded could have been known only by the infinite knowledge of Jesus. follow him;--They were to follow him until he entered the house, where they should then make known their errand. [The making ready was to secure and kill the lamb, provide the wine, the bitter herbs, all the vessels and arrangements, for the unleavened bread, for roasting the lamb--they were required to roast, not boil, the lamb. They are now out at Bethany.] 14 and wheresoever he shall enter in, say to the master of the house,--They were to arrange with the householder--the head of the family, for the feast. The Teacher saith, Where is my guest-chamber,--A chamber of guests or friends--an unoccupied room, the lodging room. where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?--[The householder was no doubt a disciple of the Master, and the probability is that Jesus had let him know that he would eat the Passover at his house, and now the disciples ask to be shown the room where he might eat of it with his disciples. The host most probably, with his family, ate it to themselves in their ordinary eating place. The guestchamber was given up to Jesus and his disciples that they, as a family, might eat it. It was customary in Jerusalem for families to furnish rooms for others who came from a distance to the city to observe the Passover feast. This is probably the same upper room in which they were assembled (Acts 1:26) when Matthias was chosen to take the place of Judas.] 15 And he will himself show you a large upper room--The "upper room" is supposed to be what, in modern Arabic, is called the aliyah. It is frequently a separate room, built on the housetop, affording an airy situation and privacy. furnished and ready: and there make ready for us.--Bread was to be made or bought, broth charoseth, made of fruits, wine provided, the lamb selected, bought, carried to the temple and slain, then roasted, and bitter herbs prepared. There was abundant work for the two men. 16 And the disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them:--Everything happened according to the prediction, as is always the case when Jesus speaks. and they made ready the passover.--Accommodations had to be made for at least thirteen--the twelve apostles and Jesus. [They were in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper. They went forth from this place, came to the city, found the man bearing the pitcher of water, followed him into the house in which he entered, and asked for the guestchamber. It was shown them, and they made ready the Passover.]