Mark 14:17-21 - Jesus Pronounces an Oracle of Woe

Mark 14:17-21
17 When it was evening He *came with the twelve. 18 As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me.” 19 They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?” 20 And He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who dips with Me in the bowl.21 For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

Message: Jesus Pronounces an Oracle of Woe

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - It is Thursday now. Jesus was in Bethany the day before having received the anointing from Mary in the house of Simon the Leper and afterwards Judas had begun to betray Jesus by going to the chief priests and telling them he would take them to Jesus and in exchange Judas would get money - perhaps for himself or for others. Jesus is in preparation for the Passover meal and has two of his disciples go and locate the place and prepare the place for the meal.

The Passover celebration was a joyous one for Jesus and His disciples. When it was evening He *came with the twelve. Jesus has arrived at this guest chamber with his disciples. It was now the evening as the sun is setting. The lamb has spent the afternoon cooking. Judas was back with them, but at this moment not aware of where he was going. As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me.  Jesus really sort of drops a bomb on them of information. In Mark's telling of this event, the washing of the feet is not mentioned. Jesus remarks that one of the disciples will betray Him.

The disciples respond, seemingly unaware of what was going on. The fact that I would suspect Judas must have meant that we don't have the complete story of the events and while Judas questioned Jesus' anointing, perhaps questioning Jesus and what he was doing was not uncommon among the disciples. And him wandering off must have meant that other disciples had wandered off at times. They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?” At this point, it is puzzling in a way that Jesus brings this up. But then also the way the disciples respond almost make it sound like they each must have thought about turning from Jesus at some point. While they may have suspected Judas they may have also suspected themselves. I mean, although our allegiance is toward Christ, how often do we live like it isn't? How often do I turn from him and seek self? And then hope that pleasing self is proper? Maybe each one, in their grief, thinks they have been found out.

Jesus responds with And He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who dips with Me in the bowl. He shows who this person is, that he is one that has up to this point partaken in everything he has been given and provided. But many were eliminated at this point because there were probably just 3 or 4 near Jesus that was using the same bowl as he was. The truth is getting closer to be revealed.

For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” Now this is interesting. Jesus as Son of Man, and therefore, is proclaiming his human quality is to go to die as it is written. He will be sacrificed as it is written. Jesus will achieve the outcome of death. Yet, each person is still responsible for their own sin. This is a difficult concept in itself. Jesus is to die but the person involved in killing him would have been better to not have lived. The latter phrases give the impression that if that person hadn't then Jesus wouldn't have died, but I don't think that is what is being said. Instead Jesus is separating the outcome from the person responsible and saying the person is still responsible. I still think this is a tough statement by Jesus - It good for that man if he had not been born. This then means that the error is in the heart of man and what motivates him. It also speaks to the seriousness of the betrayal because it is very well possible that Judas did many good things in his life up to this point, but his life is going to be marked often by his one act.

As Tabletalk pronounces here on October 20 2016, "The Bible is clear that human beings cannon blame God for their sin even though sin is included in God's predetermined plan for His creation." John Calvin states that "God ordained Judas' betrayal of Jesus, but He did so to achieve the good of our salvation. Judas betrayed Jesus, yet He did not do so because He wanted to see sinners saved but because he loved money more than the Lord." What motivates us?

Summary - Jesus is now at the Passover table and the disciples are eating. Jesus takes a moment though to call out the betrayal of one of the disciples, but he doesn't call out that person, but instead will slowly reveal him over time. In that moment all the disciples feel guilty and each one is in a way responsible, but we know that there is only one for this one issue of betrayal and his life will forever be remembered by that one act.

Promise: God is only about good. Man is intent on pleasing self. The story may appear the same but each one has a different motivation.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the truth of Your word. Your gospel message of redeeming us and setting us free is illuminated even more clearly when we see our own sin. So help me to continue to examine myself so that the Light and Glory of who you are is then praised. Thank you for revealing truth to me and helping me see that Judas and I are responsible for our sin despite that fact that sin is part of your Story. You mean it for good, we mean it for something else, often selfish gain. Thank you for helping me see this. You are to be praised.