Mark 14:10-25
The disciples asked the Lord Jesus where He wished them to prepare the passover supper which was not to be eaten in the Temple, but in the homes. They had no homes in Jerusalem, but Jesus knew where they could have a room. He told two of 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 (owner) of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with My disciples? And he shall show you a large upper room furnished... there make ready for us.”
The two disciples were so directed that they could not make a mistake. The man with the pitcher of water met them, and led them directly to the “upper room” where our Lord knew they would find all that was needed for the solemn meal.
This was not what we would call a “feast,” but to remember that God had saved their nation from death in Egypt, and to rejoice and thank Him. It was to praise God that they sang a hymn (or psalm) that evening before they left (Deut. 12:7,12).
That same night Jesus showed the disciples to keep a new “feast”: He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave to them to eat; then He gave thanks also for the cup, in which was the “fruit” (juice) of the grape vine, and gave them to drink.
This was a most simple “feast,” told of in few words, yet to be done to remember the greatest of all events, the Lord Jesus giving His body in death, and His blood, not as the passover for one nation, but to save the souls of men, women, boys, and girls, of every nation who will believe in Him.
We may wonder that the Lord’s directions to find the place to keep the “feast” are so fully written: how can anyone now be helped by hearing of the man with a pitcher of water whom the disciples followed?
We find God’s Word is called “water” (Eph. 5:26); it is to our souls, what water is to our bodies. It tells of God’s salvation and of all His way for His people. Yet they could not understand it without the Holy Spirit. Jesus said,
“When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.” John 16:13.
From this it seems meant that the guide of the disciples, the man with the pitcher of water, was as a picture of the Spirit, with the words of God, Who guides those who follow Him to the right place to honor the Lord Jesus. It is meant for those who love Him to still keep the simple “feast,” as later written of (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:26).
ML 07/23/1944