Ver. 15.—And he will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready. He himself, that is, the goodman of the house; perhaps John Mark. This upper room was furnished and ready (éorpwpeévov eroipov); furnished, that is, with table and couches and tapestry, and in all respects ready for the purpose.
Ver. 16.—And they made ready the pass- over. This would consist in obtaining the Paschal lamb, and taking it to the temple to be sacrificed by the priests. It would
232
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [cw xiv. 172.
then be brought to the house to be cooked ; and the unleavened bread, the bitter herbs, and the wine would have to be provided, and the water for purification. After all these preparations had been made, the two dis- ciples would return to their Master.
Ver. 17.—And when it was evening he cometh with the twelve. It was in the evening that the lamb was to be eaten. Peter and John having returned from their
reparation, the twelve (including Judas
riot) all went back with their Master te Jerusalem.
Ver. 18.—Verily I say unto you, One of you shall betray me, even he that cateth @ith moe (6 éoblwy wet’ éuod). Much had doubtless happened before our Lord said this; but St. Mark only records the im-
rtant circumstances. These words of our
rd were uttered with great solemnity. The presence of the traitor was a burden upon his spirit, and cast a gloom over this usually joyous festival, A question here arises whether Judas remained to partake of the Holy Communion when our Lord instituted it. The greater number of the Fathers, and amongst them Origen, St. Cyril, St. Chrysostom, St. Augustine, and Bede, consider that he was present; and Diony- gius says that our Lord’s words to him, “That thou doest, do quickly,” were intended to separate him from the rest of the twelve as one who had partaken unworthily; and that then it was that Satan entered into him, and impelled him onwards to this terrible sin.
Ver. 19.—They began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Isit It The disciples were naturally disposed to be joy- ful at thie great festival. But their Master’s sorrow and his words, and the solemnity with which they were uttered, cast a shadow over the whole company; and the disciples began to be sorrowful. The words, “ And another said, Is it 1?” are omitted by the best authorities.
Ver. 20.—And he said unto them, It is one of the twelve, he that dippeth with me in the dish. St. Mark here uses the present participle (6 éuSarrduevos), bringing the action close to the time when he was speak- ing. St. Matthew (xxvi. 23) has (6 éuBdpas) “he that dipped his hand,” using the aorist form. St. Mark’s form is the more graphic. The dish probably contained a sauce called sharoseth, into which they dipped their food defore eating it. The following appears to have been the order of the events :—First, our Lord, before he instituted the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, foretold that he would be betrayed by one of his disciples ; but only in general terms. Then came the eager question from them, “Is itl?” Then Christ answered that the traitor was he who
should dip his hand together with him in the dish. But this did not bring it home to the individual, because several who sat near to him were able to dip with him im the dish. 8o that our Lord had as yet only obscurely and indefinitely pointed out the traitor. Then he proceeded to institute ‘‘the Lord’s Supper ;” after which he again intimated (Luke xxii. 21) that “ the hand of him that betrayed him was with him on the table.” Upon this, St. Peter hinted to St. John, who was “reclining in Jesus’ bosom,” that he should ask him to say definitely and by name who it was that should betra him. Our Lord then said to St. John, “
it is, for whom I shall dip the sop, and give it him” (John xiii. 26). Our Lord then dipped the sop, and gave it to Judas Iscariot. Then it was that our Lord said to Judas, “That thou doest, do quickly” (8 roicis, rolngov tdx.ov) (John xiii 27). Then Judas went straightway to the house of Caiaphas, and procured the band of men and officers for the completion of his horrible design.
Ver. 21.—For the 5on of man goeth (Srdye:)—goeth, departeth from thie mortal scene : reference is, of course, to his death—even as it is written of him; as, for example, in Ps. xxii. and Isa. xli. It was foreordained by God that he was to suffer as a victim for the sins of the whole world. But this predestined purpose of God did not make the guilt any the less of those who brought the Saviour to his cross. Good were it for that man if he had not been born, The Greek is caddy jy airé, ei ovK eyerviOn 6 &vOpwros éxeivos: literally, good were it for him, tf that man had not been born. Better not to have lived at all than to have lived and died ill, Existence is no blessing, but a curse, to him who con- sciously and wilfully defeats the purpose of his existence. St. Matthew (xxvi. 25) here introduces Judas as asking the question, “Ts it I, Rabbi?” And our Lord answers him affirmatively, “Thou hast said.” This was probably said in a low voice. Had it been said so as to be heard by others, such as Peter and John, they might have rieen at once to inflict summary vengeance upon the apostate traitor.
Ver. 22.—The last clause of this verse should be read thus: Take ye: this is my body (AdBere? tovTé éott 7) ceud mod). The in- stitution of this Holy Sacrament took place at the close of the Paschal supper, but while they were yetat the table. The bread which our Lord took would most likely be un- leavened bread. But this does not surely constitute a reason why unleavened bread should be used ordinarily in the celebration of the Holy Communion. The direction of the Prayer-book of the English Church is
wise practical, “It shall suffice that the
oa. x1v. 1—72.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK.
Bread be such as is usual to be eaten.” This ts my body ; that is, sacramentally. St. Augustine (‘Sermo.,’ 272) says, “ How is the bread his body? and the cup, or that which the cup contains, how is that his blood? These are, therefore, called sacraments, be- eause in them one thing is seen while another thing is understood” (quoted by Dr. Morison, p. 392).
Ver. 23.—And he took a cup. There is no definite article either here or in St.
- Matthew.
Ver. 24.—This is my blood of the cove- nant. There is not sufficient authority for the retaining of the word “new” («awjs) in the text.