It was part of a meal. It was no celebration. It was no sacrifice, bloody or unbloody. It was simply a commemorative ceremony, of which he would now give them a specimen even before it became commemorative. “As they did eat, Jesus took bread.” No seeking for consecrated wafers or some special food, but such bread as they had been eating. “Blessed” — thanking God for it. “And break it and gave it to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.”
Mark 14:23-24. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
There was no fear of their making the mistake, which had been made by Humanists, of taking these words literally, because Jesus Christ was sitting there. They could not imagine that, as he took bread, he would say literally, “This bread is my body.” Why, there was his body sitting there before them. Had he two bodies? When he gave them the cup and said, “This is my blood in the new covenant,” they never dreamt of such a thing as that the wine in the cup was really and literally his blood. His blood was in his veins. They saw him living there, not bleeding. No, it is an extraordinary thing that men who have the life of God in them, and have some spiritual discernment, have, nevertheless, in some instances, been found driving their faith into the belief of the absurd fable of transubstantiation. Jesus Christ means “This represents my body. This represents my blood” — the usual way of uttering such a sense both in the Old and New Testament, even as Christ said, “I am the door.” Yet nobody thought that he was a door. “I am the way.” Nobody thought he was a roadway. “I am the shepherd,” and yet nobody supposed that he carried a crook, and that he literally kept sheep. So says he, “This is my body, this is my blood” and they who sat there were in their senses, and they were not superstitious. They knew what he meant.
Mark 14:25-26. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
I cannot resist repeating the remark I have often made about that singing of a hymn. It seems to me such a grand, brave thing for the Saviour to sing a hymn after the last meal that he would eat with his disciples before his death when he knew that he was going forth to all the torture of Pilate’s hall, and to death at Calvary. Yet he says, “Let us sing a hymn.” He chose a Psalm of David, and, I dare say, himself pitched a tune. “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the Mount of Olives.”
Mark 14:27. And Jesus saith unto them,
As they walked along.
Mark 14:27-28. All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
What sweet comfort was there — as much as to say, “Though you are scattered, I will gather you. Though you forsake me, I will not forsake you. I will go before you into our old haunts, into that Galilee of the Gentiles where I was wont to preach aforetime. I will go before you into Galilee.”
Mark 14:29-30. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this day, even in this night,
The day begins at sunset.
Mark 14:30-31. Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice, But he spake the more vehemently, if I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
So Peter was not alone in his intense, though rash expression of attachment. They did mean, all of them, to stand to their Master, and to die with him, as you and I mean to. But shall we carry it out better than they, think you? Not if our resolve, like theirs, is made in our own strength.
Mark 14:32. And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane:
The garden on the side of the hill of Olivet.
Mark 14:32. And he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
Eight of you keep watching at the garden gate to let me know when my betrayer comes.
Mark 14:33. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
They had not seen him in that state before. He seemed like one distracted, so amazed — like one astonished out of all composure unable to collect himself or to contain himself, and to be very heavy, as if an awful weight pressed on his soul.
Mark 14:34. And saith unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
These three were to make his closest bodyguard, to intimate to him if any came.
Mark 14:35. And he went forward a little,
A stone’s cast, so as to be retired from them.
Mark 14:35-36. And fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
That was the point of the prayer, the very pith and marrow of it not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Mark 14:37. And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping.
Three choice guards — his bosom companions.
Mark 14:37. And saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
Matthew and Luke tell us that he said “Could ye not watch with me one hour?” and Mark tells us here that he especially said that to Peter. Now remember that Mark is the gospel of Peter. No doubt Mark was the great friend of Peter, and writes his gospel from Peter’s point, so Peter in the Gospel of Mark records the worst things about himself, and he just puts it here that the Master said, “Simon, sleepest thou?” Bad enough for the others to be asleep, but “Simon, sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch one hour?”
Mark 14:38. Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
Oh! that was a kind excuse to make for them — to say something good about them, even though they slept when they ought to have comforted him. He did see that their spirit was ready, but the flesh was weak.
Mark 14:39-40. And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy), neither wist they what to answer him.
How could they excuse their conduct? A second time asleep! They were in a muddled state.
Mark 14:41. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
This exposition consisted of readings from 2 Samuel 15:13-23; Isaiah 61.; Mark 14:22-41.