Mark 14:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me.

NIV: "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me.

NASB: But He said to them, 'It is one of the twelve, the one who dips bread with Me in the bowl.

CSB: He said to them, "It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me.

NLT: He replied, 'It is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me.

KJV: And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.

NKJV: He answered and said to them, “ It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish.

John adds more detail. Jesus more specifically says, "It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it" (John 13:26). He then gives it to Judas. At that moment, Satan enters Judas, Jesus dismisses Judas, and Judas leaves to coordinate with the priests (John 13:27, 30). Since none of the Gospels record both Judas' exit and the Lord's Supper, it's unlcear if Judas was physically present for the Lord's Supper (Mark 14:22–25). John 13:21–30 suggests that Judas leaves immediately after Jesus gives the warning. Focusing on other details, John doesn't mention the Lord's Supper, so it's impossible to know for sure. The "dip" Jesus uses for the bread is the bitter herbs which are part of the Passover ceremony, not the wine that represents Jesus' blood. If Judas is present for the Lord's Supper, it is further proof that adhering to rituals doesn't save a person's soul.

Even if Judas isn't present for the Lord' Supper, sharing that specific meal with Jesus is still a great personal and cultural betrayal. In Middle Eastern culture, the table is a sacred place. To share a meal with someone is to promise their safety. Judas is so caught in the throes of his own desires that he can't be stopped by cultural custom or personal loyalty. It may be Satan who makes him stand up and walk out the door, but the fact that Judas has followed Jesus for three years and wants to arrange His arrest for money is his sin alone.

And yet, Peter is there. Peter does accept Jesus' bread and wine, and pledges to remain faithful (Mark 14:29–31). He won't, of course. He will sit at Jesus' table and accept the first communion, and hours later deny ever having known Jesus (Mark 14:66–72). His weakness, however, is not the apostasy of Judas. He will be forgiven and restored (John 21:15–19). He will receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4), become a powerful preacher (Acts 2:14–41), and, legend says, be crucified upside-down in devotion to Jesus.

Judas is the definition of an apostate: someone who hears the gospel, understands it to a degree, and categorically rejects it. Peter is every believer: we accept Christ, but must continually return to Him in repentance for our weaknesses. Fortunately, Jesus is always willing to forgive those who ask sincerely.

Mark 14:12–21 depicts the evening of 14 Nisan, when Jesus and the disciples celebrate the Passover. This is an event Jesus has been earnestly looking forward to (Luke 22:15). After the traditional Jewish Passover, Jesus will transition into the new Lord's Supper. He will also identify Judas as His betrayer and dismiss him to coordinate His arrest with the priests (John 13:21–30). The other disciples are still curious as to when Jesus will liberate Israel. This account is also recorded in Matthew 26:17–25 and Luke 22:7–13, 21–23; John goes into great detail about other aspects, particularly about what Jesus teaches, in John 13—17.

Jesus is anointed in a symbolic anticipation of His death. Judas decides to secretly cooperate with local religious leaders to arrest Jesus in secret. During the Passover meal, Jesus predicts His betrayal by Judas, and Peter's denial. He also institutes the Lord's Supper, also known as communion. After praying on the Mount of Olives, Jesus is captured when Judas identifies Him to a hostile mob sent by Jewish authorities. He endures a corrupt, prejudiced trial, ending in a conviction for blasphemy. Peter, fearing for his life, lies about knowing Jesus, before remembering Jesus' prediction and breaking down in sobs.

Jesus has finished His public teaching ministry and now prepares for the crucifixion. His sacrificial loyalty will provide the means by which the disciples' abandonment will be forgiven. Next, the Romans, as representatives of Gentiles throughout history, will join the Jews and kill Jesus. Jesus will be buried, but He will rise again with the promise that His sacrifice will redeem the world. Matthew 26 and Luke 22 follow Mark 14 more closely while John 13:1—18:27 records more of Jesus' teaching in the upper room.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.