PREPARING THE UPPER ROOM
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: MARK 14:12-17
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
So he sent two of his disciplines, telling them, "Go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."
The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.
PREPARING THE UPPER ROOM
I like to use my imagination to fill in the gaps. This scripture says that the two disciples went to prepare the room. They were disciples, but they were men. Normal humans. I know when we set up tables, for a dinner at church, we talk. I think the disciples talked too. This is what I think their conversation would have been:
"This has been one crazy week. Could you believe what happened when Jesus entered town?"
"Yes, Jesus told us to go find a donkey. He told us where to look and what to say if anyone asked what we were doing. And the donkey and its colt were right there. Just like he said."
"I have never seen a crowd put their cloaks on the ground for a donkey to walk on."
"And tree branches."
"Did you hear what they shouted?"
"Hosanna, to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord! Hosanna in the highest."
"Do you think Jesus has been different this week?"
"How?"
"Reflective sometimes and like he knows what is going to happen. Just like finding the donkey, he told us exactly where to find this room for our meal. And have you ever seen him get as mad as he got at the temple?"
"I say! Stuff sure went flying when he overturned the tables."
"He called it 'His Father's House.' "
"Did you see the look on the chief priests face?"
"Yes, and the teachers of the law too. I am afraid they will be after Jesus even more now. We must keep our eyes and ears open."
"Have you seen Judas?"
"No, I don't know where he is."
"Another thing. Jesus has told us so many parables the last few days."
"I have learned so much, but he could have left out the part about paying taxes to Caesar."
"I agree about the taxes. Sure wish I didn't have to pay taxes."
"Did you see Jesus' face when he was telling us 'to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind'? He was so serious. I felt like he was speaking just to me."
"I was confused when he talked about the temple being rebuilt in three days. I thought I understood what Jesus was trying to teach us until then."
"Maybe, this evening, we can ask him to explain about the temple being rebuilt."
"What about when the woman poured the expensive perfume on his head? He sure set us straight on that. But why would she have been preparing him for burial now?"
"Is that everything? Are we ready for the Passover meal?"
(Judas comes in)
"Oh, Judas. Where have you been?"
Judas replied, "I. I. I had some business to take care of."
"I think we are ready. Let us go and find Jesus so we can come into this room with him."
"I have a feeling this is going to be a very important evening with Jesus."
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
Does this sound like what might have been discussed during the preparing of the Upper Room? A lot happened between Palm Sunday and the Last Supper. Would you have had questions? Would you have wondered what was going to happen? What would you have asked Jesus to explain that night? Would you have understood why he was washing your feet? Giving you the bread? And the cup?
Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.
LET US PRAY
My Jesus, How you must have felt during that Last Supper. Thinking about all that had happened - Hearing Hosanna. Clearing your Father's house. Trying to open the eyes of the disciples so they would understand. And all the time knowing that the cross was ahead of you. All the time prepared to do your Father's will. Dear Jesus, give me a tenth of that loyalty and dedication to my Father's will. And when I go to the garden to pray, let my Spirit say, "Thy will be done." ………………………………… Amen
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: MARK 14:12-17
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
So he sent two of his disciplines, telling them, "Go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."
The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.
PREPARING THE UPPER ROOM
I like to use my imagination to fill in the gaps. This scripture says that the two disciples went to prepare the room. They were disciples, but they were men. Normal humans. I know when we set up tables, for a dinner at church, we talk. I think the disciples talked too. This is what I think their conversation would have been:
"This has been one crazy week. Could you believe what happened when Jesus entered town?"
"Yes, Jesus told us to go find a donkey. He told us where to look and what to say if anyone asked what we were doing. And the donkey and its colt were right there. Just like he said."
"I have never seen a crowd put their cloaks on the ground for a donkey to walk on."
"And tree branches."
"Did you hear what they shouted?"
"Hosanna, to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord! Hosanna in the highest."
"Do you think Jesus has been different this week?"
"How?"
"Reflective sometimes and like he knows what is going to happen. Just like finding the donkey, he told us exactly where to find this room for our meal. And have you ever seen him get as mad as he got at the temple?"
"I say! Stuff sure went flying when he overturned the tables."
"He called it 'His Father's House.' "
"Did you see the look on the chief priests face?"
"Yes, and the teachers of the law too. I am afraid they will be after Jesus even more now. We must keep our eyes and ears open."
"Have you seen Judas?"
"No, I don't know where he is."
"Another thing. Jesus has told us so many parables the last few days."
"I have learned so much, but he could have left out the part about paying taxes to Caesar."
"I agree about the taxes. Sure wish I didn't have to pay taxes."
"Did you see Jesus' face when he was telling us 'to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind'? He was so serious. I felt like he was speaking just to me."
"I was confused when he talked about the temple being rebuilt in three days. I thought I understood what Jesus was trying to teach us until then."
"Maybe, this evening, we can ask him to explain about the temple being rebuilt."
"What about when the woman poured the expensive perfume on his head? He sure set us straight on that. But why would she have been preparing him for burial now?"
"Is that everything? Are we ready for the Passover meal?"
(Judas comes in)
"Oh, Judas. Where have you been?"
Judas replied, "I. I. I had some business to take care of."
"I think we are ready. Let us go and find Jesus so we can come into this room with him."
"I have a feeling this is going to be a very important evening with Jesus."
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
Does this sound like what might have been discussed during the preparing of the Upper Room? A lot happened between Palm Sunday and the Last Supper. Would you have had questions? Would you have wondered what was going to happen? What would you have asked Jesus to explain that night? Would you have understood why he was washing your feet? Giving you the bread? And the cup?
Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.
LET US PRAY
My Jesus, How you must have felt during that Last Supper. Thinking about all that had happened - Hearing Hosanna. Clearing your Father's house. Trying to open the eyes of the disciples so they would understand. And all the time knowing that the cross was ahead of you. All the time prepared to do your Father's will. Dear Jesus, give me a tenth of that loyalty and dedication to my Father's will. And when I go to the garden to pray, let my Spirit say, "Thy will be done." ………………………………… Amen
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