Mark 14:13 Commentary and Bible Study

The two disciples are Peter and John, Luke tells us. They are told, ‘Go ye into the city [Jerusalem] and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water’. That would be unusual. Normally it was the women who bore on their heads the pitchers of water, so it's going to be a conspicuous sign. It was a man bearing such a pitcher of water, and he would almost run into them, according to Mark. Follow him where he goes, and he will go to a house. It will be a large house evidently. We see the omniscience of the Lord; he has divine knowledge of future events. ‘And wherever he shall go in, say ye to the good man of the house [the householder], The Master saith’ – this man is clearly a disciple of Christ, for he regards Christ as his Master and recognises his unquestionable right to use whatever he asks for. The room has been furnished and prepared for a passover meal. This does not seem to be by prearrangement with the Lord, as if there had been some private meeting, not recorded here. It seems rather that the owner has a room ready and now finds that Christ requests it for his use. Matthew adds that the message to be passed to the owner included the words, ‘My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.’ Christ was of course referring to Calvary, and this is said to emphasise to the owner of the room the importance of making it available. He immediately complies. Surely the man was overwhelmed with a sense of honour that Christ would use his guest chamber. There is further preparation to do and the disciples get ready for the meal.