Mark 14:25 Commentary and Bible Study

Christ and his disciples enjoyed this passover meal together. He drank and they drank of the fruit of the vine. But what he has just drunk, he will drink no more. His disciples will take the cup of the new testament – the fruit of the vine – and to them it will symbolise his blood shed for them and for many, but he will drink it no more. Why not? Because to do so would have been to feast without his people present. All that he was doing was to bring them to be with him in glory, and he would exercise this self-restraint in recognition that the entirety of his chosen people have not yet been gathered in. It is his pledge to them that, although he is leaving them and going ahead to glory, he will not forget them or fail to bring them to where he is. It was an expression of his work would be complete only when they could sit down and eat together with earth’s trials behind them all. Once all the elect are gathered in, then he will end this self-discipline and enjoy with them the fruit of the vine in celebration of the salvation of every single one of his people. By then also, his people will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine in the way that he is now telling them to do. That could well be meant figuratively; they will celebrate together. They will not be looking forward to the future kingdom to come and remembering his death on Calvary; they will instead be in that kingdom and enjoying it as a present reality. They will be with their Lord. They will be able to celebrate freely together.