Mark 14:15

And he will shew you a large upper room furnished [and] prepared: there make ready for us.

And {G2532} he {G846} will shew {G1166} you {G5213} a large {G3173} upper room {G508} furnished {G4766} and prepared {G2092}: there {G1563} make ready {G2090} for us {G2254}.

He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations there."

And he will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

And he will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready: and there make ready for us.

Commentary

Mark 14:15 reveals Jesus' precise instructions to His disciples for preparing the Passover meal, which would become the Last Supper. This verse highlights Jesus' divine foreknowledge and the meticulous planning behind one of the most significant events in Christian history.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' detailed instructions to his disciples regarding the preparation for the Passover meal, which would become known as the Last Supper. The disciples had asked Jesus where they should go to prepare for the Passover, and Jesus responded with specific, almost cryptic, directions. He told them to follow a man carrying a pitcher of water into a house, and then to speak to the master of that house. This specific instruction, found also in parallel accounts like Luke 22:10, demonstrates Jesus' divine omniscience and His sovereign control over the events leading up to His crucifixion. The "upper room" (Greek: anagaion) was typically a large, often private, chamber on the second floor, ideal for a significant gathering like the Passover feast.

Key Themes

  • Divine Providence and Foreknowledge: Jesus knew precisely where and how the Passover meal would be prepared. His detailed instructions reveal His complete control over circumstances, demonstrating His divine nature and the fulfillment of God's plan.
  • Preparation for Sacred Moments: The emphasis on a "large upper room furnished and prepared" underscores the importance of setting aside a suitable and dedicated space for sacred encounters. This prefigures the reverence due to the institution of the Lord's Supper.
  • Obedience and Trust: The disciples' willingness to follow Jesus' unusual and specific instructions without question exemplifies their trust and obedience. Their simple compliance allowed God's plan to unfold as intended.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "upper room" is anagaion (ἀνάγαιον), referring to an upstairs room, often used for dining or special gatherings. The description "furnished and prepared" comes from the Greek estrōmenon hetoimon (ἐστρωμένον ἕτοιμον). Estrōmenon implies it was "spread" or "furnished" with couches or cushions for reclining, as was customary for meals in that culture. Hetoimon means "ready" or "prepared," indicating it was perfectly set up for their immediate use, without needing further arrangements by the disciples. This highlights the host's anticipation and readiness, perhaps divinely orchestrated.

Practical Application

Mark 14:15 reminds us that God is actively involved in the details of our lives. Just as Jesus had a specific place prepared for His disciples, God often prepares circumstances, opportunities, and provisions for us. This verse encourages us to:

  1. Trust God's Guidance: Even when His instructions seem unconventional, obedience leads to participation in His greater plan.
  2. Value Sacred Space: The preparation of the upper room teaches us the importance of creating or seeking out dedicated spaces, whether physical or spiritual, for prayer, worship, and communion with God, like the Lord's Supper.
  3. Recognize God's Provision: God often goes ahead of us, preparing the way and providing what we need before we even ask, demonstrating His faithful care.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 1:13

    And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas [the brother] of James.

  • Acts 20:8

    And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

  • John 2:24

    But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all [men],

  • John 2:25

    And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

  • Proverbs 16:1

    ¶ The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [is] from the LORD.

  • Psalms 110:3

    Thy people [shall be] willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

  • 2 Chronicles 6:30

    Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)
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