Mark 14 15

Mark 14:15 kjv

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

Mark 14:15 nkjv

Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us."

Mark 14:15 niv

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

Mark 14:15 esv

And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us."

Mark 14:15 nlt

He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal."

Mark 14 verses

Mark 14 15 Meaning

Mark 14:15 details Jesus' precise instruction to two of His disciples concerning the location for preparing the Passover meal. The verse describes a large upper room, already prepared and furnished, that a householder will show them. This signifies Jesus' divine foreknowledge and control over circumstances, ensuring a ready and appropriate setting for the institution of the New Covenant meal. The instruction to "prepare for us" marks the disciples' role in the final arrangements, acting upon Christ's divine foresight.

Mark 14 15 Context

Mark chapter 14 begins with plots against Jesus by the chief priests and scribes. Amidst this hostile environment, a woman anoints Jesus with expensive perfume, foreshadowing His burial and setting a tone of devoted worship against a backdrop of betrayal. Judas then conspires to betray Jesus, immediately before the Passover. Jesus’s instruction in Mark 14:13-16 regarding the Passover preparation directly precedes the Last Supper. The verse describes a remarkable scene of divine foreknowledge and hidden arrangement, where Jesus gives specific, almost prophetic, directions for finding the exact location of their final meal together. This takes place as the time of His arrest and passion draws near, emphasizing the divine sovereignty over even the minute details of His final hours.

Mark 14 15 Word analysis

• And he will himself show you (καὶ αὐτὸς ὑμῖν δείξει)

  • καὶ (kai): "And." Connects this instruction to the disciples' earlier question about preparation.
  • αὐτὸς (autos): "He himself." Refers to the "master of the house" (implied from Mk 14:14). The emphasis on "himself" suggests a direct, personal encounter and guidance from the host, likely prompted by Jesus. This host may be a secret disciple or someone obedient to Christ's divine orchestration, highlighting divine intervention in seemingly mundane details.
  • ὑμῖν (hymin): "You (plural)." Refers to the two disciples sent by Jesus.
  • δείξει (deixei): "Will show." From deiknymi, to exhibit, point out. It denotes a clear revelation of the pre-arranged place, rather than the disciples having to search randomly. This demonstrates Jesus' divine foresight and the providential nature of the arrangement.

• a large upper room (ἀνάγαιον μέγα)

  • ἀνάγαιον (anagaion): "Upper room," or "guest chamber." This refers to a dining hall or chamber often located on an upper floor, typically more spacious and private, making it suitable for larger gatherings like a Passover Seder. Such rooms were common in Jerusalem homes for hosting pilgrims during festivals. Its selection suggests the intention for a significant, uninterrupted gathering.
  • μέγα (mega): "Large." The emphasis on "large" indicates the suitability of the space for Jesus and the twelve disciples, potentially also allowing for a more extended or intimate teaching session like the one that followed (Jn 13-17). It contrasts with small, cramped quarters.

• furnished (ἐστρωμένον)

  • ἐστρωμένον (estromenon): "Furnished," "spread with cushions," "ready." From stronnumi, meaning to spread out or lay down, often referring to laying down couches or mats. This implies the room was not just empty, but already prepared with the typical reclining couches or cushions used for dining at a Passover Seder. This detail further stresses the pre-arranged and divinely prepared nature of the location, requiring no effort from the disciples to set up the main furniture.

• and ready (ἕτοιμον)

  • ἕτοιμον (hetoimon): "Ready," "prepared." This word reinforces estromenon. It suggests a state of complete readiness, possibly indicating that basic provisions (e.g., table settings) might also have been arranged, awaiting only the disciples' specific task of preparing the Passover meal items (lamb, unleavened bread, bitter herbs, wine). It speaks to God's meticulous preparation.

• there prepare for us (ἐκεῖ ἑτοιμάσατε ἡμῖν)

  • ἐκεῖ (ekei): "There." Points specifically to the designated upper room.
  • ἑτοιμάσατε (hetoimasate): "You prepare." A second aorist imperative, commanding the disciples to complete the remaining preparations. While the room is "ready," this command tasks the disciples with specific elements of the Passover meal (e.g., bringing the lamb, unleavened bread, wine). It demonstrates their active participation and obedience.
  • ἡμῖν (hemin): "For us." Referring to Jesus and His twelve disciples, for whom the meal is being prepared. It highlights the communal aspect of this final, foundational meal.

• Word-groups Analysis:

  • "He will himself show you... a large upper room furnished and ready": This phrase emphasizes Jesus' sovereign control and foreknowledge. It's a divine appointment and provision. The "showing" indicates divine guidance through a human agent (the master of the house), not random searching. The meticulous description of the room's readiness points to God's hand in preparing the significant location for the Last Supper, an event that would inaugurate the New Covenant.
  • "there prepare for us": This serves as the disciples' final instruction, signaling their obedient role in this divine plan. Despite the room's extensive readiness, they have a crucial part in bringing the traditional Passover elements into being for the meal. It combines divine provision with human responsibility.

Mark 14 15 Bonus section

The anonymous nature of the householder in this account, referred to only by the sign of "a man carrying a jar of water," emphasizes the divine orchestration over the human agent. The master of the house seems to have been either a secret disciple or someone obedient to a pre-arranged divine signal, underscoring the spiritual preparedness of individuals contributing to Christ's mission, often without their names being publicly lauded. This contrasts with Judas's known name and infamous act of betrayal, highlighting the spectrum of human responses to Christ's calling—from secret obedience to overt treachery. The very detail of the room being "furnished" (estromenon), specifically with cushions for reclining, suggests that the atmosphere for this crucial Passover was set to follow traditional Jewish customs for a relaxed and reflective meal, rather than a hurried or improvised one, despite the looming crisis.

Mark 14 15 Commentary

Mark 14:15 vividly portrays Jesus' profound foreknowledge and sovereign control, even over the smallest logistical details concerning His final Passover. Rather than leaving the preparation to chance or a typical booking, Jesus provides an unusually specific, almost coded, instruction. The image of the "man carrying a jar of water" (Mk 14:13) acting as a divinely appointed guide, followed by the revelation of an already "large upper room, furnished and ready," speaks volumes. This room was not just available, but seemingly expecting them, a testament to God's precise and unfailing providence for pivotal moments in redemptive history. It undergirds the divine significance of the upcoming Last Supper, establishing it as a pre-ordained act, not a spur-of-the-moment decision. The disciples' obedience in "preparing" within this ready setting symbolizes the Christian's call to act in faith within God's sovereignly provided circumstances. It shows Jesus is fully in charge, orchestrating His own last meal before His arrest and crucifixion, reinforcing the truth that His passion was a voluntary act within a divine plan.