Unholiness In A Holy Moment | Mark 14:12-25

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today’s shout-out goes to J. Merc Albertson from Macon, GA. Thank you for your generosity and partnership in Project 23. Your faithfulness is helping many see Jesus as their greatest treasure. This one’s for you.

Our text today is Mark 14:12-25:

And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” — Mark 14:12-25

It was the holiest moment of their lives. Passover night. The room is prepared. The meal set. The Lamb of God is sitting at the table. And right in the middle of that sacred space, unholiness was hiding.

Jesus doesn’t name names at first. He simply says, “One of you will betray me.”

And the room shifts. The disciples look around, unsure. They don’t point fingers. They ask a question: “Is it I?” Because something in them knows: There’s sin in the room. And they’re not immune to it.

Jesus knew. He knew who would betray. But he still served. Still reclined at the table. Still broke the bread. Still passed the cup. The tension is thick—this holy moment being invaded by quiet rebellion. And yet, grace is always greater. Jesus doesn’t clear the room. He offers himself anyway. He redefines the bread as his body. He lifts the cup as a symbol of his blood. Poured out for many, even the undeserving and unholy, sitting in the room. Even the ones hiding their sin.

There are times when holiness is happening around us, but sometimes unholiness is hiding inside us. And instead of recognizing our issues and sins, we sit at the table, dumbfounded or altogether disinterested.

But Jesus never shied away. He didn't cancel sacred moments when sin was near. He brought people closer. Not to dismiss sin, but to expose it, deal with it, and redeem it. This holy event wasn’t just about a ritual meal. It was about the man who would become the Lamb and his desire to redeem even the unholiness in Judas, who sat in the room.

That’s grace. Today, Jesus invites us to receive his grace. He knows your unholiness. He calls it out, but he also comes to the table and resolves your known and unknown unholiness.

Are you ready to confess it?

Jesus, thank you for your grace. I don't deserve it. But I receive it. For both my known unholiness and my unknown unholiness. That for inviting me to the table and giving me life through your body and blood. Amen.

#GraceOverSin, #Mark14, #ComeToTheTable

ASK THIS:

1. Why do you think Jesus let Judas stay at the table?
2. What do the disciples' responses teach us about spiritual humility?
3. Are there ways you bring hidden sin into holy moments?
4. How does Jesus’ body and blood speak to the depth of His mercy?

DO THIS:

Before you take communion again, ask: Is there hidden unholiness in me? Confess it. Don't miss the holy because you ignored the hidden.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, thank you for your grace. I don't deserve it. But I receive it. For both my known unholiness and my unknown holiness. That for inviting me to the table and giving me life through your body and blood. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“Gracefully Broken”