In the Presence of My Enemies
The printed guide is laid out to teach from: a run sheet, a page per section with room for notes, and a one-sheet handout with a kids’ page on the back.
Jesus set his table with his enemy beside him, and gave himself anyway.
Open with it, bring it back after every section, close with it. By the end they should be able to finish the sentence for you.
Mark 6:14-29, Herod's Table — Herod set his table for himself; the LORD prepares his table for you.
Mark 14:27-50, Strike the Shepherd — The Shepherd walked the right path himself, and leads scattered sheep back.
Open
Recall last time (Mark 6:14-29): Herod set his table for himself; the LORD prepares his table for his guest. Today: the next words of Psalm 23:5, “in the presence of my enemies.” Ask: Who would be the hardest person to share a meal with? Read Mark 14:18. Big idea: Jesus set his table with his enemy beside him, and gave himself anyway. Ask one person what stuck from last time.
The run sheet
Enemies Watching
Psalm 23:5
Psalm 23:5 promises safety at the table while enemies are still present.
- The enemies in the psalm do not leave before the meal.
- “In the presence of” is neged: in front of, facing, in full view.
- The first Passover was a table in Pharaoh’s land, kept safe by the blood of the lamb (Exodus 12:13).
“Truly I tell you, one of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.” In Psalm 23:5 the enemies watch; here one sits at the table.
“The one who is dipping his hand into the bowl with Me.” The enemy was that close.
Discuss: Why might it matter that the psalm does not say the enemies go away first?
- Psalm 23:5: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
- Exodus 12:11-13: Israel ate dressed for travel, and the blood was the sign of safety.
- Mark 14:1: the chief priests and scribes were already looking for a way to kill Jesus.
Illustration idea: A family keeping its evening meal together in a house during a storm, the wind loud outside and the table still set.
Listen for:
- The enemies are still there.
- The guest is safe because of the host.
If it drifts: If people start naming their own enemies in detail, bring it back to the psalm: the point is who keeps the guest safe.
The table is set while the enemies watch, and the guest is safe.
Short on time? Drop Mark 14:1. Keep Exodus 12:13.
Bridge → At the Last Supper the enemy was not across the room. He was at the table.
One of You
Mark 14:17-21
The enemy was a friend who shared his bread, and Jesus knew it.
- Jesus says one of the Twelve, eating with him, will betray him.
- Each disciple asks, “Surely not I?”
- It is the one dipping his hand into the bowl with Jesus.
“One of you who is eating with Me will betray Me.”
They began to be grieved and to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I?”
Discuss: Why do you think each disciple asked about himself instead of pointing at someone else?
- v18-20: sharing the bowl was a bond of trust; the betrayal comes from inside it.
- Psalm 41:9: “the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me,” applied to Judas in John 13:18.
- Psalm 55:12-13: “it is not an enemy who insults me... But it is you.”
- v21: “just as it is written” — the betrayal does not take God by surprise.
Illustration idea: A betrayal by a close friend hurts more than an attack by a stranger.
Listen for:
- It was someone close.
- Each one looked at himself.
If it drifts: If the talk becomes a debate about Judas’ fate, return to v19: every disciple asked, “Surely not I?”
The enemy was dipping bread in the same bowl, and Jesus stayed at the table.
Short on time? Drop Psalm 55. Keep Psalm 41:9.
Bridge → Then, with the betrayer still at the table, Jesus took bread.
Bread and Cup
Mark 14:22-26
The Host gave his body and blood in the presence of his enemies, and that is what keeps his guests safe.
- Jesus takes bread, blesses it, breaks it and says, “This is My body.”
- He gives the cup: “My blood of the covenant, poured out for many.”
- They sing a hymn and go out to the Mount of Olives.
“Take it; this is My body.”
“This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”
Discuss: What does it show about Jesus that he gave the bread and the cup to men who would all desert him that night?
- v22-24: the gift is given while the betrayer is within reach (Luke 22:21).
- Romans 5:10: “when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son.”
- “Blood of the covenant” echoes Exodus 24:8.
- The hymn was probably from Psalms 113-118, which include “The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid” (Psalm 118:6).
Illustration idea: A host who sets a place for someone who has wronged him, and serves him first.
Listen for:
- He gave it anyway.
- Enemies can become guests.
If it drifts: If the discussion turns to how different churches celebrate communion, return to v22-24: what Jesus gave, and to whom.
Jesus set his table with his enemy beside him, and gave himself anyway.
Short on time? Drop the hymn note. Keep v24 and Romans 5:10.
Bridge → So hear the psalm line again beside the supper.
Close — never cut it
Read Mark 14:22-24, then Psalm 23:5. The Host gave his body and blood with his enemy at the table. Say together: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
If the last section starts late, read v22-24 and go to the close.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Psalm 23:5
With one friend, over coffee
About 30 minutes · for a friend who is curious, or not sure
- Start with a hard table. Ask: Who would be the hardest person to share a meal with?
- Read the psalm. Read Psalm 23:5: “in the presence of my enemies.”
- Read Mark. Read Mark 14:17-26 together.
- The enemy at the table. Judas dipped in the same bowl, and Jesus still gave the bread and the cup.
- Leave the question. Ask: What does it mean that former enemies can be guests at his table? Leave it with them.
“Did Judas take the bread and cup?”
Mark does not say he left. Luke places Jesus’ words about the betrayer’s hand on the table right after the cup (Luke 22:21). John says Judas went out after Jesus gave him a morsel.
“Why “in the presence of my enemies”?”
The Hebrew neged means in front of, in full view. The psalm promises safety at the table while enemies still look on.
“What is the covenant?”
A binding promise sealed with blood. Jesus echoes Exodus 24:8 and the new covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34.
“What does this mean for me?”
Paul says we were once God’s enemies, reconciled through Christ’s death (Romans 5:10). The table is open to all who come to him.
Evergreen principles
Four standards every week. The rest rotate: each lesson brings the few that fit its passage best.
Make it concrete
Mark gives the posture and the shared bowl.
If you’re new: Show a shallow bowl and describe several people dipping bread into it together.
If you’ve taught for years: Use v18 and v20.
Let the Bible do the talking
Jesus’ words at the table carry the passage.
If you’re new: Read v22 and v24 slowly, twice.
If you’ve taught for years: Let the class hear “My body” and “poured out for many.”
Let the passage land the way it lands
It shows who Jesus is on the night of his betrayal.
If you’re new: End on what he gave, not on a task.
If you’ve taught for years: Leave a moment of silence after v24.
Pray before you prepare
Teaching the Bible is spiritual work first (John 15:5).
If you’re new: Pray for your class by name during the week.
If you’ve taught for years: Pray for the one person you find hardest to reach.
Study the text first
Understand the passage yourself before any help.
If you’re new: Read it in two translations; write your own questions first.
If you’ve taught for years: Don’t lean on old notes. What did you miss last time?
Teach one big idea
People remember one sentence, not four points.
If you’re new: Write it in 12 words or fewer before anything else.
If you’ve taught for years: Test every story against it. If it doesn’t serve it, cut it.
Point to Christ
All of Scripture points to him (Luke 24:27).
If you’re new: Ask: what does this show about Jesus?
If you’ve taught for years: Show grace as the reason for obedience, not just the rule.
Openings & closings
Pick one opening and one close; rotate so class doesn’t get predictable.
ask a real-life question
Who would be the hardest person to share a meal with?
use an object
Set two plates side by side and ask: what if the person at the second plate had already agreed to hand you over?
raise a problem
How can a table be safe when an enemy is sitting at it?
restate the big idea
Jesus set his table with his enemy beside him, and gave himself anyway.
call back to the opening
Return to the hardest person to eat with, and read Mark 14:20 and 14:22 beside it.
pray the text
Thank Jesus for giving his body and blood for people who were once his enemies.
When class gets hard
Someone has been betrayed by a close friend or family member.
Do not rush them to forgive. Jesus knew that pain; Psalm 41:9 and 55:12-13 name it honestly. Point to the Host who stayed at the table.
Someone fears they are like Judas.
Point to v19: every disciple asked “Surely not I?”, all of them deserted him, and he gave them the bread and cup anyway. Whoever comes to him is welcome.
Silence after a question
Wait. Then rephrase simpler, or ask them to talk to a neighbor first.
One person dominates
“Thanks. Let’s hear from someone who hasn’t spoken yet.” Talk privately if it continues.
A question you can’t answer
Say so, write it down, bring an answer next week.
A tangent takes over
“Great question. Let’s catch it after class so we can finish the passage.”
Read this week
- Psalm 41
- Exodus 12:1-14
- Romans 5:6-11
For kids
The printable guide puts this on the back of the handout, with a word search and a secret code.
Jesus shared his meal even with the friend who hurt him.
- Jesus eats a special meal.
- A friend will turn against him.
- Jesus breaks the bread.
- He shares a cup with them.
- They sing a song to God.
- The disciples hearing one would betray Jesus: sad
- The disciples asking, “Surely not I?”: worried
- The disciples sharing bread with Jesus: happy
- The disciples singing together: happy
Memory verse: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Psalm 23:5
Act it out: The children sit around a table or blanket as the disciples. One child is Jesus and says, “One of you will turn against Me,” and each child asks, “Surely not I?” Then Jesus thanks God and shares a snack with every child, one by one.
Draw it: Draw Jesus at the table with his friends, holding bread and a cup, and one bowl in the middle.
Finish the sentence: Jesus shared his bread with ______.