The Upper Room

 

Rowan, Oran, Linda, and myself were in the cabin on October 17, 2022, studying Acts chapter one and two. Previously we had studied the crucifixion  and resurrection  of Jesus from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,  Now we had come to Pentecost.

And to the upper room.  

12 Then (AC)they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to (AD)the upper room, where they were staying, (AE)Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon (AF)the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these (AG)with one accord (AH)were devoting themselves to prayer, together with (AI)the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and (AJ)his brothers.[c]

Where is the upper room?  It shows up as Jesus instructs the apostles about arranging a place for the Passover Supper on Wednesday.  He told them to follow the man carrying a jar of water.

Mark 14:13

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,

Luke 22:10
He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters
Mark 14:14-16

English Standard Version

14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, (A)‘The Teacher says, Where is (B)my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he will show you (C)a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

The Passover with the Disciple

Matt 26:17 (X)Now on (Y)the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, (Z)‘The Teacher says, (AA)My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

The man carrying the jar of water suggests the Essene community, where the priests were celibate, and did their own works of service.  I have visited the Essene community visitor center at Qumran, and observed their claims about connection with John the Baptist.  Perhaps John had been excluded from the community because he had revealed the secrets of the community to outsiders, as he called all to repentance in preparation for the Kingdom.

http://www.centuryone.org/essene.html

http://theos-sphragis.info/essene_passover_dates.html

The upper room then is a connector between Jesus and the legitimate Aaronic priesthood. Jesus and the apostles observed the Passover as commanded, and was crucified on Thursday by the illegitimate priesthood, dying at 3PM.

8 Isaiah 53 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
    and as for his generation, (P)who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
    stricken for the transgression of my people?