On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
The Passover meal was initiated by God when the Israelites were about to make their exodus from Egypt. The first Passover as described in Exodus 12:3-10 began with the selection of a perfect year old sheep or goat. It was then sacrificed and the blood was spread on the lintel and doorpost of the home so that the angel of death would “Passover” that home and not kill the first born, as God had ordered for all of the first born humans and animals of Egypt. This was the last of the plagues that were used to convince Pharaoh to let God’s people go. The lamb was to be roasted and eaten quickly with unleavened bread. This is probably the only place in the Bible that people were encouraged to eat quickly. The Hebrew people were commanded to remember this seven day festival to honor God who watched over them that night. Israelites in Jesus time and to this day follow the same instruction given to Moses.
This Passover meal was a very special one for Jesus. It was his last one. He revealed that one of the disciples would betray Him, so that He would be handed over to the authorities and crucified. During the Passover meal He took bread, blessed it, and broke it saying, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then later during the meal He took a cup of wine, gave thanks for it, gave it to the disciples and said, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
That was His last meal. We refer to it as “The Last Supper” and continue to remember Him by taking those elements, bread and juice from the vine, knowing that He sacrificed His life for us. One day we will gather around His banquet table and drink from the fruit of the vine with Him at His First Supper in Heaven, just as He promised.
Lord, thank you for being that Passover lamb for us; for sacrificing yourself for our sins. Help us to never betray you in any way.
© 2012
by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights
reserved.
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