Ep. 242. Matthew 26 | Passover and Lord's Supper

EPISODE 242

PASSOVER AND THE LORD'S SUPPER: MATTHEW 26

When reading about the "Last Supper," it would be helpful for us to remember that Jesus is celebrating Passover with his disciples. The significance of this momentous occasion is punctuated by Jesus holding up the bread and the wine, declaring them to be his body and his blood. Jesus is hijacking (in a glorious way) the Passover supper. Remember, the Passover is outlined for us back in Exodus. After the people of Israel had been in Egypt for 430 years, God sent Moses to lead them out. The tenth and final plague God pours out on the Egyptians is the plague of the firstborn, which is where the firstborn of every household was destined to die, along with the firstborn of every animal in the field or stall.

The only way to ensure that your "firstborn" would be spared was to take a lamb into your house, keep it there for four days, and then sacrifice the lamb, painting your doorframe with its blood. Jesus, by declaring the bread and wine as his body and blood, declared himself to be the true Passover lamb. (1 Corinthians 5:7) But Jesus didn't just rescue people from earthly slavery; he rescued people from spiritual slavery to sin and death. In Christ is true deliverance. In Christ people can truly be set free.

In addition to declaring himself the Passover lamb, Jesus's death coincided with the Passover. He is the spotless lamb that takes away the sins of the world. You might remember from our conversation back in Deuteronomy that the festivals (including Passover) all coordinate the work of Jesus, including his death, his ascension, his return, and his Kingdom.

One last thing: can we please quit looking at Peter's denial of Jesus and saying, "See, even Christians sometimes deny Jesus?" Peter was not a "Christian" yet based on what we call "Christians." Jesus hadn't died yet. The power of sin had not yet been broken. Jesus had not been raised from the dead yet. Peter, along with the other disciples, didn't understand Jesus's death or resurrection yet, and Peter certainly didn't have the Holy Spirit yet. Peter, having once received the Holy Spirit, would never again deny knowing Jesus.

ADDITIONAL READING: Zechariah 11:13; Hebrews 7-10; Luke 22:20; Zechariah 13:7; John 2:18-22; Psalm 110