Passover is a celebration that started way back in
time, when the children of Israel were freed from the bondage of slavery in Egypt.
They had been slaves for 400 years. God delivered them through ten plagues He
sent over Egypt and their leaders. The last plague broke the Pharaoh’s will and
he let the people go. The last plague was the worst. The first born would die.
All people and animals over the whole county would lose their first born if
they didn’t do what the Lord commanded. Those who believed the Lord, did what
He said. They killed a lamb and took its blood and wiped it on the upper and
sides of the frame of their outside door. The believers roasted the lamb, made
bread quickly without yeast, packed their belongings, ate with their sandals on,
and had their staff in hand ready to flee.
The angel of death flew over every dwelling and if the
blood was on the door the angel passed over it and no harm came. But if there
was no blood, because they didn’t believe, the first born died.
The joyful celebration of Passover over the years, is that
the Lord protected the people and set them free.
Jesus and His disciples like all Jews, celebrated this
special occasion. Jesus sent Peter and John to get the Passover supper ready. The
disciples thought this meal would be like other Passover meals. They didn’t
realize this would be the last one to share with Jesus. Jesus had warned them He
would die but they didn’t understand how soon it would be.
Peter and John and the rest of the disciples sat down
to the meal. The meal most likely
included lamb, bread without yeast (flat and crisp, not fluffy), bitter herbs
and spices, and wine.
Jesus held up the cup of wine, prayed thanking the
Father, and said, “This is my blood which was shed for many. I will no longer
drink from the fruit of the vine until I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Then he picked up some bread, blessed it and broke it, and said, “This is my
body which is given to you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Jesus being God, knew that one of the twelve disciples
would betray him. He knew it was Judas. There at the table, sharing the Passover
meal, Jesus said one of them would betray him. Betray means to trick or deliver
up to someone most likely an enemy.
The disciples didn’t understand the events of this
meal. They were human and boastful. An argument broke out about who would be
the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus listened then replied, “The greatest among
you will be the least and the ruler will be like one who serves.”
Great love flowed through Jesus as He looked at His disciples
and He wanted to show his love for them. He got up from the table and tied a
towel around his waist. He got a bowl of water and took turns washing the
disciple’s feet and drying them with the towel.
In that culture, people walked everywhere. Normally
there would be a servant or one designated to wash the dust and crud off of
people’s feet when they entered the house. The disciples didn’t take time to do
this menial task. The Lord Jesus did. The King of heaven stooped and washed
dirty smelly feet. The disciples let him wash their feet.
Then it was Peter’s turn. “Lord, no. You shouldn’t
wash my feet.”
“Unless I wash you, you have no part of me.”
“Then Lord,” Peter replied, “Wash me completely!”
After He was finished washing their feet, He took the
towel off and sat again at the table. “Do you understand what I have done for
you? You call me Lord and teacher and that is what I am. I washed your feet
being your Lord and teacher. Therefore, you should wash each other’s feet.”
Jesus again referred to the one who would betray Him.
The Disciples asked, “Lord, is it I?”
Jesus took some bread and said, “He who shares my
bread is the one.”
Then Peter elbowed John who was leaning against Jesus.
“Ask Jesus who it is.”
John looked up into Jesus’ face and said, “Lord, who
is it?”
“It is the one whom I dip this bread in the dish and
hand it to him.”
Then Jesus dipped the bread and handed it to Judas. “Do
what you have to do quickly.”
Judas go up from table and went to the Priests and Pharisees
to take money in exchange for Jesus.
The other disciples still didn’t understand why Judas
left.
What can we learn from this last meal?
Everything Jesus did was out of love. Jesus loved His
disciples enough to wash their dirty feet. He loves you and me the same way. He
gave a glimpse into heaven.
All pieces of food and the order in which they are
eaten in the Passover meal represents events and aspects of Jesus’ death,
salvation of mankind, and His resurrection.
Jesus told us through His word, and on that day, that
we were to remember the Lord’s death through a sacrament or special ceremony.
We call that sacrament the Lord’s Supper or Communion. A church sets a special
time where the congregation can remember the Lord’s death. Communion normally
has juice or wine and wafers or unleavened bread which is bread without yeast. The
juice represents Jesus blood that He shed to wash away our sin. The bread represents
His body that died for our penalty of our sin. When Jesus died all the sin of
everyone who ever lived, lives now, or who will be born, was placed on Him. He
took the payment for those sins, so that if we trust Him, we can live in heaven
with Him someday. The passage we should read carefully before we partake of
this special occasion is 1 Corinthians 11:23-34. In that passage is a strong
warning.
At that table, Jesus taught another great lesson. He showed
us by washing their feet. We need to be a servant to those around us. We should
put other’s need ahead of our own. Also, it showed how we need to be washed
clean from our sin. Jesus is the only one who can clean the ugly sin and leave
no trace.
In our next lesson, the events in the garden will
unfold.
Memorize: 1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the
Lord’s death till He comes.
Verses in NKJV unless otherwise stated
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