Day 38 – Lenten Devotional

Jesus Last Supper, Fulfillment of the Passover

Jesus has been with His disciples for over three years. They have walked thousands of miles together, shared life together, witnessed and sometimes participated in His many miracles, were taught the most treasured theology from the Living Word Himself who also taught them to pray, saw the scorn some had for Jesus, saw the love others had and the love He had for others and them, they were a close band of men and women who had the marvelous opportunity and privilege of having a living relationship with the Son of God! Although they heard Jesus speak of what was to come they still did not understand the game changing events that would soon take place to change the course of Human history with the Living God!

Jesus knew what was about to happen and before the betrayal, trial, beating, scourging, death sentence, crucifixion, burial, He greatly desired to have a last intimate meal with them. This meal was not just any meal, it was a Passover meal. We remember the Passover of the angel of death on houses who had the blood of the lamb on their lintel and doorposts written about by Moses in Exodus 12. God commanded that day to be remembered by the Hebrews every year and for over a thousand years and during the time of Jesus His command was celebrated with a small group of disciples in a small upper room.

The Passover meal was and still is celebrated by Jews today, but the Passover meal of Jesus and His disciples changed this remembrance forever for believers in the Messiah. During the meal’s ritual Jesus changed the centuries old traditional liturgy. He added new meaning to the unleavened bread! Jesus said, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In a second unprecedented addition Jesus added new significance to the wine saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Jesus forever changed the meaning of the Passover! He was in effect saying, “I am the Passover Lamb. It is My body that will be given for you to conquer death itself and give you new life. It is My blood that will be spread over the door of your life so that you may escape the wrath of God and be forgiven of your sins. I am giving you a New Covenant…born again, Spirit filled, new life as children of the Living God!”

What a fantastic gift Jesus gave His disciples in that Passover meal 2,000 years ago. The New Covenant of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper fulfilled the Old Testament Passover, giving the Passover celebration new significance, meaning, and the fullest expression! Jesus is our lamb of redemption. We remember His body and blood sacrificed for us.

REFLECT: Think about Passover and the new meaning given by Jesus. His disciples knew very well that something changed and they would soon come to know the truth of Jesus words.

REPENT:  Change your ways. Consider deeply the sacrament Jesus instituted during that Passover meal and what it truly means.

RESTORE:  When you receive the bread and fruit of the vine do not take the sacrament as some rote tradition. Receive the elements with renewed understanding of our Christ, our Passover Lamb, who freed you from sin and death, and brought you into the family of God!

1 Corinthians 5:7-8  ⁷ Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast–as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. ⁸ Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

Blessings,
Pastor Tom Bellhy