Jesus celebrates Passover with His disciples.
· Matthew 26:17-30 (The Last Supper)
Just as they had their entire lives, Jesus and His followers prepare to celebrate the Passover with the traditional Seder meal.
meal that reminded the Israelites of the four hundred years of slavery they endured in Egypt and the freedom they enjoyed through God’s servant Moses.
This meal was a familiar experience for every faithful Jew. However, Jesus would change some things. The unleavened bread recalled the haste with which the Israelites fled Egypt. Now, Jesus says, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body” (Matthew 26:26). This was new. There were also four toasts during the meal. The third cup of wine was known as the cup of redemption. Exodus 6 says, “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt” (Exodus 6:6-7). Here in this upper room in Jerusalem, however, Jesus says the cup was His blood, “…poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many” (Matthew 26:28).
The disciples did not understood why Jesus said what He said but it would soon become clear when He is arrested and put to death.
His body broken and His blood shed for the forgiveness of our sin.