Have you ever wondered about the Passover meal as told by Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:8-30,and Paul over in 1 Corinthians 11: 23-32. Jesus was a Jew and he lived the Law perfectly without sin. This was his third year at least, that he was in ministry, so this would have been his third Passover meal with his disciples. We just read this story with our brains turned off mainly.
Let’s look at some of the clues that these men give us as they write about this Passover that was so very different then they had ever experienced before. The group has just left Bethany and were headed to Jerusalem and the disciples asked Jesus a question about the meal they were going to share.
Jesus tells Peter and John to go into the city and they will see a man with a pitcher of water and they were to follow him to the place where he was taking the water. They tell the master of the home what Jesus told them and he shows them the upper room where they were to prepare the meal. This way only Peter and John knew where they would be.
Jesus and his disciples arrive at evening time and go into the upper room. He starts this night off with a bomb shell- “One of you will betray me this night.” They all become upset and start to talk between themselves and ask the question. Is it me? Jesus then says that with desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
In this particular Passover meal Jesus does several different things than all the other times before when they shared the meal together. He gave it new meaning- “His body and His blood of the New Covenant.” They were dumbfounded as usual by these remark’s made by their teacher and Lord.
When Jesus blessed the bread he was giving praise to God as consecration of his body about to be broken. Also when Jesus gave thanks for the wine it was with the expression of a purpose, which was His blood that was about to be shed for many for the remission of sin and the sealing of a New Covenant to replace the old one.
The bread is still being broken and multiplying, is it not? And the blood is still the New Covenant, removing the sin of all who partake. This meal was very different to the twelve disciples than any previous meal they had ever participated in before.
Jesus was different in how he set the meal up and the things he said. Never before had he said one of you will betray me. Never before had he spoken about this being his body and blood. He also said that this was his last Passover meal with them until they were in his Fathers kingdom.
This is Jesus last evening with his disciples prior to the crucification. I am totally sure they were taken completely by surprise. These were not children, they were grown men who had participated in this Jewish tradition since they were children. No one had ever spoken over the food as he just had.
After the meal was completed Jesus sends Judas out on his mission of treachery. By Jesus sending Peter and John to prepare everything no one knew where they were going to be, especially Judas. After he has left on his mission, the rest just wondered where he was going. Jesus finished the evening with the eleven of them by singing a hymn then they went to the mount of Olives as he was accustomed to staying when the weather permitting.
I know this is different than a normal Easter message but I just wanted you to know how ordinary these men were. They were clueless as to what this evening really meant. The meal was over, and Jesus was following the plan his Father was leading him into. Jesus went through great torment this night of nights for the salvation of mankind. His will was submitted to his Father’s will and of that we are blessed.
You know the storyline as told by these men as they wrote down the things that Holy Spirit instructed them. The mock trial, the cruel beating He endured, the crucification, the burial and the powerful resurrection on Easter morning. He was Alive, and had the keys of death, hell, and the grave. He had won the victory and satan was no longer the ruler of the earth. He has been defeated by the son of God and mankind has been delivered from his control.
Please spend time with friends and family and enjoy this very sacred day as we remember what Jesus has done through His great love for each of us. Show His love to those whom you are going to be with today. Remember you will make it, just don’t give up.
In His Service As Kilted Priest
The Kilted Priest 