Passover and the Lord’s Supper, Part One

The celebration of Passover by Jesus and his disciples as described in Matthew 26:17-30 is extremely significant. Why? Because during this Passover meal, the Lord Jesus Christ put to an end to all Passover celebration for all time, and instituted another celebration, the Lord’s Supper. Therefore, this text speaks about Christ’s celebration of the last Passover.

Jesus had come with his disciples from Galilee to Jerusalem to participate in this annual festival. Throughout his life he had done this many times, but this was the most significant Passover of his life. Why? It was the last Passover he would celebrate before he died on the cross as God’s Passover victim, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus intensely desired to eat this Passover with his disciples before he suffered (Luke 22:15). In John 13 we are told that by eating this meal with the disciples Jesus was showing them how much he loved them. As Paul said in Ephesians 5:25, Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.

The Background of Passover

We find the background of the feast of Passover in Exodus 12. Passover memorialized God’s deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage. The heart of the deliverance was in selecting a perfect animal, one without defect, according to prescription, and slaughtering it at twilight on the fourteenth day of Nisan, between three and six p.m. After collecting the blood, the people used a bunch of hyssop to apply the blood to the top and sides of the doorframes of their houses. Then they stayed inside and ate the roasted lamb along with bitter herbs. That same night the Lord went through the land of Egypt and struck down every firstborn. But when he saw the blood on the top and sides of the door frame of every Israelite house, he passed over that house and did not permit the destroyer to kill the firstborn of that family.

In Exodus 12:24-27 we read, “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. When you enter the land the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.'”

A Greater Deliverance

Thus, the heart of Passover was substitutionary atonement. By the violent death of another, the firstborn was spared. The yearly Passover celebration commemorated God’s physical deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. However, Passover was pointing to a much greater deliverance that would be brought about by the death of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord–the deliverance of his people from their bondage to sin, Satan, and death. The Passover lamb without defect pointed to Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God who knew no sin. In his incarnation and death Jesus became sin for us.

In John 1:29, John the Baptist introduced Jesus to his people: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” What is the problem of all human beings in the world? They are in slavery to sin. Jesus himself spoke about human slavery. When the Pharisees protested before Jesus and said they had never been slaves to anyone, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:33-34). The question is: Do we sin? Sin is the human problem, isn’t it? When we put away all pretension and cover-ups, the truth is that we sin and we are slaves to sin. And no human being or human agency can deliver us from the slavery to sin. Remember that Jesus said, “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin”? The Bible clearly says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), and therefore, all are slaves to sin. There has never been a human being who is perfect and blameless, so God sent his own Son to be a sin offering. Why? Jesus alone is without sin. He is the Passover Lamb without defect, by whose death we are spared. He alone is the servant of the Lord, the suffering servant that we read about in Isaiah 53.

So this Passover was the most significant one in history. It would end all Passovers and fulfill what all previous Passovers pointed to–the deliverance of the people of God from slavery to sin, death, and hell. By his death Jesus Christ would deliver his people, and soon afterwards St. Paul could write, “For Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7). No longer would God require the slaughter of thousands of animals. Think of all the blood of these animals being poured upon the altar! But Jesus put an end to all bloody sacrifices by offering himself. He was the fulfillment to which all previous sacrifices had pointed. This was why he came. In Matthew 1:21 we read, “You are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” And in Matthew 20:28 we read, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus Directs the Disciples

In verse 17 we notice the disciples came to Jesus and asked him a question. “On the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?'” This was the fourteenth of Nisan, probably Thursday morning, and they needed to prepare for the evening celebration. As the master, the pater familias, Jesus was the host, and therefore he must give direction to his disciples.

Jesus and his disciples were from Galilee, and had no homes in Jerusalem. But Jesus knew exactly where he would eat the Passover meal. You see, Jesus Christ is always ready. He is always in control. People may ask us what we are doing, and many times we must say we do not know. But Jesus always knew what he must do. He knew the ways and he knew the means. Remember his triumphant entry into Jerusalem? At that time he needed a donkey, and knew how to get one. He told the disciples, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away” (Matt. 21:1-3). He knew everything. He was ready and in control always. He was looking forward to this celebration of the Passover, as we read him saying in Matthew 26:2: “As you know, the Passover is two days away.”

So Jesus told two of his disciples–Peter and John, as we read in Luke 22:8–to go into the city. They were still outside of the city, probably on the Mount of Olives. Jesus directed them, “Go into the city to a certain man,” and in Luke 22:10 he further described this man as one carrying a jar of water. You see, the city was crowded, especially with people coming for the Passover, so Jesus gave his disciples a sign. It would be easy for them to find this man, because in those days only women carried water pots. Jesus continued, “Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples? . . . My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house'” (Luke 22:11, Matt. 26:18).

There was a rule that the Passover must be celebrated inside the walls of Jerusalem, so Jesus needed a room. The disciples entered the city, found the man carrying the water pot, and entered the house with him. The master showed them a large, furnished upper room, and some say this could be a room in the house of John Mark, the writer of the gospel of Mark.

Preparing for the Passover

What did the disciples have to do to prepare for the Passover? First, they had to remove all leaven from the house. This needed to be done by noon on the fourteenth of Nisan. Then they needed to find an animal that conformed to scriptural prescription. After finding a lamb without defect, they had to take it to the temple where it would be sacrificed, and its blood poured out on the altar by the priest. Next, they had to roast the carcass and prepare the rest of the meal. They had to bake unleavened bread and make a sauce of various fruits. They needed to prepare green vegetables and bitter herbs. They needed to procure some wine and fill a bowl with salt water to symbolize the tears of the Israelites who suffered under Egyptian slavery. So the disciples made all these preparations for the final Passover.

The Passover Meal

Just before sundown, Jesus and the other disciples arrived at the house. We do not see Jesus disclosing to his disciples ahead of time where they would celebrate the Passover. We do not know why he kept the location secret, but it may be that Jesus did not want Judas tell the authorities where they were before the meal. His secrecy would prevent Judas from handing Jesus over to the authorities before this Passover meal that he so intensely desired to eat with his disciples.

The dinner was to begin at sundown and continue until midnight. As they ate, the participants reflected on the physical deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery, and anticipated another deliverance from the Lord that night.

In his commentary on the gospel of Mark, Professor William Lane gives a description of the Passover meal:

“The meal was framed within a liturgy whose core was the Passover prayer of the family head and the recitation of Hallel psalms (Ps. 113-118). When those participating had taken their places, the head of the house began the celebration by pronouncing a blessing, first of the festival, and then of the wine (M. Pesachim X.2). Then the paschal company drank the first cup of wine. After this the food was brought in, consisting of unleavened bread, bitter herbs, greens, stewed fruit and roasted lamb (M. Pesachim X.3). The son then asked why this night, with its special customs and food, was distinguished from all other nights (M. Pesachim X.4). The family head responded by recalling the biblical account of the redemption from Egypt. This instruction led naturally into the praise of God for the salvation he had provided, and the anticipation of future redemption: ‘So may the Lord our God, and the God of our fathers, cause us to enjoy the feasts that come in peace, glad of heart at the upbuilding of your city and rejoicing in your service . . . and we shall thank you with a new song for our redemption.’ (M. Pesachim X. 4-6). The new song was the first part of the ancient Hallel (Ps. 113-115), after which a second cup of wine was drunk. Then the head of the house took bread and pronounced over it the blessing of ‘the Lord our God, Sovereign of the world, who has caused bread to come forth out of the earth’ (M. Berachoth VI.1). He then broke the bread in pieces and handed it to those who were at the table, who ate it with bitter herbs and stewed fruit. Only then did the meal really begin with the eating of the roasted lamb, and this was not to extend beyond midnight (M. Pesachim X.9). When the meal had been completed, the head of the family blessed the third cup with a prayer of thanksgiving. There followed the singing of the second part of the Hallel (Ps. 116-118) and drinking the fourth cup, which concluded the Passover (M. Pesachim X.7). 1

Jesus Shocks the Disciples

As Jesus and his disciples enjoyed the meal, Jesus shocked his friends by announcing that he would be betrayed to the authorities by one of the Twelve. He had spoken to them previously in Matthew 17:22, 20:18, and 26:2 that he would be betrayed, but he had never identified the betrayer. Here for the first time, Jesus Christ identified his betrayer, first as one of the Twelve, and then as Judas– “the one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me,” meaning one who is his guest, his friend.

This type of betrayal happens to us sometimes. People will say nice things, pretend they are with you, and eat your meal, but then they will stab you in the back. This happens to all kinds of people all the time. Here it happened to Jesus Christ.

But Jesus was not surprised. In John 13:18 we read, “This is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.'”(Psalm 41:9). Jesus knew the scripture spoke about this event, so he was not surprised at Judas’ actions. In the Near East the most heinous crime a man could commit was to accept hospitality from a host and then do injury to him. Judas had already gone to the authorities and collected thirty pieces of silver for his role in betraying Jesus (Matt. 26:14-16). He was very careful to cover his tracks, and none of the other disciples suspected him. But Jesus knew all along what Judas had done, because, as we read in John 2:24-25, he knows all men and what is in a man.

What about us? Like Judas, we may hide our crimes from our fellow men. Yet when we sin, we are sinning before God, and he sees everything. One day God will uncover our sin and judge it as he judged the sin of Judas. May we never forget that Jesus is the omniscient, eternal Son of God.

So as Jesus and his disciples enjoyed the meal, he made his shocking statement. “He said, ‘I tell you the truth'”–in the Greek, amen, amen, meaning a most solemn announcement– “‘one of you will betray me.’ They were very sad and began to say to him, one after the other, ‘Surely not I, Lord?’ Jesus replied, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would have been better for him if he had not been born'” (Matt. 26:21-24).

God’s Sovereignty Demonstrated

God’s sovereignty was demonstrated in Judas’ act. The death of Jesus Christ as our Passover Lamb was of divine decree from all eternity. It was no accident. In Acts 2:23 Peter said, “This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge. . .” In Acts 4:28 we read, “They”–meaning Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, and Israel– “did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.” All these events were part of God’s purpose, God’s plan, God’s design, God’s determination and God’s decree. But Judas was responsible for his crime. So Jesus said, “Woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

Judas acted on his own initiative and by his own choice. He betrayed Jesus in spite of the knowledge he had of who Jesus Christ was. Thus, Judas committed a serious sin for which he will be punished. There is sovereign control of all things that happen in the universe, and yet there is human responsibility. Judas did not have to betray Jesus. He acted freely and voluntarily, and in spite of all the knowledge that should have kept him from that type of action. It would have been better for Judas if he had not been born. Truly, he was the son of perdition. After betraying Jesus, he committed suicide, and his soul entered into torment, agony, and pain. And Judas will be raised up one day only to be cast, along with all the wicked, into eternal fire, just as he had heard Jesus teach about it in Matthew 25:46: “Then they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

So Jesus was warning Judas. He was saying, Judas, don’t do this. There is still time to back out of this deal. Give back the money. Repent, and be saved through my death as the Passover Lamb.

Judas Chooses Sin

Judas refused to repent. He played the game with Jesus. In Matthew 26:22 we are told one after another the disciples asked Jesus, “Surely not I, Lord?” Judas knew if he did not ask, the others would suspect him. So he asked, “Is it I, Rabbi?” But notice, he refused to use the word “Lord.” We are told in 1 Corinthians 12:3 that only by the Holy Spirit can a person call Jesus “Lord.” Judas was not regenerate. He was the son of perdition. He did not have a saving understanding as to who Jesus Christ was.

We are told very plainly in Luke 22:3 and John 13:27 that Satan had entered into him. Judas was ruled by Satan. And let me assure you, this is not just the experience of Judas! Satan runs the life of every wicked, unbelieving person. Jesus said Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. If only Judas had known this! He was deceived. But one day Jesus will expose people’s sins.

The Nature of Sin

Sin deceives. We think we can save ourselves if only we feel very proud about ourselves. We are baptized in self-esteem. But that idea is merely a cover-up of our degradation, crime, and sin. It is a nice way in which we cover our tracks before other human beings. But we cannot cover them before God! Unless you trust in Jesus Christ, who, by his death covers all our sins, one day God will expose all our sins. So Jesus is saying, No more deception, Judas. It is you, my bosom friend, the one who eats with me–the one who confessed loyalty and love to me, who experienced many blessings from me–who will betray me.

Sin is so terrible. The heart is corrupt and wicked above all things. We recently heard of some brothers who killed their own father and mother in cold blood. We recently read about partial-birth abortion procedures, in which a needle is inserted into the head of a partially birthed baby, and its brains are sucked out. Oh, the depth of human depravity, that people would sink so low as to kill their own fathers or mothers or children–even one’s babies who are ready to be born!

The Bible says every inclination of the thought of man’s heart is only evil continually (Gen. 6:5). Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 15:16-20. The Pharisees thought that uncleanness came from outside of the body. But Jesus said, “Are you still so dull?. . .Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body?” And then Jesus disclosed the doctrine of total depravity: “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean.'”

This is the nature of corruption. This is the nature of sin. All of these things are the result of the sin of Adam and Eve. In their sin we have all become sinners. Now man kills man–father, mother, and children. And here Judas became a murderer of the most holy, most righteous, most loving Son of God, who, a few hours after this meal, would lay down his life freely and willingly for sinners like us, that we may be saved from the corruption and depravity of sin.

Jesus Becomes Our Passover

Jesus saw that Judas had no inclination to repent. So he told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly” (John 13:27). Let me tell you, there is a point of no return. Judas would obey Satan and not listen to Jesus, because Satan controlled him. He went immediately to the chief priests, and brought them, possibly, back to the house.

By that time, however, Jesus had already left. The Passover meal was over and the Holy Communion had been instituted in celebration of the glorious salvation that only Jesus brings. From our study of the Passover customs, we know that Jesus would have sung the final Hallel psalm as he drank the last cup. What was his song? “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: ‘The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!’ I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done” (Psalm 118:14-17).

Jesus put an end to Passover by becoming the Passover Lamb. No one can be saved by the blood of an animal. All animal sacrifice prescribed in the Old Testament pointed to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and, thus, he fulfilled all sacrifices. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. Our sins have been forgiven, because Christ shed his blood, and we are told “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22).

Therefore, church, rejoice! David’s prayer as recorded in Psalm 51 has has been fulfilled: “Blot out my transgressions. . .Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. . . .Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice” (Psalm 51:1, 2, 7, 8). Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. Our sins have been forgiven. Our sins have been covered. He has made us whiter than snow. He has taught us what it means to rejoice and be glad.

Jesus Christ, our high priest after the order of Melchizedek, offered himself once and for all as the perfect sacrifice for our sins and turned away, once for all, the wrath of God that was against us. And so now, negatively, all our sins have been wiped clean, blotted out, been made whiter than snow, and positively, he has become our food. Now we feed on Christ by faith in the spirit and we are nourished daily by him. As the people in the Old Testament ate the lamb after it was sacrificed, and received nourishment from that, so also we, after the death of Christ, are now by faith feeding on him through the Spirit and are being strengthened in our innermost beings.

Jesus Or Judas?

What about you? Have you repented of your sins and trusted in this Jesus Christ? If not, what Jesus said about Judas is true of you. You are a betrayer of Jesus and a murderer of the Holy One. You are responsible for all your sins, and it would be better for you if you had not been born. One day you will be judged and punished by this Jesus Christ who is Lord. You are like Judas, under the control of Satan.

If this is true of you, I urge you to cry out to Christ! Be sober, reflective, and understanding. Look to Christ and be saved. May he blot out all your transgressions and make you whiter than snow, even today. Then you can rejoice and be glad in his eternal salvation.

Think about it very seriously. You cannot confess Jesus is Lord unless the Holy Spirit regenerates you and grants you faith to believe in him. May God perform the miracle of new birth, that you will repent and call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Passover Lamb. Amen.

1. William L. Lane, Th.D., The Gospel According to Mark , part of The New International Commentary on the New Testament , F. F. Bruce, General Editor, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI, 1978, pp. 501-502).