Passion Week: Preparing the Sacrifice

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“"For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.""  - Luke 22:16


Happy Maundy Thursday.
In the time of Jesus life, the 24 hour period of a given day started at sundown (dusk) and lasted until sundown the following day. This is important in understanding a few statements made by Christ around His death and resurrection. Relevance

Passover is a Jewish celebration of remembrance of God passing over the homes of the Israelites in Egypt, but killing the firstborn son of every Egyptian house; as recorded in Exodus 12:29. In Exodus 12:1-11 we discover the Lord's directions to the Israelites, that they should kill the lamb on the 14th of the month of Nisan, and using the lamb's blood over their door and along the door posts. The Passover meal (also known as the Feast of the Unleavened Bread) should then be eaten that evening with bitter herbs, unleavened bread and the lamb.

On the night before His death, Christ's disciples had prepared the meal and from Jesus directions found the upper room to have the Passover meal. There is much debate around whether this meal was indeed the Passover meal or if it was the meal the night before the Passover meal. My belief is based on my understanding of the timelines. This means that the meal was prepared on the 14th of the month of Nisan and they sat together after dusk to partake of the meal, therefore it would have been the 15th of the month of Nisan (officially Friday). I've been to the location in Jerusalem where they believe Jesus Last Passover meal was served. In this upper room, Christ continued to teach His disciples through out the evening meal. He taught of humility, a servant's heart, His Father's plans, and He revealed His betrayer. He warned of the events that would unfold that evening, and celebrated the New Covenant with the symbols of bread and the wine.

Whether you believe that this was or was not the Passover meal is not the relevant factor of the story. The fact that He continued to teach them right up to the end and established a New Covenant with them as believers in His sacrifice for them is one message. Also, consider that there never would be another Passover meal for Christ or these disciples. The following morning He would become the Passover sacrifice from that point forward for all believing Christians is the important message to understand from Thursday - the 5th day of Passion Week. Be blessed on this Holy Thursday and rejoice in the New Covenant of God's grace and mercy.



Prayer:
Loving Father,
You have given us grace, love and peace through Jesus Christ, the sacrificial lamb for all of mankind. As the Passover lamb, He took our sins upon that cross so that we are forgiven and may enter into eternal peace with You. Jesus gave us examples of a servants heart at the last supper and demonstrated Your eternal love through the breaking of the bread and drinking of the cup. For these things we give You thanks. In Your name we pray - Amen.  





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