Matthew 26: 17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? 18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. 20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. 30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
A lot happened the last day and night of Jesus’ life. It was Passover, the first month of their year. It was a memorial of their bondage in Egypt and being set free. From a family of 12 to millions they were used as slaves to build Egypt. They cried out to God and he sent Moses to deliver. He had fled Egypt years before and had no intention of returning until he heard from God on the mountain. The day is still remembered by Jews today.
The fulfillment of the Passover is Jesus. The supper reminded them God brought them through. It set forth that a Savior would come. As believers we called on by our Master not to forget and to do this in remembrance of him.
The disciples thought this Passover would be no different than others but it would be very different. Jesus was the fulfillment of the sacrifice. A lamb had to be killed each year and consumed. Passover doesn’t apply to us but Christ is our Passover, and he set up the Lord’s Supper. We are to observe it and not forget who we are and how our salvation came to be.
The disciples ate with Jesus every day. They had been with him for three years and participated in observance of the Passover each year. This night the table was prepared and the supper was ready. Everyone who has taken Jesus as Savior has a place at the table of God. This night the12 were there but he would make it an open table to us by his death on the cross. Jesus didn’t eat that night because he was the bread. He was giving his body for us. He didn’t drink because he was giving his blood. Because he gave his life, we have life. All this happened 20 centuries ago. Times have changed. We remember old days when things were very different than now but what Jesus did is still the same and we should still remember it. Jesus is still Savior, High Priest and coming King. He still gives the injunction to us to observe the last supper in remembrance of him.
A table is before us and it is a privilege to be here. We eat and drink together and remember. Then we wash each other’s feet. Jesus washed us. He’s the only one that makes sense in this world.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 