We are approaching the Easter weekend, when churches have extra services.
Friday we remember Jesus’ death on the cross and Sunday morning, we remember Jesus’ resurrection and victory over death.
Sometimes we overlook the significance of Thursday night.
We may remember it was The Last Supper, where Jesus introduced the New Testament covenant that was being implemented by his impending death. We read sections of this when we celebrate communion.
But what was The Last Supper?
We need to remember that Jesus and his disciples were practicing Jews.
Christianity has its roots in the Jewish faith of the Old Testament.
Early in Jewish history, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, and Moses was sent by God to bring them out of Egypt and lead them back into the land of Canaan (Palestine).
The movie The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston is Hollywood’s telling of the story.
Because Pharaoh did not want to let the Israelites go, God sent plagues upon Egypt, with the final plague being the death of the firstborn son.
Before the plague came, God instructed the Israelites to kill a lamb and sprinkle some of the blood on the top and two sides of the door of the house.
When death came to that door, he would see the blood and “pass over” that house.
Thus Passover, with the highlight of the feast of unleavened bread began and each year, the Israelites were to remember it with special food and ceremony.
It was this Passover meal that Jesus and his disciples were celebrating.
While Passover is rich in content, we only have space to look at two parts. First of all, we often refer to Jesus being “the Lamb of God.” John the Baptist declared “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NIV).
Paul in 1 Cor. 5:7b writes “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” This weekend we celebrate that Jesus was the perfect sacrificial lamb in his death, whose blood is applied on the door of our hearts so that death will pass over us.
Furthermore, Jesus fulfills the Old Testament sacrificial system. “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people” Heb 9:28.
Secondly, in the Passover meal, there are three matzos (unleavened bread) that are placed together.
The middle matzo is broken in half, and half is hidden for a later part of the ceremony.
From a Christian viewpoint, the three matzos represent the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The main difference between Jewish and Christian faith is that we Christians believe that Jesus is the Christ.
Christ is Greek for the Hebrew word messiah.
As Christians, it is advantageous for us to better understand the Jewish traditions and customs from which our faith has grown.
We gain a richer understanding of both the Old Testament and who Jesus is as he fulfilled the Old Testament Law and Prophets (Matt 5:17).
May the resurrection life of Jesus richly bless you this Easter season. “He is risen …. He is risen indeed!”
– Rick Steingard is pastor of King of Kings Church in Midway.