Luke 22:7–22 (NIV)
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. 10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 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?’ 12 He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.” 13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him.”
Helpful Information The Passover meal
The head of the family pronounces a blessing over the first cup; the cup is shared, followed by herbs dipped in a sauce.
• After the second cup is readied, the youngest son asks why this night is different from other nights, why unleavened bread is eaten on this night, etc. In reply, the head of the family tells the story of the exodus and delivers an exposition on Deut 26:5–11; the meal is interpreted as a present act of remembrance of and thanksgiving for God’s past liberation of an oppressed people, a celebration of God’s faithfulness leading to hope in the future deliverance of God’s people. This is followed by the singing of the first part of the Hallel, either Psalm 113 or Psalms 113–114, and the drinking of the second cup.
• The head of the family takes unleavened bread, blesses it, breaks it, and hands it to the others. This is followed by the meal itself.
• There follow two more cups of wine, along with the singing of the second part of the Hallel (Psalms 114–118 or Psalms 115–118).
Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage
Read the Passage
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Questions
What is the reason why Luke talks about the Passover lamb being sacrificed? What does the Passover and the sacrifice of Jesus have to do with each other? What does the symbolism of the two events say about God’s planning and how the Old Testament and the New Testament relate?
In verse 15 why is Jesus eager to eat the Passover with the disciples?
How do you remember the sacrifice of Jesus? Do you do it just at the Lord’s Supper at church?
Notes
vs 7 The Passover meal being shared is the reminder of the salvation act of God in the Old Testament. The blood of an unblemished lamb was spread on the doorpost of Israel’s family homes while they were in Egypt as slaves. The lamb was shared in the meal. The homes with blood of the lamb on the doorpost were "passed over" by the angel of death and the first born males were spared. (see Exodus 12) It is the last plague that causes Pharaoh to let Israel go.
Now a new lamb is to be slain, Jesus.
8-13 just like finding the colt as Jesus entered Jerusalem (19:30-33) Jesus now tells Peter and John where to find a room in crowded Jerusalem for the disciples and Jesus to have Passover together. It seems to be showing the foreknowledge of Jesus. A foreknowledge that already has been shown that He knows His fate. (18:31-32)
14-18- Jesus Desires to eat this meal with the disciples- what does this mean? It is not about Jesus wanting to die (22:41-44), rather it is about Jesus wanting to have forgiveness offered by His death so that the disciples will share in the banquet meal of eternity (13:29) in the Kingdom of God.
19- Jesus talks about being the sacrifice- Bread symbolizing Jesus death (also see John 6:48-51)- Bread represents the substance of life (give us our daily bread in Lord's prayer)
Remembrance of me- just as the Passover was to be done every year so should Jesus sacrifice be remembered. It is the essence of our salvation just as the Passover represented the Israelites being freed from slavery. This time however we are freed from the slavery of sin
20 - new covenant - remember Jesus said something new had to replace the old (5:36-38). The new will now be in place and be the way to God. Note the covenant is established by the work of God not by us.
21-22 The foreknowledge of Jesus also is shown here. Judas is not doing something that Jesus isn't aware of. He is not doing something that will surprise God. In fact God is going to use what was meant for evil and use it for good (see Exodus 50:20- Joseph's comment to his brothers) The judgment of Judas is clear. Judas' action while part of God's plan is not an excuse for Judas to be forgiven. Judas made the choice and must pay the consequences.
Do you understand the 4th Cup?
ReplyDeleteAfter the beginning of Jesus' Last Passover Supper (Seder) Judas Iscariot left to do what he had to do. The twelve left in the room were at the point where the second of four traditional cups was about to be drunk.
(The first is at the beginning of the Seder meal.) Jesus took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes."
More of the lamb meal was consumed. During that He took a loaf of unleavened bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to His disciples saying, "This IS my body given for you; do this to recall me." ("Recall" is a better translation of the Greek "anamnesis" than "remember".)
After the supper He took the third cup saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This IS my blood of the NEW and everlasting covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
A hymn was sung, which is a combination of several psalms called The Great Hillel, and they went out to the Mount of Olives.
What happened? The Passover ceremony and ritual was not complete. There was no fourth cup. There was no announcement that it was finished. Could it be that Jesus was so upset with what He knew was about to happen that He forgot? Doubtful!
Not only Jesus, but also the 11 others had participated in the Passover Seder every year of their lives. No, this was done on purpose. The last supper of Jesus was not over.
On the Mount of Olives, in the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples slept while Jesus prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done."
He prayed that three times. Then Jesus was arrested, illegally put on trial by the Sanhedrin, then by Pontius Pilate, sentenced and crucified.
While on the cross He wept. Jesus, who was in excruciating agony, was so merciful that He prayed for the forgiveness of His executioners. He was offered some wine with a pain killer, myrrh, in it. He refused it.
"Later, knowing that all was now complete, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled and the kingdom established, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.'" A man dipped a sponge into sour wine; he placed it on a hyssop branch and lifted it up to Jesus lips.
He drank. (We recall that it was the hyssop branch which was used to paint lambs blood around the Hebrew's door for the Passover of the angel of death.)
It was then that Jesus said, "It is finished." He then bowed His head and gave up the spirit to His Father.
The fourth cup now represented the lamb’s blood of the first Passover, a saving signal to the angel of death.
The Lamb of God was now sacrificed. The last Passover supper of Jesus Christ was now complete with the fourth cup. It was finished.
The tie in with the Passover is unmistakable.
The Lamb of God was sacrifice and death was about to be passed over come Easter day.
The promise of eternal life for many was about to be fulfilled.
Christ’s Passover was finished, but His mission was not until he rose from the dead.