The Passover

Day 26
OT Reading: Exodus 11-12
NT Reading: Matthew 18:21-35

For 3200 - 3500 years (depending on when you believe the Exodus occurred), a celebration of Passover has taken place. Even today, faithful Jews around the world will gather to tell the story about how God punished the Egyptians and passed-over the Israelites. I know I'm a geek...but to be honest I find that to be pretty cool. A couple times I've even participated in a Passover celebration, called a "Seder."

Over the years as the Seder tradition has developed, but it's basic elements and layout has remained the same. The biggest development is that over time the Seder became directly linked not only to the past freedom that God granted, but also to the future freedom that would come through God's Messiah. The Messiah being the one who would ultimately establish God's Kingdom for ever.

Therefore if you were to sit down with a Jewish family for a Seder meal today (you likely would not be allowed, but go with me in this), as they broke bread, as they explained the elements, every part of the meal would exist as part of telling the story of what God did as well as reminding them of the promise that one day God would send His Messiah. It would be done much the way it has been done since it was established in Exodus 12.

Jesus in fact even celebrated Passover. Being a good Jew he would have done it every year. But the last time Jesus did...He changed the script. It was while celebrating the Passover meal that Jesus sat with His disciples and took the bread saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." (Matthew 26:26, NIV) Then later Jesus took the cup and said, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:28, NIV).

This was different. No one had ever done that before. For centuries the Seder had been generally the same. In fact these men had all celebrated the Passover numerous times. If any traditionalists had been in the room they may have been calling a board meeting about how Jesus changed Passover and next he'd want to have drums in the synagogue. But there, even though the disciples did not understand, Jesus showed them one fundamental truth.

He was the Passover lamb.

No longer would they rely on sacrifices of animals because a more perfect sacrifice had come. No longer would they be waiting for the promised Messiah because He was there. For thousands of years the story had remained the same, but from that night on the story would be forever changed.

We'll continue to see this play itself out as we read through the New Testament. In fact much of the book of Hebrews is written to this very point. But as you hear and read more about Passover...I hope the more you see it, the more you connect it to Jesus. The one true Passover Lamb.