Passover and the Lord's Supper

 Mark 14:12-18

Passover Origins - Ex. 12:12-14 with Ex. 12:25-27

Practice in Jesus' day
(1)  Many pilgrims to Jerusalem/Temple - (Josephus, noted Jewish historian, said 256,500 lambs killed this year)

(2)  Lambs slain at 3-5PM

(3)  Rooms made available to pilgrims @no charge

(4)  people ate the meal reclining?  Was a very leisurely meal.
Example:  Leonardo DaVinci's painting "the Last Supper".  Not an accurate depiction.  Disciples look to be standing or at least sitting.
Contrast with Ex. 12:11 - THEN were to eat standing - ready to go!! This was the origin of the Feast of Unleavened Bread which follows next day after Passover. No time to let bread rise.

 NOW = are settled in the Land!!   

The Passover Meal...
(1)  Commemorated deliverance/exodus from Egypt and a new beginning;  tribes to a nation!!

(2)  Celebrated Jewish standing with YHWH - ie IN Jesus' day, they remained God's chosen people through whom He would reveal Himself to the world.

So.... in essence ... Passover
(1) Commemorates the Past (deliverance)
(2)  Celebrates the Present  (still God's people)
(3)  Anticipates the Future - their view = Messiah would bring final deliverance from oppression (at this time it was from the Romans) and establish His Kingdom!!

Question:  What about Passover and the Jews today?
On one hand, it varies widely - from extreme orthodoxy all the way to Jewish atheism.
However, NO TEMPLE/NO SACRIFICE - roughly 35 years later.

Question:  Why don't Christians celebrate Passover?
(1)  A few do ... with a Seder Meal which follows the Post-Temple observance of Passover.
But,
(2)  there is no need!! 1 Cor. 5:7 - Jesus (our Passover lamb) has been sacrificed.
This "acted out prophecy" has been fulfilled!!
Heb. 9:23-24, 10:1,3-7

Point being... Jesus fulfilled those Old Testament ceremonial laws so.... no need to practice them today! - no sin offerings, no drink offerings, etc.  All have been fulfilled.

NOW ... The Lord's Supper.... instituted by Christ Himself
Mark 14:22-26, Matt. 26:26-30
This = the origin of the Lord's Supper  (communion, the Eucharist, etc)

Add... Luke 22:19, - not just for the disciples that night
 with   1 Cor. 11:23-26

Christians have (since that night) celebrated the Lord's Supper ... in which ...
(1)  We commemorate His death
AS the Passover Lamb = their deliverance ... SO Christ's death = ours!!  (deliverance from judgment for sins)

(2)  We celebrate our current statue (standing)
ie:  We are His (chosen) children!! 1 John 3:2

(3)  We anticipate His FULL and FINAL deliverance.
On one hand, "NOW are we children of God"
However, we have not YET received all the benefits of that position ... But... at His Return..?!?

So... Jews celebrated Passover as a people group - ie: God's chosen people ... to whom He made many promises .. in what we call the Old Covenant (testament)

Christians celebrate the Lord's Supper as a people group (ie:  church, Bride of Christ) God's chosen people also!! To whom He has made many promises... in what we call the NEW Covenant (testament).

NOTE:
the original Passover ... people not saved by believing int he blood but = saved (spared) by Applying the Blood.  Belief isn't enough.  Ex. 12:21-23

Today... People not saved (spared) by believing in Christ... but in accepting and receiving Christ .... Cross the Bridge!!!

So.... (1)  have you actively, intentionally, verbally accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior?  "applied the blood" - He has done the work and extended the invitation.

How to do that???  Rom. 10:9-10  (A,B,C - simple)
           Admit your guilt, your need, your desire to be saved
           Believe in Christ ... His Works, His Words, His Will
           Confess ... Him ... as Lord and Savior.

(2)  Have you made that decision public?  Baptism

(3)  have you Re-examined your faith WALK lately?  which could lead to Re-New vows/Re-dedicate your life.

Closing Scripture:  Eph. 1:4-8