Seek TRUTH - Choose LIFE
THE GOSPEL
The Last Supper
Three days after His entrance into Jerusalem Jesus taught in the temple and in public as He usually would. In the evening He instructed the disciples (Matthew 26:18, Mark 14:13-15, Luke 22:11-12) to arrange a Passover meal. gathered His disciples one last time for the last supper.
"So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover." (Matthew 26:19)
The upper room in Jerusalem Israel
It was a common practice in ancient times to wash feet upon entering the home since the roads were not paved and the sandaled feet would collect dust throughout the day. Unfortunately there was no servant at the place of the last supper and Jesus took the initiative. As they were eating the Passover the disciples were discussing which one of them were greater (Luke 22:24), something they have done before as well (Matthew 20:25-28, Mark 9:33-35). Jesus said "For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves." (Luke 22:27) Later Jesus got up from the supper, and started to wash the disciples feet (John 13:3-5). Jesus displayed leadership and love through this and said: "You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet" (John 13:13-14). Jesus also taught them to love one another as He has loved them - not by words but through works (John 14:15).
The Passover
When the sons of Israel were in Egyptian captivity for 430 years (Exodus 12:40) God sent judgments on that land to show His power so that the children of Israel would be set free.
There was a series of ten plagues after which the Egyptian government not only let them leave but urged them go. They even gave away lots of riches (Exodus 3:22, 12:35) and exiled them from their land (Exodus 12:39). The tenth plague had just taken their first born and that was the point where they could no longer bear them in their land.
The family would choose a one year old blameless male lamb and take it into their home on the tenth day of the first month (Exodus 12:3). The lamb would live with them for 4 days and would be examined to be truly blameless. They would also remove all leaven from the home as a symbol of purity from a product that can quickly spoil and turn to mold. Towards the evening of the 14th day they would kill the lamb without breaking any bones. They would dip a branch of hyssop (Ex 12:22) into the lamb’s blood and mark their doorposts. This is so that the angel of death would see the blood on their door posts and "pass over" their home.
Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. (Exudus 12: 8)
The unleavened bread signified their haste in leaving the land of Egypt thereby not having time for the bread to rise. The bitter herbs represented the bitter slavery they were in for 430 years. According to some traditions wine was also a symbol of joy and redemption. From that point on Israelites would perpetually celebrate their departure from the land of Egypt as they do until this day.
The traitor announced
While eating the Passover Jesus anxiously stated that one of them will betray Him to be executed (Matthew 26:20, Mark 14:17, Luke 21:21-23). Jesus knew that Judas already made a deal with the scribes and priests to betray Him but was pretending like nothing was wrong.
The disciples were all shocked that one of them would betray Jesus, and even Judas asked "Is it I?" (Matthew 24:25) and Jesus confirmed. "Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. (John 13:26). The seating arrangement they had meant since Judas was siting right next to Jesus, Jesus was able to give the bread directly to him. The seats to the left and right of Jesus were for a trusted friend, John and Judas. Jesus loved Judas to the end and was trying display special attention to him knowing he will be the one to betray Him. Once Judas took of the bread he realized he was exposed and left outside. The disciples didn't even pay attention at what Jesus said about Judas and thought he left to make other preparations for the coming feast days because he was in charge of their finances (John 13:29). While in charge of finances he would also steal for himself (John 12:6) but the disciples only learned this later.
The bread of life
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.””" (Matthew 26:26, Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19, John 22:19, 1-Corinthians 11:24)
In the last supper Jesus was taking part of the feast of unleavened bread, just as the Israelites were eating with the Passover. Jesus explained earlier that He is the bread who came from heaven and everyone that eats it will have eternal life in them. (John 6:33-35, 41, 48, 51-58). "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:54). Many of His followers who too Jesus literally no longer walked with Him after these words (John 6:66). The bread and blood are symbols that represent the body of Jesus that He gave up for execution so that our bodies be saved from damnation from sin (John 6:51). When we read further the way His body was broken we understand the penalty of sin that was carried out upon His flesh.
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
Jesus is the bread of life - His body that we eat symbolically is the hope that He will give us a new glorified body when He resurrects us.
The wine - blood covenant
"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:27) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)
But mankind has sinned in the garden of Eden and were cast out of it (Genesis). From that point on everyone was born into sinful nature and sin by default. But God loved His creation and provided instructions for them to atone for their sins through an innocent animal in sacrifice. The penalty for sin is death and the animal would take place of the sinner to cover their sin.
"For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." (Leviticus 17:11)
For centuries, Israel would offer sacrifices to God for the forgiveness of their sins only to again go back to sinning. So God manifested Himself in the flesh (1-Timothy 3:16) to be able to take upon Himself the sins of all the world. He would then have His blood shed not only to cover the sins, but to wash them away (1-John 1:7). "...because He hath poured out his soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:12)
We are redeemed through His blood and His soul - His life is within us.
Renewed covenant
When God led Israel of of Egyptian captivity after the Passover, He brought them to the mountain Sinai (Exodus 19:11-23). Moses went to meet with God on the top of the mountain (Exodus 19:3) where God gave Him tablets with 10 commandments (Exodus 20) and other laws following which they would live (Nehemiah 9:29). They were to be God's nation and a light to other nations (Mark 11:17) and so that other nations would turn to the one true God is Israel. But they kept breaking God's commandments and laws, made idols for worship and God foretold that one day He would establish a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). But this new covenant will not only be for the children of Israel but for all nations. (Ezekiel 16: 60-63)
Mt. Sinai in Saudi Arabia
It was a common tradition in that culture for a man to offer a cup of wine to his bride in an offer of marriage union. If she accepted that cup and drank from it they were officially betrothed groom and bride. There would be a waiting period until the wedding ceremony, a time of preparation for the marriage ceremony.
God is the groom and the church is the bride. If we take of the cup Jesus offers us we are now betrothed to Jesus Christ who is our God and redeemer. We are not only cleansed from our sins, we are also drinking in remembrance of His sacrifice for us. We are also announcing that we are God's bride who will stay faithful to him and not flirt with the world idols. We also proclaim that Jesus will come back as the groom to take us to heaven for the marriage ceremony.
This is the hope we have in eating of the bread and drinking of the wine. Bread symbolizing His flesh bruised to punish our transgressions and the wine symbolizing His blood poured out to cleanse us of our sins. By participating gin the communion we also proclaim to others that He will return to take us with Him (1-Corinthians 11:26). If we believe that He died for our sins and cleansed us with His blood we have the hope for eternal life. This includes a new glorified body just like His when he raises us back from the mortal bodies and crown of everlasting life (James 1:12) with Him (1-John 3:2). All we are required to do is accept His sacrifice, believe in Him (John 3:15), trust in Him and follow His commandments (John 14:15) through grace (Ephesians 2:8-9)