Scripture:
Mark 14:12-31 & John 13:1-20
Though I did not grow up in a
Christian home and did not have much understanding about the things of GOD or
who JESUS was our family had the traditional picture of a blue-eyed JESUS and I
saw many pictures depicting the Last Supper.
It was many years after I had become a believer that I came to
understand that what I had always known as the Last Supper was actually a
Passover Meal and it has taken me years longer to understand the significance
of this meal.
As I read Mark 14:12 today, I was
impacted in a fresh new way by the statement:
“On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being
sacrificed . . . .” Do you see the
amazing picture taking place here? It
would be helpful to read the story of the first Passover especially Exodus 11
and 12.
Every year, even to this day
thousands of years later, Jews all over the world remember this foundational
event by observing the Passover Feast which includes a Passover Seder (a retelling
of the Exodus from Egypt). There is also
expectation of the coming of the Messiah who will re-establish the kingdom of
Israel.
In our scripture today we read of
JESUS calling His disciples together to observe the Passover meal (Last Supper)
as Jews everywhere were doing. But this
one was different from all the others.
JESUS took some of the bread they were eating during their Passover meal
and said, “Take it; this is My body” (v. 22).
Then He took the wine they were drinking during their Passover meal and
said, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (v.
24). JESUS could not have done or said a
more insulting thing to incite the religious leaders. JESUS was clearly declaring that He was the
long awaited Messiah . . . the Son of GOD . . . . He was boldly declaring He was the ultimate
fulfillment of the Passover Seder . . . He WAS the Passover Lamb!
In the midst of disciples’ pridefully
clamoring about who might be the greatest or who might have the best position
of authority and honor in the new “administration” JESUS declares His identity. JESUS gives an example of the kind of king He
is going to be and the kind of kingdom in which He will reign by washing their
feet. I don’t think they go it!
The religious leaders didn’t get
it either. They felt so threatened by
JESUS they were ready to implement the evil plan of ending all of this . . . the
irony of it all . . . they were playing a role in the redemptive story of GOD
and they were being led by one of JESUS’ own.
He was present at the Passover meal with JESUS. And JESUS, knowing all along what was coming
down, washed his feet. I am amazed!
JESUS is Risen . . . !
Richard Holloman
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