REMEMBERING OUR LORD’S DEATH
“On the fourteen day of the month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover.” (Leviticus 23: 5)
It was the evening of the fourteenth of Nisan, and Jesus had just sat down for a final meal with his disciples. (We must remember that a day begins and ends at sunset in the bible.) Now, this was an important day. It was the day that the Passover lambs were to be sacrificed beginning at about 3:00PM in the late afternoon. “On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD’s Passover.” (Leviticus 23: 7) But this particular Nisan 14 was unlike any that came before it or any that would follow. For on this day, Jesus Christ, the true Passover Lamb who came into the world to take away our sins, would be sacrificed. As Jesus sat at the table with his disciples, He knew his time had come. It was for this hour and this day that He was born. So, taking bread, Jesus blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying, “‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.’” (Matthew 26: 26-29) It is not insignificant that Jesus established this new covenant service on the evening of the very day that He would be sacrificed.
After the meal, Jesus led his disciples to the Mount of Olives to a place called Gethsemane. As he made his way through the garden, His heart became heavy with sorrow for He understood all too well the trial and suffering that lay ahead of him. He was the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world. The sins of mankind would be placed upon His shoulders, and the punishment that should have been ours would be laid upon Him. He was our only hope and without His sacrifice, we would all be lost. Falling upon His face, Jesus cried out three times: “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Jesus was in mental agony. As his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground, an angel appeared to Him from heaven and strengthened Him. Finally after much prayer, Jesus knew what He needed to do. He was the true Passover Lamb, and it was for this reason that He was born to suffer and die for our sins. He would drink the cup that was prepared for Him because there was no other way.
We know all too well what followed… Jesus was betrayed by one of His own disciples and abandoned by the others. He was arrested and condemned in an unlawful and corrupt trial. He was beaten, scourged and mocked, and finally crucified. Then, at about 3:00PM in the afternoon when the Passover lambs began to be sacrificed, Jesus died. At last His suffering was over, and at last His work was finished. “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)
The Lord’s Supper, or New Covenant Passover as it is also called, commemorates the death and suffering of our Lord and Savior. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” (I Corinthians 11: 26) In participating in this service, we remember all that Jesus endured so that we might have life! Therefore, we host this service in the evening of Nisan 14 at the very time that Jesus instituted it and on the day that He was crucified. In doing so, we remember the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb!
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (I Corinthians 11: 23-25)
Joe Weicks