Easter Lesson 1

Preparation for the Passover

Luke 22:7–13 KJV

7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. 8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

Day of Unleavened Bread:

The Day of Unleavened Bread, also known as Hag HaMatzot in Hebrew, is a significant Jewish holiday closely associated with Passover. This observance, which lasts for seven days, is based on biblical commands found in Exodus and Leviticus. During this period, Jews are instructed to eat only unleavened bread, which is made without yeast. The use of unleavened bread symbolizes the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, as they didn’t have time for their bread to rise. Historically, all leaven was removed from homes during this time, and only cakes of unleavened bread could be consumed. The absence of leaven is also interpreted symbolically, with leaven representing sin or moral decay. In modern times, the preparation for this holiday often involves a thorough cleaning of the house, which is seen as a symbolic search for and removal of any hypocrisy or wickedness. The Day of Unleavened Bread is one of the three pilgrimage feasts when Jewish males were required to go to Jerusalem.

Passover:

Passover, known as Pesach (Pas-cha) in Hebrew, is one of the most significant Jewish festivals, commemorating the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and their liberation from slavery. Established in Exodus 12, this spring festival typically occurs in early to mid-April and lasts for one week. The Passover celebration includes a special meal called the Seder, featuring symbolic foods such as unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Central to the Passover story is God’s instruction to the Israelites to mark their doorposts with lamb’s blood, allowing the angel of death to “pass over” their homes during the tenth plague in Egypt. This event is seen as a demonstration of God’s grace and election. In Jewish tradition, Passover is one of three major pilgrimage festivals, requiring Jews to travel to Jerusalem for observance. The festival has also influenced Christian tradition, with Jesus’ Last Supper and crucifixion occurring around Passover, leading to interpretations of Jesus as the new Passover Lamb.

Passover Lamb:

The Passover lamb holds significant importance in Jewish tradition, originating from the Exodus story in Egypt. According to the biblical account, God instructed the Israelites to select a year-old male lamb without defect on the tenth day of the month. This lamb was to be cared for until the fourteenth day, when it was to be slaughtered at twilight. The blood of the lamb was to be applied to the doorframes of Israelite homes as a sign for God to “pass over” these houses during the final plague on Egypt, which involved the death of firstborns. The Israelites were instructed to roast and eat the lamb, ready for immediate travel. This event became the foundation for the annual Passover observance in Jewish tradition. Some articles mention that the Passover lamb is seen by Christians as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, referred to as the “Lamb of God” in the New Testament.

The First Lord’s Supper

Luke 22:14–20 KJV

14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

The most significant NT application of unleavened bread is found in the context of the Passover which Jesus celebrated with his disciples on the evening of his betrayal (Mt 26:17–29; Mk 14:12–25; Lk 22:7–23). There Jesus likened his body to the unleavened bread he broke in the presence of the 12. In view of the sinlessness of Christ this action was rich with meaning: he who was without “leaven” could alone offer himself up for the sins of his people. Christians feast upon the Christ who fulfills the hope of redemption linked to the unleavened bread of the Passover.

Communion:

He declared that the bread spoke of His body which would be broken. There was not a broken bone, but His body was so badly tortured that it was hardly recognizable (Psalm 22:12-17; Isaiah 53:4-7). The wine spoke of His blood, indicating the terrible death He would soon experience. He, the perfect Son of God, became the fulfillment of the countless Old Testament prophecies concerning a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15; Psalm 22; Isaiah 53). When He said, “Do this in remembrance of me,” He indicated this was a ceremony that must be continued in the future. It indicated also that the Passover, which required the death of a lamb and looked forward to the coming of the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world, was fulfilled in the Lord’s Supper. The New Covenant replaced the Old Covenant when Christ, the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), was sacrificed (Hebrews 8:8-13). The sacrificial system was no longer needed (Hebrews 9:25-28). The Lord’s Supper/Christian Communion is a remembrance of what Christ did for us and a celebration of what we receive as a result of His sacrifice.

Luke 22:39–46 KJV

39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.