We like to think that our lives count for something – that God has a purpose for us. A sense of purpose motivates us to keep going in spite of difficulties.
What was the purpose of Jesus’ life? Why did He continue to teach and serve others even when the religious authorities sought to kill Him? Mark tells us in the account of Jesus’ last meal before His death. In chapter 14 of the Gospel which bears his name, verses 12 through 16 he writes, “On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?” He sent two of his disciples, and said to them, “Go into the city, and there a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters in, tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ He will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Get ready for us there.” His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found things as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.”
The Passover was one of the most important feasts of the Jewish people. It commemorated their deliverance from Egyptian slavery. Because the Egyptians at first refused to release the Israelites, God sent a series of plagues upon them. In the last of the plagues God took the lives of all the Egyptian firstborn. To spare the Israelites from the same disaster God commanded them to kill a lamb and apply the blood to the sides and top of the doorway to their houses. When the angel of death saw the blood he passed over that house and did not kill the Israelite firstborn.
It is ironic that it was during this meal intended to celebrate deliverance that Jesus had to inform His disciples that one of them would betray Him to His death. In verses 17 through 21 Mark writes, “When it was evening he came with the twelve. As they sat and were eating, Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, one of you will betray me—he who eats with me.” They began to be sorrowful, and to ask him one by one, “Surely not I?” And another said, “Surely not I?” He answered them, “It is one of the twelve, he who dips with me in the dish. For the Son of Man goes, even as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.””
The disciples were stunned by Jesus’ disclosure that one of them would betray Him. To eleven of them, such a foul deed was unthinkable. It must have been a shock to Judas to discover that Jesus knew about his betrayal. It is a mark of Jesus’ compassion that He did not denounce Judas to the others. Instead Jesus gave Judas every opportunity to repent.
Judas would suffer the consequences for his infidelity. However, Jesus recognized that Judas’ betrayal was also a fulfillment of prophecy. In the Psalms, King David wrote, “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (Psalm 41:9 NIV) Other Psalms also predict Jesus’ suffering. Isaiah’s prophecies also give a detailed account of what Jesus was about to experience.
After alluding to the prophecies which predicted His suffering Jesus did something extremely significant. In verses 22 through 26 Mark writes, “As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had blessed, he broke it, and gave to them, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body.” He took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them. They all drank of it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many. Most certainly I tell you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew in God’s Kingdom.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”
The Jewish people ate the Passover meal in memory of the sacrifice which bought them freedom from physical slavery. The bread used during this meal was unleavened to symbolize the absence of sin. By calling the bread ‘His body’ Jesus did not mean that the bread was somehow changed into His actual flesh for He was still physically present with the disciples. Instead, through the bread He identified Himself with the pure and unblemished Passover sacrifice – the sacrifice of deliverance. Many years later the Apostle Paul wrote, “Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8 NIV)
In a similar way Jesus called the wine, “my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” With these words Jesus alluded to Isaiah’s prophecy about Him, “…he poured out his life unto death, …For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12 NIV) Just as God ratified the covenant He made with the Jewish people with blood, Jesus’ blood would usher in the New Covenant which the prophets predicted. This covenant would not be for the Jewish people only but would bring deliverance from sin for all who wish to enter it.
Drinking from the cup pictures fellowship. Though Jesus declared that this would be His last meal before His suffering, it did not mean that He would no longer be present with the disciples. Jesus would fellowship with them again in God’s Kingdom. The church is included in the Kingdom. Today the followers of Christ gather each Sunday and eat unleavened bread and drink the fruit of the vine in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice. As they do Jesus is present with them.
It was traditional to end the Passover meal by singing from Psalm 118. That Psalm contains the words, “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things! The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!” I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.” (Psalm 118:14-17 NIV)
Because Jesus became our Passover lamb we are able to live. He is our sacrifice of deliverance. It is through Him that we have victory over sin and death. Have you accepted Him as your Passover lamb?