Messiah (Christ) our Passover
BY MRS. ARI D. HIDALGO

MATTHEW 26: 17-30

Introduction: In verse 17 ‘THE PASSOVER’

“Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover?”

In Hebrew it is 'HA PESACH'. The word Passover is mentioned about 28 times in the New Covenant. It begins the 14th day of Nisan according to the Jewish calendar and lasts for 7 days from the 14th to the 21st day of Nisan. Its origin comes right out of Exodus 12 (the story from bondage to freedom from Egypt - the first redemption) and it was to be a memorial to be kept ‘throughout their generations’.

It is also referred to as 'Unleavened Bread'. Luke 22:1 says "Now the feast of Unleavened Bread drew nigh called Passover". It was Y'shua (Jesus) our Lord's desire to eat this Passover with His disciples before He suffered the death of crucifixion as the Paschal Lamb.

As John the Baptist witnessed of Jesus and said of Him "Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world". (John 1:29).

Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 these words "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill" which brings us to our first thought.

THE COMMANDMENT: In verses 17-18

Here, our Lord is fulfilling the Commandment that He gave to His people Israel in Egypt, and that is "to keep the Passover" from generation to generation forever. He kept the Passover with His Parents and in His adult age of about 33 He kept, for the last time, the feast with His disciples.
In verse 17 "Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover"?

In verse 18 He gave these instructions to two of His disciples (Peter and John): "Go unto the city, (meaning Jerusalem) to such a man". Luke identifies the man as the one who is bearing a pitcher of water; perhaps they did not know him, he was probably a servant of the one who was the owner of the 'Upper Room' also known as the "Guestchamber" the place where the Passover Meal was to be eaten. They were to follow him. (Luke 22: 7-12).

The disciples were to say these words to the man.

"The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with my disciples".

Notice, He referred to Himself as 'THE MASTER'. He is Master of all things. Also, He said 'MY TIME IS AT HAND'. These words that He said were referring to "His Crucifixion". His time to be crucified was at hand. But, before this time that was at hand, His desire was to keep the commandment of Passover and observe the meal with His disciples which brings us to the next thought.

THE CELEBRATION: In verse 19

In verse 19 "And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover".

Peter and John clandestinely (secretly) did as Jesus our Lord had appointed them. They made ready the Passover.

Making ready the Passover took a lot of preparation and it was according to the order in 'The Torah' namely the reference in the book of Exodus chapter 12.

Before the celebration every thing had to be done in order which included the cleansing of "The Upper Room". This was paramount for the removal of all leaven which is symbolic of sin in The Scripture. The lamb had to be killed at a certain time and prepared a certain way which was very much a part of the observance. It was roasted; the fruit of the vine and unleavened bread 'Matzah' along with bitter herbs and a special sweet mixture called 'Charoseth' was set in order. Every thing that was needed was done. They did as Jesus appointed them to do. Our next thought is in verse 20.

THE CONFRONTATION: In verses 20-25

In verse 20 we read "Now when the EVEN was come, HE sat down with the twelve. This is the last Passover with His disciples.

The first Passover that was observed in the Book of Exodus was in haste. Here, it is done in a reclining position with 'The Sar Shalom' 'The Prince of Peace', Y'shua Jesus our Lord. And, as they were eating Jesus had something very important to confront them with.

In verse 21 Jesus said that 'one' of them would betray Him.

"Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me".

John in chapter 13 quotes that when He said these words he was troubled in Spirit.

He knew the suffering, and agony that He would have to endure and this was an expression of His humanity. The Bible tells us that He is touched with our infirmities. And, this is one of the reasons why He is the best 'Comforter' to comfort and console a needy soul.

Also, his disciples were exceeding sorrowful and began every one of them to say unto the Lord "Lord is it I"?

Jesus answered them in verse 23 and 24

"And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me".

"The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but, woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born."

In verse 25 Judas Iscariot was the last to make the inquiry.

"Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I"?

And the Lord's response, He said unto him, "Thou hast said". At this time no one knew who the betrayer was except for Jesus.

Next, we have the Lord instituting 'THE LORD'S SUPPER,' OR 'THE LORD'S TABLE'. We will call it ...

THE NEW COVENANT: In verses 26-29

The New Covenant is called in Hebrew 'Brit Ha-Dashah' Here, we have the prophecy in the Old Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-33) about to be fulfilled in the New Covenant.

While they were eating Jesus took the Passover Supper and fulfilled it to be His Supper SYMBOLICALLY. And, in the fullness of time it became reality, for later that evening He did become the Lamb of God that would bring Redemption to the world. THE BRIT HA DASHAH! The 'New Covenant'!

But, first in verse 26 as the Passover meal was coming to an end Jesus took BREAD,
(unleavened bread called Matzah) and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said,

"TAKE, EAT; THIS IS MY BODY".

Jesus at this time was alive, thus, it could not be taken literal. The holes and stripes in the 'Matzah' were symbolic of His body, as the Passover Lamb being beaten, and slain beginning that evening.

This element can only symbolically represent Jesus as 'The Paschal Lamb who is 'The Bread of Life'. 'WITHOUT HIM' there is NO (REDEMPTION) ETERNAL LIFE.

In I Corinthians 11:24 Jesus said to His disciples "this do in remembrance of ME".

In verse 27 -28 we have 'THE CUP' called 'HA-GEULAH' 'THE CUP OF REDEMPTION'. He took THE CUP and gave thanks, and gave it to them (His disciples) saying,

"DRINK YE ALL OF IT"; "For this is 'MY BLOOD' of the New Covenant, (New Testament) which is shed for many for the REMISSION OF SINS".

In I Corinthians 11:25 Jesus said to His disciples "this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance
of ME”.

We read in verse 29

"But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink new with you in my Father's kingdom".

Here, Jesus was speaking and referring to the future marriage supper of the Lamb, in the Father's kingdom.

CONCL: THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

In verse 30 "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives". This mount was Jesus' favorite place to go and commune with God the Father, and where the garden of Gethsemane is.

I Corinthians 11:26 ... "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come".

"For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us". I Corinthians 5:7 / I Corinthians 11:24-31