On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the customary time to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover for you to eat?" That's how he came to send out two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there." The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. That's how they prepared for the Passover.
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In a Nutshell The details of how the Passover was
prepared are given. |
Questions Think about how Jesus may
have arranged to have the room ready and the food prepared? |
Jesus knew that He, the Son of Man, the one John the Baptist had pointed to, had come to fulfil what all Jews celebrated in their Passover feast. The release from captivity in Egypt, under the mighty hand of God, was celebrated as a pointer to the coming of the Lamb of God in their midst. That's why He did not want His disciples to miss it. It wasn't just that they were in Jerusalem and had visited the temple. It was more important than that. He had long wanted to celebrate the Passover meal with His friends to fix their minds upon what they were about to experience. He had prepared thoroughly. He had arrived in Jerusalem at the time he had planned. He had taught in the temple what needed to be taught. And then He prepared their Passover celebration taking care of all the arrangements.
It was done with great care and thoughtfulness. It was an occasion they would always remember. He acted as the Host; He did the inviting.
The other thing to notice here is that Jesus was also careful. Mark tells us that while Jesus and His followers were out at Bethany they were safe. The Passover meal, which was to be held in Jerusalem, needed strict security as the disciples were to discover later in the Garden of Gethsemane. Children and women were also cared for in this family meal. So Jesus was clear about those He wanted to share in it. But they were under control. He found a room, rented it, and there His Passover was prepared.
Who cooked the food? It probably wasn't Jesus although I don't think it hurts for us to think of Him in the kitchen with a chef's apron on in the afternoon before all His friends arrived. For some time now, knowing I am to suffer, I have been very keen to share this Passover with you. For I will not share in this meal again before it finds its true fulfilment in the Kingdom of God (Luke 22:15). This is why we call Jesus our Passover Lamb. The Passover meal looked back to the flight from Egypt. It also an Old Testament way of looking forward in faith to God sending a sacrifice to take care of our sins. That was a promise made long before Moses led the people out of Egypt. Remember Isaac's questions of his father on Mount Moriah and what Abraham had said in reply?
Isaac spoke up, saying to his father Abraham: "Father?" "Yes, my lad" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham answered: "God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son" (Genesis 22:7).
Jesus hosted the meal. When His disciples arrived He acted as the host by serving them. A lot happened that evening. Jesus was still teaching and instructing His disciples.
The evening meal was being served…. Jesus knew that the father had put all things under his power…. so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist…poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet… (John 13:2) Now that I your Lord and teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example…(14). You are my friends if you do what I command… I no longer call you servants … Instead I call you my friends... (14:14).
So now we see that this was also like a party at the end of the school year. Jesus had finished His teaching and He was summing up what they had done in His class for the few years they had been with Him. They were His school, His disciples. Being His friends, and following Him, meant He had taught them the way to suffer just like Him. That was their reward, a reward they have passed on to us. Jesus made that Passover a memorable event.