THE LAST PASSOVER BECOMES THE LORD’S SUPPER

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LUKE 22:7-30
Lesson #57
THE LAST PASSOVER BECOMES THE LORD’S SUPPER

Memory Verse: 1Cor 11:26
In our last lesson we began to see all the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled during the last week of His earthly ministry.
We also discussed the fact that God was in control of all the events that occurred. Jesus Christ, being fully God and fully man at the same time had the authority and control over every aspect of the events and the timing of those events.
Read Luk 22:7-20 The Last Supper
- Notice in verse 7 the scripture is careful to tell us that the day of the killing of the Passover lamb had not yet arrived but imminent. It was the day of the feast of unleavened bread. That means it was Wednesday.
- We have been watching the Passover lamb since the previous Sunday when this lamb was brought by the High Priest from the Mount of Olives to the temple. That lamb remained tied to the altar of the temple for four days while the priests examined it for any illness or imperfection.
  - In the same way, Jesus Christ followed the Passover lamb from the Mount of Olives to the temple on that same day.
  - He was in the temple for four days as the religious leaders questioned Him to find some imperfection.
- The preparation for the Passover with His disciples:
  - Probably there was a previous understanding with the owner of the upper room that Jesus and His disciples would use this room for the celebration of the Passover. (12)
    - Because all Jewish men were to come to Jerusalem for Passover, one would have to have made reservations earlier to find a place to accommodate a group.
    - This is probably the same upper room where the disciples waited for the day of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. (Act 1:13)
  - This Passover meal which is now called “the last supper” for Christians occurred on Wednesday evening before the killing of the Passover lamb on Thursday of that week.
    - This brings up the question: How could Jesus and the disciples celebrate the Passover when the Passover lamb had not yet been killed?
    - The Law of Moses made special contingencies for the celebration of the Passover on a day other than the actual Passover day.
    - The Essenes often celebrated the Passover a day early to show contempt for the corrupt Jewish religious leaders, specifically the Pharisees.
  - Jewish preparation for the Passover consisted of the woman of the house cleaning the house to make sure there was no leaven (yeast) in the house.
    - Remember that leaven is a symbol for sin throughout the Bible.
    - In other words, while they searched the house for leaven physically, it points to the fact that we are to examine our lives for sin so as to repent and gain forgiveness.
    - “There shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water…” (10)
      - This would be an unusual scene.
      - Carrying water was a woman’s job.
  - The seating in the upper room: (14)
    - Tables were arranged in the form of the letter “U”.
    - Hebrew custom determined the seating of the disciples.
    - The eldest disciple would be placed at Jesus’ left side.
      - A position of honor.
      - That would be Judas Iscariot.
      - This reclining position would put Jesus head close to Judas’ chest.
    - Then they would be arranged decreasing in age around the table.
    - John was the youngest and that placed him on Jesus’ right. (Joh 13:23)
      - John’s head was close to Jesus’ chest.
      - Also a position of honor.
    - Peter was on the opposite side farthest from Jesus.
- The Passover meal had various cups of wine as part of the celebration.
  - Cup #1 = Cup of Sanctification. (17)
  - Cup #2 = Cup of Iniquity: Remembering the 10 plagues in Egypt.
  - Cup #3 = Cup of Blessing: Also called the cup of redemption. (20)
  - Cup #4 = Cup of Acceptance: A cup of joy and celebration.
- What did Jesus mean when He said, “…I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.”? (18)
  - Remember in our lesson about the Kingdom of God, (Lesson #47) we discovered that there will be an earthly kingdom when Jesus Christ will reign for 1000 years. This is the timing of the kingdom that Jesus refers to here.
  - In other words He says he will not celebrate until after the event of the second coming of Christ when He establishes His kingdom on earth in the Millennium.
    - Jesus did not drink the 4^th cup of the Passover.
    - In verse 18 Jesus referred to cup #4 which was a cup of joy and celebration. He will not drink this cup until the millennial reign of Christ occurs on earth.
- The broken bread: (19)
  - There were 3 pieces of unleavened bread that represented the Holy Trinity.
  - Jesus broke the middle piece called “aphikomen” in the Jewish Passover celebration. (This is a Greek word that means, “I came”.)
    - The broken center piece represents the crucifixion of Jesus Christ,
    - In the Jewish Passover, this piece is hidden in a napkin for the children to find. It represents the spiritual blindness placed on the Jews today so they do not understand who the second member of the Holy Trinity really is.
    - When the children find this piece of broken bread, it represents the future generation that will eventually accept Christ as the Messiah at the second coming of Christ.
  - Notice that Jesus tells the disciples that this broken piece of bread represents His body.
- “…This cup is the new testament in my blood which is shed for you.” (20)
  - This cup is Cup #3, the cup of redemption.
  - Jesus relates it directly to his death and the shedding of his blood that purchased redemption from sin.
  - “…the new testament in my blood…” (20)
    - The new covenant in the blood of Christ begins a new dispensation in time.
      - The Old Testament Law of Moses is set aside having been fulfilled by the perfect man, Jesus Christ.
      - The New Testament age of Grace is beginning.
    - The covenant we are under today is this covenant in the blood of Christ.
      - It first is given in Jer 31:31-34.
      - Then Heb 8:7-13 tells us it is meant for this age of grace and for all people.
    - Notice your memory verse in 1Cor 26 tells us to participate in the Lord’s Supper until He returns to remember His death.
      - In the Holy Communion is a remembrance and identification for the believer with the cross of Jesus Christ that purchased our forgiveness of sin in the past.
      - In the Holy Communion is the anticipation of the second coming of Christ when we shall be with Him in His reign on earth.
Read Luk 22:21-23 Betrayal
- Read Joh 13:21-23
- With regard to the Passover and the Lord’s Supper, the gospel of John gives us a better order of events regarding Judas.
  - Judas had already made his decision to betray Jesus before the Passover celebration.
  - As we have already seen in Luke, that Judas was seated to the left of Jesus. This was a position of honor because he was the oldest disciple.
  - Then we see Jesus offer a piece of broken bread dipped in vinegar to all of the disciples including Judas.
    - In the making of a blood covenant between two people, the bread was personally placed into the mouth of the other person. (Joh 6:53-54)
    - Judas did not drink of the third cup of redemption that Jesus said represented His blood, for he left the group to accomplish his betrayal before the Passover celebration ended.
    - Judas did not eat of the Passover lamb that represented Christ, slain from the foundation of the world.
    - In other words, Judas did not accept Christ and the new covenant in His blood. He was not part of the covenant and was not saved.
Read Luk 22:24-30 Future position
- The disciples argued over their future position in the kingdom.
  - While they did not understand that Jesus was leaving them, they did understand that there would be a future kingdom over which Jesus would reign.
  - Of course, they thought that would occur immediately. Because of that they discuss their positions of authority.
- Jesus explains to them that they will sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
  - However, this will occur at the second coming of Christ when Jesus returns to earth to establish His kingdom for 1000 years.
  - That is when the disciples will sit as judges over the 12 tribes of Israel. The disciples will receive a resurrected body at the rapture of the church. Then, after the tribulation period of 7 years, Christ will return as the King of kings.
Summary and Application:
- In God’s perfect time, many events come together. These events can be examined independently but when we put them all together we see how Jesus gave independent events a new spiritual meaning.
- For example:
  - The Old Testament Passover celebration that remembered the plagues of Egypt and how God miraculously brought them out of bondage to bring them to the Promised Land.
  - Jesus gave the Old Testament Passover a new meaning when He initiated the Lord’s Supper for the New Testament church.
  - The Lord’s Supper reminds of Christ’s first coming to die for our sins and to give us forgiveness and eternal life so that we anticipate His second coming as a King.
  - The Lord’s Supper is also the initiation of a new blood covenant that extends to us the privilege of becoming His personal disciples.
    - The blood covenant is a very personal relationship and identification with Him, and He with us.
      - We identify ourselves with His crucifixion and resurrection through water baptism. (Col 2:12)
      - We identify ourselves with His first and second coming through Holy Communion. (1Cor 11:26)
      - We participate in an eternal, personal blood covenant with Christ where our enemies are His enemies, where His enemies are our enemies, where our lives belong to Him and His life belongs to us. We renew our covenant with Him every time we partake of Holy Communion.
    - As new believers surrender their lives to the Lord to have a personal relationship with Christ, it means we are called to be His disciples that faithfully and obediently serve Him

Homework
Luk 22:31-71

Application of Luk 22:7-30
- Have you dedicated your life to serving the Lord?
- What do you think it means “to serve” the Lord?
- Read Joh 12:25-26
Preparation for Luk 22:31-71
- Read Luk 22:31-71
  - Why were the disciples unable to stay awake and pray as Jesus asked? (40, 45-46)
  - Of what significance is this to the future of the New Testament church when Jesus was not there?
Memory Verse: 1Pet 4:7