Bible Studies

---

Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:20, New King James Version)

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was coming up, this feast immediately followed the feast of Passover. Since the two feasts were consecutive, they were often considered to be one. The feast of Passover commemorates the night of the tenth plague in Egypt, when the Angel of Death passed over the firstborn of the Israelites. The Angel of Death passed over them because of the blood of the Lamb which was spread over the door post of the house, thus sparing the first born of Israel. The angel of Death took the lives of the first born of every house in Egypt both human and animal. Afterward, Pharaoh released the Israelites from captivity. The feast of Unleavened Bread, celebrates the Exodus of Israel from Egyptian captivity. The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus before this feast took place because they feared the people would riot.


Jesus spent the week before his crucifiction in Bethany with his disciples. About six days prior to his crucifixion, a feast was held in the home of Simon the leper. Jesus was the guest of honor and Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, was also in attendance.

Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” (John 12:1-8, New King James Version)

Three of the four gospels relate the story of a woman anointing Jesus with a costly oil just a few days prior his death on the cross. John's gospel reveals to us that the woman was Mary of Bethany, the sister of both Martha and Lazarus. Furthermore, the book of John is the only Gospel to reveal that it was Judas Iscariot who tried to condemn her action as wasteful. Jesus defended Mary's action, stating that she was anointing him for his burial. Once again Jesus was telling the disciples that he was going to die soon, but they did not realize he meant in the very near future.

It was after the anointing of Jesus in Bethany that the priests and religious leaders found someone to help them further their plot to kill Jesus.

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude. (Luke 22:1-6, New King James Version)

Jesus wanted to celebrate the Passover with his disciples. So he sent two of his disciples into the city with specific instructions to find where they will hold the feast.


Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”
So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”
And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”
So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. (Luke 22:7-13, New King James Version)

It is appropriate that Jesus would die on the Feast of Passover, the day that the passover lambs were killed. Jesus is our passover lamb. Jesus is the Lamb of God, slain before the foundation of the world. He was slain and his blood was shed as an appeasement of God's wrath over mankind's sin. It is by his stripes we are healed and it is by his blood we are washed clean. It is only through the shedding of the blood of Jesus, that salvation came to the world. Jesus became our passover lamb, his blood covers the doorpost of our lives if we confess him as our savior. It is because of his blood, the penalty of sin passes over us. It is only because the blood of Jesus covers our sin, that we can come into the presence of God. Jesus took the wrath of God upon himself and shed his blood, so that we though his blood, could be saved.

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”
Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. (Luke 22:14-23, New King James Version)

During the feast Jesus instituted the ceremony we now call the Lord's Supper. He was giving his disciples a symbolic picture of his death on the cross. Just as the passover Seder is a commemoration of the salvation of Israel from Egypt, the Lord's supper is a commemoration of our salvation through Jesus death on the cross, and his resurrection. It is a clear picture of Jesus becoming the sacrifice for sin, to appease the wrath of God so that we might be saved. Jesus as our pass over lamb created a new covenant with his followers that would be sealed with his own blood. This new covenant, through the blood of Jesus our passover lamb, is the way by which we are saved.

Jesus is the Lamb of God, slain before the foundation of the world. He became the sacrifice for sin that once and for all satisfied God's wrath. He took the full brunt of God's hatred for sin upon himself so that we might be saved. My pastor Johnny Hunt has often said "Salvation is so easy for us, because it cost God so much."

So I ask you, if today you were to draw your last breath and come face to face with the Holy God of the universe, are you certain that you have eternal life? If not, you can know. Today is the day of salvation. Turn to him and repent, confess your sin, ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior and you will be saved. Will you come to him now?

But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:22-23, New King James Version)
Let us Pray:

Lord Jesus,
I am a sinner in desperate need of a savior. As best I know how, I repent of my sin, place my faith in you and ask that you become my savior. Please forgive me of my sin, come into my life and help me to live my life in a way that is pleasing to you. Lord I surrender all to you and ask that you help me live for you.
In Jesus name I pray, amen

Today's Scripture:

Luke chapter 22
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22+&version=NKJV&src=embed

John Chapter 12
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12+&version=NKJV&src=embed

--
Posted By Brenda Kent to The Lord My Provider at 3/13/2010 10:43:00 AM

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE