Matthew 26:20-35; Mark 14:17-31; Luke 22:14-23,31-34; John 13:21-30,36-38
On their last night together before His death on the cross, Jesus and the disciples shared a very special meal—the Passover meal. Every year, the Passover celebration helped God’s people remember when God’s wrath “passed over” the Israelites who placed the blood of a lamb to their door posts. The sacrifice of the lamb protected God’s people. Like the sacrificial lamb that saved the Israelites, Jesus sacrificed His body and shed His blood on the cross to save all who believe in Him.
As Jesus ate with His disciples, He told them that the bread and the cup would now represent
new symbols: His body and His blood. Even though He was perfectly holy and had no sin, Jesus gave up His body and shed His blood on the cross for our sin so the judgment of God might pass over all who believe in Him!
Jesus shared the Last Supper to help His followers remember that He was going to die for their sins and rise again to give them new life. Jesus took the punishment we deserve so we can be forgiven and live forever with God. When we trust Jesus, we can remember His great love every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
Pray: God, thank You for loving us. Thank You for the promise to send a Savior even when we have sinned against You. We thank You for Jesus who is the true Passover Lamb. Amen.
