On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?" Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "You have said so." While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the [a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." (Mat. 26:17-29 TNIV).
Although this year, Passover celebration does not coincide with the last days of Jesus on earth, I invite you to get more into the spirit of Passover, as we review very briefly the history of the Judeo- Christian tradition. Holy Week begins March 16, Palm Sunday, extending until March 23, Easter Sunday. Passover (Pesach) begins at sundown April 19, extending to sundown Sunday 27.
The history of the Judeo-Christian tradition begins in Genesis 12, with the narrative of God’s covenant with Abram. The story tells us that the patriarch lived with his family in Ur of Chaldea, from where the Almighty called him to leave the city and form a society whose members would exhibit godly characteristics. Abraham’s obedience led to the development of a people who multiplied, prospered and suffered in Egypt. Then, the LORD freed his people under the leadership of Moses (Ex. 3). Once at Mt. Horeb in the Sinai Peninsula, the Lord called the people to renew the covenant made with Abram (later renamed Abraham), which they embraced (Ex. 19:5-6), along with the terms established by theory (Ex. 20:1-17). As the covenant was violated many times, Israel lost its virtue and fell to the enemy. Just before the fall of Jerusalem, prophet Jeremiah announced that the LORD would make a new covenant with his people (31:31-34). This covenant would be a more personal contract, where the LORD would deal directly with each believer, not like the old covenant, which people took too impersonally.
It is the ending of the ministry of Jesus. The Master is having supper with his disciples at Passover. It is Thursday evening. Ahead, Jesus has some difficult hours: Gethsemane, arrest, trial hearings, mocking, crucifixion and death. But now the table is set. The supper is a re-enactment of the events of the exodus from Egypt and the pilgrimage in the desert. The Seder is a long, elaborated meal full of meaningful symbolism portraying a love story, the love of God at work leading and protecting his people and at times chastising them for misbehavior. Matthew tells us:
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
What covenant? It is the covenant Jeremiah announced, Ezekiel confirmed and the New Testament writers referred to so many times. What are the expectations of this covenant suggested by Jesus’ announcement: “This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins”? Here are three simple but most significant suggestions:
It should bind the believer with God in a personal relationship leaving no room for misunderstanding, each individual accepting the binding grace of God mediated by Jesus as the Christ and nurturing it towards maturity.
It should bind believers in intimate communion with one another, a sibling-hood of the highest quality.
It should make possible for the followers of the Christ to anticipate their great reunion with the Master and all the saints, family and friends, who preceded us into the presence of God.
Have a blessed holiday season full of joy and expectations.
ON THE MEANING OF HOLY WEEK J.C.Cordova, D.Min., LCSW