All InSample

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. - Acts 2:42 

Let's check out Matthew 26:26-28 to see the first Lord’s Supper, where Jesus decided to unveil this incredibly symbolic and significant Christian tradition during a typical Passover meal, just before His arrest. 

The Passover meal was not just any meal, it was an important tradition for the Jewish people. The entire meal was an interactive experience to remind them about their freedom and rescue from slavery in Egypt, while providing an opportunity to creatively share the story with their children who didn’t remember or understand yet. 

A Passover meal consisted of unleavened (without yeast) bread. Why no yeast?  When Pharaoh finally relented and released Israel after the ten deadly plagues,  there was no time for the Israelites to prepare, much less allow their daily bread to rise before getting out of there. (Exodus 12:34). 

The Passover meal also includes four cups. During the third cup Jesus did this, 

And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 

During the next part, they dipped the bread in karpas, a salty flavor, reminding people of how they arrived in Egypt, through the story of Joseph and his brothers. Another course involved a bitter herb which reminded them of how bitter their lives were in Egypt. The whole Passover meal was meant to be an experience that helped them remember from where God had brought His people, and how He had rescued them. But Jesus saying the bread was His body and the wine was His blood was way off-script and not part of the usual interactive experience. 

What was He talking about? 

Well, He knew that in less than twelve hours, He would be arrested, tried, tortured, crucified, and killed. His body would be broken like the bread and His blood would be poured out like the wine.  

Instead of just saying this in plain words, Jesus used the Passover meal to set up and reveal something new. So, what’s the most important part of any meal? The main course! The main course and culmination of the Passover meal was lamb. Jesus intentionally provided no lamb for this Passover meal in Matthew 26. In doing so, Jesus was trying to show the disciples He was the sacrificial lamb. That His blood would be spilt to protect them and His sacrifice would rescue them from sin. 

The Passover meal celebrated and remembered that through the blood of the lamb, God rescues the Israelites from slavery to Pharaoh. 

Jesus used the Passover meal as a backdrop for the Lord’s Supper to reveal that through the blood of Jesus, God rescues everyone from slavery to sin and death. 

Jesus used the Passover meal, an interactive meal, because He is saying something very important to us today. He doesn’t just want us to remember and understand; His design and desire is for us to participate. 

God wants us to take part in revealing His real love.