Jesus Our Passover

Exodus 12:1 13. The Passover and its New Covenant counterpart The Lord's Supper constitute the answer to a promise made to Abraham almost 4000 years ago. In Genesis 15:14 God told Abraham that his descendants would be mistreated and enslaved for 400 years. They would be enslaved in a country not their own, in order to allow additional grace to the nations that they were to displace from the land of Israel. God said to Abraham, "But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions." It was after the Passover, after Egypt had been wrecked with plagues that the Death Angel, seeing the blood on the doors, passed over His people and killed all the first born of Egypt. After this final plague the Israelites were driven out of Egypt. Almost 2000 years after Abraham, Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples and became its ultimate fulfillment. In Jewish families when celebrating the Passover, there are three fiat pieces of unleavened bread called matzoth used. They are separated by a cloth and wrapped together as one. (one can easily recognize the Trinity) The center piece is removed, broken into two uneven pieces. One piece is wrapped in white linen, and the other is hidden to be found later after the meal by the children. When the piece is called for by the father, the child who finds it is rewarded by a promise which is usually fulfilled at Pentecost This center piece of bread that was broken is the one that Jesus said, “This is my body that was broken for you." There are four cups of wine used in the Passover each with a promise attached. The Cup of Sanctification:" I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians." The Cup of Judgment: "I will deliver you from bondage." The Cup of Redemption: "I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm." The Cup of Praise: “Then I will take you for my people." It was the third cup taken after supper that Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many." Today we continue to celebrate the supper as Jesus taught. He said, "As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you show forth the Lord's death until He comes."