Passover and the Last Supper

Passover and the Last Supper-What Is the Passover?

Updated 8-26.

Passover and The Last Supper are related. When Jesus ate what is called The Last Supper, He was celebrating the Passover. But Jesus changed some things from the traditional Passover, which His Jewish followers may have found disturbing. But in retrospect, Jesus took this last Passover to show, and to create, a new Christian ordinance that today we call the “Lord’s Supper” or “communion.” To better understand what Jesus did, we must first understand the Jewish Passover, and the mind of the Jews who wrote the Gospels, which described this memorable event.

Passover is a Jewish holiday instituted by God Himself more than three millennia ago. This holiday remembers the last night the children of Israel were in slavery in Egypt. Lamb’s blood was applied to the door posts, and all inside were saved from the death angel. If there was a home where a lamb’s blood was not applied properly, or not at all, God killed the firstborn child in that home. But for all those who obeyed God’s orders through Moses, the death angel “passed over” that house, leaving everyone inside healthy and intact. The date of Passover is the 14^th day of the first month of the Jewish calendar — Nisson (Leviticus 23:5).

The Passover meal is also called the “seder” meal. Seder means “order.” Throughout the years, Passover tradition changed according to Jewish culture, history, family traditions, and more, but the basic elements remain unchanged. Today’s Jewish celebration can be complex, including food, prayers, songs, stories, and even games. Each family celebrates the Passover a bit differently, yet the core elements that God told Moses are still observed in the Passover celebration.

Jesus, while He was on Earth, not only observed Passover because he was a Jew, but also the traditions associated with it. The last Passover Jesus celebrated, and the only one recorded, is what is commonly called “the Last Supper.” Understanding the Jewish mindset and traditions of the Passover meal helps us to understand the Gospel account of the Last Supper where Jesus both observed traditions, and broke from tradition, to institute the Christian ordinance of communion.

Passover and the Last Supper-The Original Passover

God gave Moses specific instructions regarding the Passover. The context of this was the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt. God had just finished bringing nine severe plagues on the Egyptians (and their gods) to show He was God, and to prepare for His people to leave Egypt. The last plague was the death of the firstborn. Unless the family followed specific instructions, which are recorded in Exodus 12:5-8, that family would lose its firstborn, too.

These instructions for life were not specific to any nationality. If an Egyptian followed these instructions, they would be spared. If an Israelite family trusted in their nationality, and disregarded these instructions, they would suffer the loss of their firstborn.

The amazing thing about the Jewish Passover tradition is that so many of its elements point to Jesus Christ! Before researching information for this article, all I knew was the lamb, the focal point of the Passover, pointed forward to Jesus Christ, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” -John 1:29 (KJV)

Passover and the Last Supper-The Lamb

It was the lamb’s blood applied as God ordered, which saved the residents of a house. The physical lamb was a foreshadow of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. In the original Passover, the lamb was killed and its blood applied to the doorposts and lintel of the door. Then the residents inside the house roasted and ate the lamb.

Exodus 12:5-8

“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.” (KJV)

The tradition of killing a lamb and eating it while remembering the first Passover was a commandment by God to His people.

Deuteronomy 16:1-2

“Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night. Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.” (KJV)

Passover and the Last Supper-Bitter Herbs

The exact species of vegetables that the Bible calls “bitter herbs” is unknown, but in today’s Passover traditions, these are usually horseradish and/or parsley. These vegetables represent both the bitter bondage of the Egyptians, and parsley, in particular, is a reminder of the hyssop plant that the children of Israel used to apply the blood around the door.

Exodus 12:22

“And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.” (KJV)

Passover and the Last Supper-Unleavened (Matzah) Bread

The unleavened bread today is commonly called “matzah,” which needed to be unleavened since, during the original Passover, the Jews did not have time to allow yeast to make their bread rise. This meal was prepared hastily since it was their last meal in Egypt. After this first Passover, the people of Israel truly ate — and ran — out of Egyptian bondage.

Unleavened bread is a type of bread baked with no rising agent. In the Bible, leaven is a symbol of sin. The unleavened bread is a symbol of Jesus Christ – the Bread of Life Who had no sin, according to Hebrews 4:15.

Unleavened bread is also a staple food of many people around the world, yet each culture has a slightly different recipe. Some examples of unleavened bread from other cultures include some types of Italian pizza dough, roti from India, the French crepe, and the Mexican tortilla. But the Jewish matzah used in the Passover meal is singular.

Looking closely at the matzah bread, it has both stripes and holes. The characteristics of this type of unleavened bread further points to Jesus Christ, His piercings, and the ribbons of flesh (stripes) from the brutal whippings He endured. Both His piercings and stripes were part of prophecies about Him:

Psalm 22:16

“For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” (KJV)

Isaiah 53:5

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (KJV)

Passover and the Last Supper-The Afikomen

One tradition of the modern Passover meal involves three pieces of matzah bread wrapped together in a linen napkin. Some rabbis say these three pieces represent the Jewish priests, rabbis, and people. But this tradition, to the Christian believer, shows the triune Godhead.

Of these three pieces of bread, the middle one (representing Jesus Christ – the second Person of the Tribune Godhead) is broken. The broken piece is hidden somewhere in the house and the children are told to find this broken piece of bread called “afikomen.” When the afikomen is discovered, the child who finds it receives a gift!

This tradition shows the broken body of Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life (John 6:48). He was broken, died, buried (hidden), and then resurrected! When seeking souls find the risen Christ, they receive the gift of eternal life. Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (KJV)

Passover and the Last Supper-Four Ceremonial Cups

Another tradition, not commanded by God, but added by the Jewish people, and associated with the seder meal, is four cups of wine or grape juice. The meaning of these four ceremonial cups in relation to the Passover is based on four promises of God found in Exodus

Exodus 6:6-7

“Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” (KJV)

These cups were:

The First Cup — Sanctification

The Second Cup — Judgment

The Third Cup — Redemption

The Fourth Cup — Blessing

Passover and the Last Supper-Jesus Observed the Passover

As a Jew, Jesus obeyed God and observed the Passover.

Matthew 26:17-19

“Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.” (KJV)

Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus where He wanted to celebrate the Passover. Perhaps they were thinking He wanted to go to one of their homes and eat with their family. But Jesus specifically called His 12 followers together, away from their families, to celebrate this very important holiday, both separated and together. The wives (and children) of the apostles made their own sacrifice that night since their husbands and fathers were away from their families for this important celebration.

The disciples prepared the meal. The emphasis of this final Passover was the bread and the wine introducing the communion meal. But Jesus and His disciples had a full-course, roasted lamb dinner – with bitter herbs, unleavened bread, and quite possibly other side dishes. When the disciples prepared according to Jesus’ instructions, they must have set the table with thirteen plates, napkins, silverware, and yes, and cups!

Passover and the Last Supper-The Cup(s)

The “cup” that Luke mentions twice in his Gospel was the ceremonial cup, not a personal drinking vessel, which everyone there had.

This is how Luke referred to this tradition of the Passover as Jesus celebrated it:

Luke 22:17

“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves” (KJV)

Luke 22:20

“Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (KJV)

The Jewish mind instantly would understand the reference to “the cup” as one of the four ceremonial, traditional, Passover cups, just as an American would understand the meaning of the phrase “the bird” or “the tree” in relation to the celebration of Thanksgiving or Christmas, respectively.

The first cup, referenced Luke 22:17, was the Cup of Sanctification. Jesus started the meal with this cup, and He wanted His disciples to share in this special meal.

But Jesus broke with tradition and skipped the second cup, the Cup of Judgment, at least, at the meal. Instead, He took this cup alone, after the meal, in the Garden of Gethsemane, when He prayed, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39, and again, in Matthew 26:42, “He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me.”

The third cup, the Cup of Redemption, “after supper.” He gave new meaning to this cup when He instituted that redemption, “the new testament,” in his blood, was going to be soon shed for His disciples — and the rest of the world.

It seems that Jesus did not finish the meal, since, traditionally, the Passover meal ended with the last of the four cups — the fourth cup, the Cup of Blessing. But in three of the Gospels, Jesus specifically said He would not at that time drink of the fruit of the vine, the fourth cup, until a future date.

Matthew 26: 29

“But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (KJV)

Mark 14: 25

“Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (KJV)

Luke 22:18

“For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.” (KJV)

Jesus was looking forward to a future and greater event, and so He refused to finish this particular Passover meal, anticipating, and teaching, about a greater event to come.

Passover and the Last Supper-Judas’ Sop

John 13:26 “Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.” (KJV)

The incident is only recorded in the Gospel of John. The “sop” was a small piece of bread that Jesus dipped into one of the entrees served that night. This action is similar to us dipping a tortilla chip into salsa and handing the dipped chip to someone at the table. Somewhere, I heard that this tradition of dipping a sop and handing it to someone was, according to Jewish tradition, a gesture of both love and warning.

Jesus knew exactly what Judas would do, but still, He loved Judas. He wanted to convey His love to Judas while letting Judas know what he was about to do was wrong. However, Judas wanted those 30 pieces of silver that he had been promised more than the riches of Christ. Judas’ mind was made up, and therefore, he was not going to allow himself to be confused with the facts.

Passover and the Last Supper-The Hymn

Twice in the Gospels, (Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26) the writers mention Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn. Jesus truly went to the cross singing. What exactly He sang that night with his disciples is not known, but the traditional Passover psalms are Psalms 113 through 118. One of the interesting verses from these chapters, considering what Jesus knew He was shortly facing, is Psalm 118:17. “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.” (KJV) Did Jesus sing these particular words? Perhaps, we don’t know. But He may have done so.

Passover and the Last Supper-Should Christians Celebrate Passover?

The short answer is “No.” Jesus instituted what we call “communion” or “the Lord’s Supper” instead of Passover. God gave the ordinance of Passover to the Jewish people prior to Jesus’ coming. Passover is not a Christian ordinance. The ordinance of communion has superseded Passover. As a Bible-believing Christian, it is important to obey God by celebrating the Lord’s Supper, not Passover.

Passover and the Last Supper-Differences Between Passover and Communion

1. Passover was traditionally celebrated privately, within a house, like the original Passover. But Jesus celebrated the Passover and replaced it by what we call “communion” in a more public area — a “large upper room furnished” (Luke 22:12). Today, we usually have communion in church — a more public place, and not in our private home.
2. Passover was celebrated with the physical family. Jesus broke the tradition and instituted communion by celebrating it with a spiritual family.
3. Passover was celebrated only one time a year. But communion can (and should) be celebrated many times a year, as according to 1 Corinthians 11:25, “After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” (KJV)
4. Passover looked backward. Communion looks both backward and forward. 1 Corinthians 11:26 states, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” (KJV)

I hope that by exploring the traditional Passover, it has helped you to both understand better, and appreciate, not only the Gospel account of the Last Supper, but also the greater significance of the ordinance of communion.

Passover and the Last Supper-Update

I presented this Bible study as a talk at a recent Ladies’ Meeting. Here are some pictures. The first picture is me speaking about the 4 cups. The granola bar on the plate in the middle picture represents a piece of roasted lamb (the ladies’ used their imagination)! This plate has the “roasted lamb”, the bitter herbs, the unleavened bread and the sop. Photos by Lindsey Hoke.

About the Author

Sharing is caring!