Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” (Luke 22:7-8)
Passover was the dinner that kicked off the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Passover was the event that God used to get the Jews out of Egypt once and for all.
After numerous displays of power, Pharaoh—King of Egypt—continued to be stubborn, refusing to allow the Jews to leave their captors in Egypt. Until that Passover night.
The Jews were instructed to kill lambs and paint the blood over their front door frames. This was to be a signal to an Angel of Death. Doors that didn’t have the blood would suffer great loss that night—the loss of a first born child.
Ok, it sounds cruel and grotesque, and it is. But understand two things:
- Through Moses, God tried everything else to get Pharaoh’s attention. Dramatic displays. Second, third, ninth chances. Still, nothing.
- This is as much about symbolism as it is Jews and Egyptians.
Later, Jesus would be called The Lamb of God, taking away the sins of the world. In other words, sparing our lives… our eternal souls. As if the blood of Jesus was over the door of eternity, on your behalf.
So, Passover was already a party celebrating new life and freedom. Now, Jesus was subtly communicating that the party was about to get even better… and last forever. Jesus was on a mission to pay for the sins of the world.
But why do so many religious people still live lives that look the opposite of free? Why do our symbols of this celebration dinner feel so depressing?
Maybe they shouldn’t…