Spring – The Last Supper

     Question: How many Passovers (Kindle) did Jesus celebrate? Answer: He celebrated Passover (Kindle) with family or friends every year! Because Jesus was Jewish, we know the Passover was a significant event for him, his family and his friends.
     The New Testament contains details from four Passovers which Jesus celebrated. Each year the celebration was unique and important in his life and ministry. I have detailed these in more depth in my book Spring: Connecting with God. (Kindle)
     The first recorded Passover celebrated by Jesus occurred when he was twelve. His family went to Jerusalem for this important Harvest Festival. During the time of the preparation for the feast, Jesus’ family left him alone, and he went to the Temple. While in the Temple he began to dialogue with the Sadducees, Pharisees, Sanhedrin members and Priests. The Bible records how his parents left him behind in the city when they went home; from the culture we can understand more details.
     The first Passover of Jesus’ ministry years was celebrated in Jerusalem. The Gospel of John contains eye-witness details of this Passover, including a visit to Nicodemus, teacher of the people of Israel. In this Passover Jesus shared with his disciples how to come out of bondage to sin into the light of God’s love.
     The year before Jesus died, he did something very unusual: He celebrated Passover at home. Every other year (except for the years spent in Egypt) Jesus, his family and his friends traveled to Jerusalem. John 6 contains details of how Jesus celebrated this Passover at the Sea of Galilee. As Jesus raised the Motzah on this Passover, he called himself the bread of life.
     Jesus’ last Passover is called the Last Supper. All four gospels tell about this Passover Seder. Matthew, Mark and Luke briefly skim over this dinner. (Luke’s Gospel contains some unique details). John’s gospel goes into detail as he describes the actions and teachings which occurred in the upper room.
     When we understand the Passover we understand more about Jesus, his culture and the teachings he was trying to share. In the Christian world today, it is sad that we too often rush through the cup and bread without understanding the great lessons of Passover; and in these great lessons the things Jesus was really telling us.