The Passover

The celebration of Passover
was a time for remembering the “freedom train” experience of the Israelites,
God's mighty deliverance of His people from Egyptian bondage,
and the lamb's blood on each door post
that kept them safe the night the firstborn was slain.
It was also a time of anticipating the coming of the promised Messiah,
the sacrificial Lamb of God, whose life's blood
would take away the sin of the world.

This Passover that Jesus arranged to eat with His disciples
would later be known as The Last Supper,
for it was the last time that Jesus and His disciples
would share a meal together before His death.
Jesus knew that.
During the meal, He took bread, gave thanks and broke it,
then shared it, letting them know that it was His body.
He also took the cup, gave thanks, and offered it to them.
They all drank from it.
He said it was the blood of the covenant that was poured out for many.
They sang a hymn; then they went out into the night,
to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus was traveling a very different road that night
from the road He was paving for His disciples and the rest of the world.
What would take Him to death would bring life to the rest of us.
He walked it because of His love and out of obedience to His Father.

Twila Jean Charles - 2004
L - 13