Jesus: Our Great Passover

        At the tender age of 17, I surrendered my life to Christ. Since I didn't grow up in church, there was so much I didn't understand about what it meant to follow Jesus. There were also a lot of things we would do during the Sunday morning worship service that I didn’t fully understand. Things like communion. Why did we eat this dry wafer and drink this oddly tasting juice? And, how did it connect to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross? It was a long time before anyone took the time to answer these questions, and in my ignorance, I took communion for years, failing to fully understand its beauty.

To fully grasp the beauty of communion, we need to revisit the original Passover story in Exodus 12. God was about to deliver His final judgment on Egypt – the death of every firstborn. However, He offers a way of escape for His people. They were to sacrifice an unblemished lamb and paint its blood over their doorposts. When the angel of death saw the blood, it would "pass over" that house, sparing those inside.
This wasn't just about avoiding death; it was about God's protective love shielding His people from destruction. The Passover feast became an annual reminder of God's deliverance, not just from death, but from oppression and bondage in Egypt.

Jesus as the Ultimate Passover Lamb.

Fast forward to the night before Jesus' crucifixion. Jesus is observing the Passover with His disciples and during the meal He does something unusual, yet monumental. He takes the bread and wine – central elements of the Passover feast – and imbues them with new meaning:
"And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, 'Take; this is my body.' And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.'" (Mark 14:22-24)

In this powerful moment, Jesus reveals Himself as the true Passover Lamb. His body would be broken, and His blood shed, to deliver us not just from physical death, but from the bondage of sin and its eternal consequences.
Why is Jesus a Better Sacrifice?

The old system of animal sacrifices could only provide temporary atonement. Like a loan payment extension, it merely deferred the debt of sin but didn't eliminate it. But Jesus, being both fully human and fully divine, offers a sacrifice of infinite value that permanently cancels the debt our sin has caused.

Also, Jesus lived a sinless life, conquering temptation in human flesh. This makes Him the perfect representative and substitute for humanity. So much so that His one-time sacrifice is sufficient for all sins – past, present, and future.
A New and Better Covenant.

Jesus declares His blood to be "the blood of the covenant." In the ancient world, covenants were serious agreements sealed with blood. God had made covenants with His people before, but they repeatedly failed to keep their end of the bargain.
However, God continues to pursue them. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of a coming "new covenant" where God would put His law inside of them; they would become His people and He would become their God (Jeremiah 31:31-33). Jesus, through His sacrifice, ushers in a new covenant that is not based on our ability to obey perfectly, but on His perfect obedience on our behalf.

This new covenant offers incredible blessings:

1. Intimate fellowship with God
2. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit
3. Internal transformation (God's law written on our hearts)
4. Inclusion for all who believe, not just Israel

The apostle Paul beautifully expresses the impact of this new covenant in Romans 5:8-11. We who were once enemies of God are now reconciled to Him. The relationship is not only repaired but restored to a place of blessing and favor.

The Promise of a Better Kingdom.

Jesus' words at the Last Supper point beyond His death to a future hope: "Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." (Mark 14:25)

We live in a broken world filled with suffering, injustice, and death. But Jesus' sacrifice secures for us citizenship in God's eternal kingdom. The book of Revelation paints a breathtaking picture of this coming reality:
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4)

This kingdom culminates in the "marriage supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:6-9), a joyous feast celebrating the ultimate union between Christ and His redeemed people.
Reflecting on Our Great Passover.

As we contemplate Jesus as our Great Passover, here are some key takeaways:

1. Remember: We're called to regularly remember Christ's sacrifice through communion. This remembrance strengthens our faith, encourages obedience, and helps us persevere in difficult times.
2. Realign: Let this truth reorient your priorities and refocus your gaze on Christ. If you've grown apathetic in your faith, take time to repent and recommit yourself to following Jesus wholeheartedly.
3. Receive: For those who haven't yet embraced Christ, know that His sacrifice is sufficient for you. No sin is too great to be covered by His blood. God offers you the cup of salvation – will you receive it?
4. Rejoice: Our Great Passover doesn't just save us from something (sin and death), but for something – eternal life in God's glorious kingdom. 

The imagery of Passover enriches our understanding of Christ's work on the cross. He is the unblemished Lamb whose blood delivers us from judgment. He mediates a new and better covenant, restoring our relationship with God. And He secures for us a place in an eternal kingdom where we will experience unhindered fellowship with the Father.
When we take communion, may we marvel anew at Jesus, our Great Passover, remembering His sacrifice, rejoicing in His love, and anticipating the feast to come in His kingdom.