Topical Encyclopedia The Passover, a pivotal event in the history of Israel, marks the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. It is during this significant Jewish festival that Jesus Christ instituted the Lord's Supper, a sacrament central to Christian worship and remembrance.Historical Context of Passover The Passover commemorates the night when the Lord passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, sparing them from the final plague—the death of the firstborn. This event is detailed in the Book of Exodus, where God commands Moses to instruct the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood. This act of faith and obedience led to their liberation from slavery, as recorded in Exodus 12:13 : "The blood on the houses where you are staying will distinguish them; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." The Institution of the Lord's Supper The New Testament Gospels recount that Jesus chose the Passover meal as the setting to establish the Lord's Supper, also known as Communion or the Eucharist. This event is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, with particular detail in the Gospel of Luke. During the meal, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19). Similarly, He took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you" (Luke 22:20). Significance of the Lord's Supper The Lord's Supper serves as a profound reminder of Christ's sacrificial death and the new covenant established through His blood. It is a time for believers to reflect on the atoning work of Jesus, who is referred to as the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29), drawing a direct parallel to the Passover lamb. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of this observance in 1 Corinthians 11:26 : "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes." Theological Implications The institution of the Lord's Supper during Passover underscores the continuity between the Old and New Covenants. Just as the Passover marked the deliverance of Israel from physical bondage, the Lord's Supper symbolizes the spiritual deliverance from sin through Christ's sacrifice. This sacrament is a means of grace, a visible sign of an inward reality, and a testament to the unity of believers in the body of Christ. Observance in the Early Church The early Christian community observed the Lord's Supper as a central act of worship, gathering regularly to break bread and remember the Lord's death and resurrection. Acts 2:42 notes, "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." This practice has continued throughout church history, serving as a vital expression of faith and communal identity for Christians worldwide. In summary, the Passover and the Lord's Supper are deeply intertwined, with the latter fulfilling and transforming the former's symbolism. Through the Lord's Supper, believers participate in the redemptive work of Christ, celebrating the new covenant and anticipating His return. Nave's Topical Index Matthew 26:26-28And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. Nave's Topical Index Mark 14:12-25 Luke 22:7-20 Library Questions About the Lord's Supper The Lord's Supper Of the Popish Mass. How it not Only Profanes, but Annihilates the ... Judas Exposed. Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on the Sabbath ... "In Remembrance of Me" The Feast of the Lord The Ceremonies and Discipline Op the Church as Illustrated by ... Of Preparation. The Gospel Feast Resources If Jesus was crucified on the Day of Preparation, why had He already eaten the Passover meal? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Passover? | GotQuestions.org If Jesus is our atonement, why did He die at Passover instead of the Day of Atonement? | GotQuestions.org Passover: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Passover: Christ Called "Our Passover" Passover: Jesus Crucified at the Time of Passover: Jesus in the Temple Courtyard at the Time of Passover: Observation of, Renewed by Hezekiah Passover: Observation of, Renewed by Josiah Passover: Observation of, Renewed by the Israelites Upon Entering Canaan Passover: Observation of, Renewed: After the Return from Babylonian Captivity Passover: Observed at the Place Designated by God Passover: Observed With Unleavened Bread (No Yeast) Passover: Penalty for Neglecting to Observe Passover: Peter Imprisoned at the Time of Passover: Prisoner Released At, by the Romans Passover: Re-Instituted by Ezekiel Passover: Strangers Authorized to Celebrate Passover: The Lamb Killed by Levites, for Those Who Were Ceremonially Unclean Passover: The Lamb of, a Type of Christ Passover: The Lord's Supper Ordained At Related Terms |
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