After Judas’ agreement with the religious leaders, the Passover celebration began with the disciples preparing the feast in an upper room (22:7-13). In their preparations for this meal the disciples would have had to kill a lamb to symbolize the innocent lambs that were killed in order to spare each Israelite household from death during the time of Egyptian bondage. When the hour came for them to celebrate this meal together, Jesus sat down in the upper room with His disciples and said, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God” (22:14-16). Although Jesus’ words caused them to remember the sacrifice which was made by the lamb in order to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, His words also prepared them for His own sacrifice the next day which would deliver sinners from death and eternal separation from God the Father. Jesus continues to illustrate the significance of this meal when He took the bread and said, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (22:19). The bread which Jesus broke represented His own body which would soon be sacrificed for sinners. Jesus then took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you” (22:20). The wine in the cup represented His own blood which would soon be shed for the sins of mankind. At this point in history, the significance of the Passover shifted. As the spotless lamb was sacrificed to deliver the Israelites from death, Jesus’ imminent death would soon be a means of deliverance for sinners. While the Passover itself looked ahead to the sacrifice of Christ, the Lord’s Supper looked back in remembrance of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross for sin. John the Baptist provided a clear concept of what Jesus was saying here when he said in reference to Jesus, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Matthew also records the words of the angel to Joseph saying, “And she [Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Ultimately, Jesus died in man’s place so that man would not have to pay for sin through his own death and eternal separation from God.
Following His message about His imminent sacrifice, Jesus reveals that someone sitting at the table would betray Him, so they all began to question “who would do this thing” (22:21-23). Their questioning turned to arrogance when they began arguing amongst themselves about who was the greatest (22:24). Jesus quickly corrected their erroneous thinking by establishing that greatness is not found in having authority, but in serving others (22:25-27). Christ then provides a word of encouragement to His disciples saying, “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (22:28-30). Although His followers would not be considered great in this world, Christ promised a coming earthly kingdom where they would receive places of honor for their faithfulness to Him. All who are part of the family of God will experience trials and tribulations in this world, but God has promised a day when all that which is evil will pass away. We await that time.
Dear God, we await Your soon return, but until then may we be faithful to You.
