“by this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Heb 10:10 NAS95)

We celebrated Passover this year at a Passover Seder. Passover was instituted by God for the Children of Israel to commemorate their deliverance from bondage in Egypt. This event that had taken place was to be remembered forever. So it was that Jesus took care to celebrate this important event.

It was not by chance that it was on the celebration of this event that God would fulfill His promise to Abraham and bless all the nations through Abraham’s seed, Jesus the Christ. So it was that on that day Jesus gathered with His disciples at the Passover Seder and revealed to them the plan of God to bring deliverance to all peoples through the blood of the Passover Lamb. The events that would follow this celebration would for a time leave the disciples bewildered and confused, but when they fully comprehended the events of this night they would remember the memorial that was established by our Lord Himself.

“and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “this is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” in the same way [he took] the cup also after supper, saying, “this cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, as often as you drink [it,] in remembrance of me.” for as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the lord’s death until he comes.” (1Co 11:24-26 NAS95)

Passover would never again be the same. Jesus Christ has become our Passover Lamb. His blood was shed for the remission of our sins. We has been set free from the bondage of sin and death. Not only has Passover taken on a new depth of meaning, but so has freedom. So it is that we with joy celebrate this onetime event that forever changed everything. Our freedom has been bought. We have been redeemed. All that trust in Christ Jesus will live with Him forever. So let us celebrate.

“clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are [in fact] unleavened. for Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1Co 5:7-8 NAS95)