The Passover Diet

Biblical and Theological background

Let us turn our attention to the biblical texts that contain and describe the accounts of the last meal of Jesus and his disciples. The synoptic gospels report that Jesus’ last meal in the upper room took place during the Passover festival. For example, Mark 14:12 says that “On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” Furthermore, Luke 22:7 declares “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.” Therefor e, in juxtaposition with the Passover feast, the Last Supper unfolds a resolution to the need for deliverance and salvation

By celebrating Passover, the Jewish people could commemorate God’s salvific acts, and renew their covenantal relationship with God. Passover feast was the celebration that brought the community together, gave them an opportunity to strengthen their relationships and transfer the faith to younger generations. In celebrating the Passover, there was an understanding that “If we keep the feast, the feast will keep us. Its values will remain in the community, its ideals will inspire us, and its spirit of comfort and hope will help to sustain

John 1:29 records John the Baptist’s declaration of Jesus, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”, when Jesus was baptized. Similarly, Revelations refers to Jesus as the “Lamb who was slain” (Rev. 5:12). Although Scripture presents Jesus as the Passover, the typology of the texts reveal Jesus as much more than the paschal lamb, Jesus is the author of the new covenant that draws God’s kingdom closer to God’s people. Thus, when gathered at the table in worship, we remember, but we also anticipate the complete realization of that covenant where Jesus reign is at