By the time of Jesus, the Passover had developed into a set form with a number of added rituals. Although people killed the lamb at the temple, they ate the meal privately with friends and relatives (Luk 22:8-13). Among the additions to the meal was a cup of wine, for which the head of the household offered a prayer of thanks (or blessing; 1Co 10:16), and which he passed around among the participants, both before and after the eating of unleavened bread (Mar 14:22-24; Luk 22:15-20).
Singing also became part of the celebration, the participants singing a collection of psalms known as the Hallel (Psa 113-118). They usually sang the first two psalms before eating the lamb, the other psalms after (Mar 14:26).
It appears that on the occasion of Jesus' last Passover, he and his disciples ate the meal a day earlier than the official time, and probably without a lamb (Luk 22:15; Joh 13:1). If this was so, the reason was probably that Jesus knew that he himself was now the Passover lamb. On the next day he would lay down his life at the same time as the animals were being killed in preparation for the meal that was to follow that night (Joh 18:28; 19:14, 31, 42).
Jesus' death on the cross was the great act of redemption of which the Israelite Passover was but a picture (cf. Exo 12:5 with 1Pe 1:18-19; cf. Exo 12:46 with Joh 19:36; cf. Exo 12:21, 27 with 1Co 5:7). Once Jesus had died, the Passover was of no further use. It was replaced by a new remembrance ceremony, the Lord's Supper (Mat 26:17-30; 1Co 10:16; 11:23-26; see LORD'S SUPPER).
Nevertheless, the New Testament refers to the requirements of the Passover to provide a lesson for Christians. Just as the Passover festival meant that Israelites removed leaven from their houses, so the sacrifice of Jesus Christ means that Christians should remove sin from their lives (1Co 5:7-8; see LEAVEN).
Singing also became part of the celebration, the participants singing a collection of psalms known as the Hallel (Psa 113-118). They usually sang the first two psalms before eating the lamb, the other psalms after (Mar 14:26).
It appears that on the occasion of Jesus' last Passover, he and his disciples ate the meal a day earlier than the official time, and probably without a lamb (Luk 22:15; Joh 13:1). If this was so, the reason was probably that Jesus knew that he himself was now the Passover lamb. On the next day he would lay down his life at the same time as the animals were being killed in preparation for the meal that was to follow that night (Joh 18:28; 19:14, 31, 42).
Jesus' death on the cross was the great act of redemption of which the Israelite Passover was but a picture (cf. Exo 12:5 with 1Pe 1:18-19; cf. Exo 12:46 with Joh 19:36; cf. Exo 12:21, 27 with 1Co 5:7). Once Jesus had died, the Passover was of no further use. It was replaced by a new remembrance ceremony, the Lord's Supper (Mat 26:17-30; 1Co 10:16; 11:23-26; see LORD'S SUPPER).
Nevertheless, the New Testament refers to the requirements of the Passover to provide a lesson for Christians. Just as the Passover festival meant that Israelites removed leaven from their houses, so the sacrifice of Jesus Christ means that Christians should remove sin from their lives (1Co 5:7-8; see LEAVEN).
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