Did the Lord's Supper Replace the Passover? Part 2

Did the “Lord’s Supper” Replace the Passover?

Part 2, Yeshua’s Supper

Part 2 Preview: Did Yeshua abolish the Passover during His Last Supper before He suffered or did He add tremendous additional solemnity to an already important historical period? Had He intended to cause a single jot or tittle to pass from the Law wouldnt He have said so? The situation is like the Sabbath issue—if He had intended to change the Sabbath from the 7th day to the 1st day, wouldnt He have mentioned it? The Lord’s Supper is spiritual Preparation for the Passover! Tragically, most Christians “prepare” for various aberations of the the Passover but dont actually observe the Passover. Judaism, on the other hand, observes the Passover but is not spiritually prepared!

INDEX

Part 1 of this chapter established the distinction between commemoration and the Passover. Part 2 elaborates on the purpose of Yeshua’s Supper or “Lord’s Supper”. The first special Supper took place as the 14th of Abib was ending, after sundown. Then late on the 14th, the following evening, exactly when the Jew’s lambs were being sacrificed—Jesus (actually Yeshua, off site) too was sacrificed and became “the Lamb of Yehovah’ who takes away the sin of the world!”. Yeshua’s murder was hastened so as not to occur on the Holy Day as the Jews were eating their Sader meal.

Likewise today, Yeshua’s Supper should be commemorated just after sundown on the evening that begins the 14th day of Abib. Biblically, the counting of the days of the month begins with an actual sighting of the crescent moon—not somebody’s calculated new moon or an invisible conjunction.

The following approximates what I typically say during our livingroom commemoration of Yeshua’s Supper:

* * *

I would like to express my most sincere gratitude for the sacrifice that Yehovah the Father and His Son endured for us.

We are commemorating an important event that took place very early on the Preparation Day.

The foot washing, the bread and the wine part of this ceremony were incorporated into Yeshua’s Last Supper. Prior to the symbols being presented—while Judas was still present—recall that even Judas was eating with Yeshua and the disciples. Yeshua identified His betrayer by saying “it is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish”. In like manner we will begin the evening events with a meal.

Commemoration of Yeshua’s Supper, as I call it, preceded the Passover sacrifice by most of a day. This is the first celebration of the year. We too should eat the bread and drink the wine on Preparation Day. Then, to properly celebrate the Passover, we should eat our Passover meal, something similar to a Sader meal, the following evening. This would correspond to the time right after Yeshua (and the lambs) were killed. The lambs were killed late on the 14th and eaten immediately after sundown on the fifteenth. Anciently the Passover resulted in Israel leaving Egypt.

Yeshua’s Supper should be observed on the anniversary of “the night He was betrayed”. It should not be commemorated with lamb and bitter herbs.

Yeshua’s Supper is an annual preparation for the great sacrifice that was necessary for our salvation. His sacrifice set in motion the countdown to very “New Covenant” that Jeremiah spoke of. We will be resurrected, just as He was, in time to see the New Covenant implemented. We will celebrate with Him the conversion of “all Israel” and the inauguration of the Kingdom of Yehovah.

Hebrews 12:22-24 But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the Jerusalem in the heavenly regions; and to the assembly of *one hundred million* holy messengers; 23 and to the *Festival gathering* [3831] of the first-born, whose *names are recorded* [583] in heaven and to Yehovah the judge of all; and to the spirits of the just, who are perfected; 24 and to Yeshua, the Mediator of the New Covenant; and to the sprinkling of His blood that reveals more advantages* [2909] than that of Abel. YMES

It is the shedding of Yeshua’s innocent blood that will, in due time, bring this heavenly city, Mount Zion (New Jerusalem) down to us (Revelation 21):

Jeremiah 31:31-40 Behold, the days come, says [Yehovah], that I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they broke, although I was a husband to them, says [Yehovah]. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says [Yehova’]: I will put My law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people: 34 and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, [as is done now daily] and every man his brother, saying, Know [Yehova]; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says [Yehova’]: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more .... 40 The whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields to the brook Kidron, to the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy to [Yehova’]; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more forever. WEB

At the supper Yeshua instructed us to “do this in remembrance of Me” until He comes. Our observance of the Master’s Supper shows that we certainly expect Him to return, and that we anticipate drinking new wine with Him in celebration of His wedding supper in His New Kingdom. However Yehovah did not “pass over” Israel until the following night. Others, in their Easter or Communion or even Passover celebrations, teach that they already have their reward at least in part, and that they are New Covenant Christians, not realizing that the the New Covenant was validated by Yeshua’ death but it will not be implemented until They return! Neither will the Saints receive the promise until “The Lord and His Christ” return!

Notice the exact comparison with Abraham and his only son (who was offered to be sacrificed) to that of Yeshua and His Father.

Hebrews 11:11-40 11 By faith, Sarah also, who was sterile, acquired the ability to have children; and, late in her life, she had them; because she firmly believed that He was faithful who had promised her... 18 For it had been said to him, “In Isaac will your descendant be called”... 19 He reasoned with himself, that Yehovah was able even to raise him from the dead; and so, figuratively speaking of a resurrection, he was restored to him. 20 By faith in what was to be, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.[It goes on to mention] ... Jacob ... Moses ... Rahab ... 28 By faith, they kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, so that He who destroyed the firstborn might not approach them. 29 By faith, they passed the Red Sea, as on dry land; and in it the Egyptians were swallowed up, when they dared to enter it ... 32 What more should I say? For I dont have time to speak of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtha, David, Samuel, and of the other prophets: 33 who, by faith, conquered kingdoms, who were righteous, received promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power* of fire, were rescued from the edge of the sword, were healed of diseases, became strong in battle, routed the camps of enemies, 35 and of women who regained their children, by a resurrection from the dead. Some died being tortured, without hope of escape, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 others endured being mocking and whipped; others were chained and imprisoned; 37 others were stoned; others were cut in half; others died by the edge of the sword; others roamed around clothed in sheep skins and goat skins, and were destitute, distressed, and tormented; 38 of whom the world was not worthy, yet they were as wanderers in the desert, in mountains, in caves, and in caverns of the earth. 39 None of these, *divine witnesses* [3140], received their *promised blessing* [1860]; 40 because Yehovah has foreseen* [4265] something* *more excellent* [2909]; so that they whould NOT be made PERFECT [meaning “by resurrection”]. ahead of us. YMES

We will not receive our promise until Abraham and all of the Saints of old receive their reward—“so that apart from us they should not be made perfect”—meaning all of the Saints are to be made into perfect—spirit composed—Sons and Daughters at the same time! Ultimately, those of us who take these symbols and endure to the end of our lives will drink wine with Yeshua in His very presence.

Notice that Yeshua did not drink from the cup: “fruit of the vine”—or the bread Himself at the Supper—by any means.

Matthew 26:27 He took the cup, and offered thanks and gave it to them, saying, “Take this and each of you drink it. YMES (& Mark 14:23)

Mark 14:24-25 He told them, “This is My blood of the New Covenant, which is shed in behalf of many. 25 I will definitely not drink of the fruit of the vine again, until the day when I drink *a new variety* [2537,1b1] in the Kingdom of Yehovah. YMES

Yeshua was not joyously celebrating the Passover at that time. He was actually preparing to become the cup and the bread on the following evening—if His Father deemed it necessary!

Matthew 26:39 Going a little further, He fell face down, and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I choose, but as You will”. YMES (& Luke 22:42)

His disciples were not even close to being ready for Passover. When the rooster crowed Peter understood that.

Matthew 20:22 Yeshua answered, “You dont know what you are asking for. Can you drink of the cup, of which I am to drink? or be baptized with the baptism, that I am baptized with”? They said to Him, “We can”. YMES (& John 18:11)

Taking the Symbols

During Yeshua’s Supper He used leavened bread. When He died He took with Him to the grave all of the sins of humanity—past, present and possibly way into the future. HE BECAME ENTIRELY LEAVENED! Why else did He die? If He did not take your leaven (sins) with Him to the cross then He didnt atone for your sins!

Galatians 1:3-4 May merciful kindness be with you, and peace, from Yehovah the Father, and from our Master Yeshua the Messiah; 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this evil world, according to the will of Yehovah our Father... YMES

1 John 2:2 He is the *atoning sacrifice* for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the entire world. YMES

Here is a clincher. It is apparent that Yeshua bore the penalty for our sins by being murdered on a cross. Yet it plainly says that when He appears the “second time” He will then be “without sin”.

Hebrews 9:26-28 ... since the beginning of the world; but now at the end of the age [so they thought], He has offered Himself once by His sacrifice, to abolish sin. 27 As it is appointed for men to once die, and following their death is Judgment Day; 28 so also the Messiah was offered once; He was *placed on the altar* [399] for the sins of many; and He will *allow Himself to be seen* [3700] a second time, without sins, for the salvation* of those who expect Him. YMES

Save your Unleavened Bread for the actual Passover and let me know if you ever see sweet Matzos in a grocery store!

Spiritual Preparation

Self examination should precede this event because one of the strongest admonitions in the Bible concerns this event. To get this wrong will cost you an eternal “reward” (but hopefully not your eternal life). While many assume that Paul’s harsh criticism of the drunkards and gluttons who showed up for the Messiah’s Supper was a blanket condemnation of participating in the Supper itself, (again as the Greek seemingly implies), the record only indicates that any pig wanting to show up should get their wallowing out of the way before they come! Dont come to the Supper with eating on your mind, rather come to the Supper mentally prepared to consider Yeshua’s sacrifice:

1 Corinthians 11:20-33 When you are assembled together, you eat and drink inappropriately for the Messiah’s Supper. 21 Because one and then another goes ahead and eats his own supper; another one is hungry, and another is drunk. 22 What! Dont you have houses to eat and drink in? Or, do you despise the Assembly of Yehovah, and shame those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? In this I dont praise you. 23 For I have received from our Master, the same thing that I relayed to you; that our Master Yeshua, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, 24 and blessed, and broke it, and said, “Take this and eat it; this is My body that is broken for your sakes; do this to remember Me by.” 25 So, after they had eaten, He also took the cup, and said; “This cup is the New Testament in My blood; so do this, as often as you drink it, to remember Me by." 26 For as often as you eat this bread, and drink from this cup, you commemorate the death of our Master, until He returns. 27 So anyone who eats of the bread of the Master, and drinks from His cup, who is not worthy of it, is guilty of the blood of the Master, and of His body. 28 “But scrutinize*! [1381] *Each individual [444] should *scrutinize their own genuineness* [1381], and then eat this bread, and drink from this cup; 29 for, whoever eats and drinks from it, while he is unworthy, eats and drinks condemnation on himself, by not discerning the body of the Master. 30 For this cause, many among you are diseased and sickly, and many have died. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by our Master, we are really chastised, so that we wont be condemned with the world. 33 So brethren, when you assemble to eat, wait for each another. YMES

Yeshua’s Supper is a solemn occasion but it is not a perpetual memorial like the Holy Days (Numbers 10:10). As soon as He is with us it simply wont make sense to memorialize Him! He “will wipe away tears from off all faces”.

Isaiah 25:6-10 In this mountain, [Yehovah] of Armies will make all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of choice wines, of fat things full of marrow, of well refined choice wines. 7 He will destroy in this mountain the surface of the covering that covers all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations. [That began for us at the crucifixion] 8 He has swallowed up death forever! The Lord [Yehovah] will wipe away tears from off all faces. He will take the reproach of His people away from off all the earth, for [Yehovah’] has spoken it. 9 It shall be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God! We have waited for Him, and He will save us! This is [Yehovah]! We have waited for Him. We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation!” 10 For in this mountain the hand of [Yehovah] will rest. WEB

He wont just be a “memory” to memorialize, He will be a present reality! “We have waited for Him”, and He will have come.

We are about to wash one another’s feet. May Yehovah instill and preserve in us an attitude of service toward those whom He is calling.

Let’s read a portion of the account from Luke:

Luke 22:7-27 The Day of Unleavened Bread arrived, when it was necessary* to sacrifice the Passover. 8 Yeshua sent Cephas and John, and told them; “Go and prepare the Passover, *for eating* [5315]”. 9 They asked Him, “Where should we prepare it”? 10 He told them, “When you enter the city, a man will meet you bearing a pitcher of water. Follow him; 11 and where he enters, say to the owner of the house, “Our Rabbi asks if there is a *lodging house* [2646] where He may eat the Passover, with His disciples? 12 Then he will show you a large upper room that is furnished. Make preparations there. 13 They went, and found it as He had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 14 When the time arrived, Yeshua came and sat; and the twelve apostles with Him. 15 He told them, “I have greatly desired to eat this Passover with you, before I suffer. 16 But I tell you, “From now on I will *no longer* [3765] *by any means* [3364] eat it, until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of Yehovah’”. 17 He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that I will never* [3364] drink of the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of Yehovah comes”. [A] 19 He took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “This is My body that is given for your sakes. Do this to remember Me”. 20 Similarly, concerning the cup, after supper, He said, “This cup is the New Testament in My blood that for your sakes, is poured out! 21 But look, the hand of the one who betrays Me is on the table. 22 The Son of man goes, as it was determined; but woe to that man, by whom He is betrayed. 23 They began to inquire among themselves about which of them it was who would do this. 24 There was also contention among them concerning which of them would be the greatest. 25 Yeshua told them, “The kings of the nations, are the masters; and those exercising authority over them, are called benefactors. 26 But this will not be the case with you. He who is great among you, must be like the least; and he who leads, like a servant. 27 For, which is the greater, he who sits, or he who serves? Isnt he who sits? But I am among you, as He who serves. YMES

[It is at this point that people get distracted with the silly feud among the disciples and lose sight of what Yeshua was promising His Saints (off site)—those who keep His Commandments and the Testimony of Yeshua. Part of the answer is in these new symbols. He was not promising anyone the New Covenant when He died—rather He was promising them His Kingdom when He returns! Yet, they, just as we, will have to wait for the New Covenant]

(Continuing)

Luke 22:28-53 28 You are the ones who have continued with Me in My trials; 29 and I PROMISE YOU THE KINGDOM, as My Father has promised it to Me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at the table in My Kingdom, and sit on thrones, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 31 Yeshua told Simon, “Simon, look, Satan has desired to sift you, as wheat: 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. So when you return to Me; strengthen your brethren. 33 Simon told Him, “Master, I am ready to go both for prison and for death with you”. 34 Yeshua replied, “I tell you, Simon, the rooster wont crow today until you have denied that you know Me three times. 35 He told them, “When I sent you without purses, without wallets and shoes, did you lack anything? They said, “Nothing”. 36 He said, “From now on, let him who has a moneybag*, take it; and also a wallet. Anyone who has no sword should sell his coat and buy himself a sword. 37 For I tell you that this written prophecy, must be fulfilled by Me; I will be numbered with transgressors. For, everything that relates to Me, will be fulfilled. 38 They told Him, “Master, look, here are two swords”. He said, “They are sufficient”. 39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives as He was accustomed to doing, and His disciples followed Him. 40 When He arrived at the place, He told them, “Pray that you dont enter into temptation”. 41 He left them, about a stone’s throw; and knelt down, and prayed, 42 and said, “Father, if it pleases You, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours, be done. 43 There appeared to Him a holy messenger from heaven, who strengthened Him. 44 As He was in agony, He prayed earnestly; and His sweat was like drops of blood that fell to the ground. 45 He arose from His prayer, and came to His disciples; and He found them sleeping, from sorrow. 46 He told them, “Why are you sleeping? Arise, and pray, so that you dont enter into temptation. 47 While He was speaking, a crowd appeared with the one who was called Judas, one of the twelve, leading them. He came up to Yeshua, and kissed Him. For he had given them this sign, “The One whom I kiss is He”. 48 Yeshua told him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you betray the Son of man”? 49 When those who were with Him, saw what happened, they told Him, “Master, should we strike them with the sword? 50 One of them struck a servant of the high priest, and took off his right ear. 51 Yeshua said, “That is enough”. He touched the ear of the one who was stricken, and healed him. 52 Yeshua asked those who had come on Him, the leading priests and elders and military captains of the temple: “Have you come out against Me, as against a robber, with swords, and with clubs, to take Me? 53 I was with you daily in the temple, and you didnt arrest Me. But this is your hour, and the reign of darkness. YMES

The Foot Washing

As Yeshua and His disciples reclined at the Supper, and before He instituted the symbols of His body and blood, He had a lesson of humility to convey to the twelve (who really needed it as we just read). We are now going to read about Yeshua’s example of washing feet.

John 13:1-17 Before the Feast of the Passover, Yeshua knew that the time had come when He should depart from this world to the Father. He loved His own people, who were in the world; He loved them to the end. 2 *During supper*, Satan put into the mind of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, the idea to betray Him. 3 Yeshua, because He knew that the Father had given everything into His hands; and that He had left the Father’s presence, and was going back to Yehovah; 4 arose from the supper, and laid aside His outer clothing, and took a linen cloth, and wrapped it about His waist; 5 and poured water into a wash basin, and began to wash His disciples’ feet. He wiped them with the linen cloth that He had tied around His waist. 6 When He came to Simon Cephas, Simon asked Him, “Master, are You going to wash my feet”? 7 Yeshua said, “What I do, you wont understand now, but later you’ll understand”. 8 Simon Cephas replied, “You will never wash my feet”. Yeshua replied, “Unless I wash you, you will have no part with Me”. 9 Then Simon Cephas said, “Master, then not only wash my feet, but also my hands and my head”. 10 Yeshua told him, “He who has bathed, only needs to wash his feet; for he is otherwise clean. You are clean; but not all of you”. 11 For Yeshua knew, who would betray Him, so He said, you arent all clean. 12 After He had washed their feet, He put on His outer clothing, and sat down. Then He asked them, “Do you understand what I have done for you”? 13 You call Me, Teacher, and Master; and you are correct; for so I am. 14 If then I, your Master and Teacher, have washed your feet, how much more should you to wash each others feet? 15 For I have given you this example, that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Assuredly, I tell you that no servant is greater than his master; and no messenger* [652, apostolos] [1] is greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you will be blessed* if you do them. YMES

Foot washing is a symbol of Yeshua’s desire to serve us, and our desire to serve one another. As our Savior did, we will pause from the meal and wash our fellow servant’s feet—just as we were instructed to do.

* * *

Now that we are finished with this part of the ceremony of Yeshua’s Supper, we are ready to share the symbols that Yeshua gave His Saints.

The Symbolism of Leavened Bread

Aside from the fact that Yeshua’s Supper was not a part of the Days of Unleavened Bread, there is another simple reason why Yeshua did not use Unleavened Bread at His last supper—if He had done so, people might have thought that He was changing the Passover symbols!

I Corinthians 11:23-24 For I have received from our Master, the same thing that I relayed to you; that our Master Yeshua, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, 24 and blessed, and broke it, and said: “Take this and eat it; this is My body that is broken for your sakes; do this to remember Me by. YMES

John 6:47-58 Assuredly, I tell you, that for whoever believes in Me, there is eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate manna, in the wilderness, and they died. 50 But this is the bread that comes from heaven, that a man may eat it, and not die. 51 I am the bread of life, who has come down from heaven; if anyone eats this bread, they will live forever. The bread that I will give, is My body, that I will give for the life of the world. 52 Then the Jews contended one with another, and said, “How can He give us His body to eat? 53 Yeshua said to them, “Assuredly, I tell you, that, unless you eat the body of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life within you. 54 But he who eats My body, and drinks My blood has eternal life; and I will raise him up during the Last Day. 55 For My body truly is food, and My blood truly is drink. 56 He who eats My body, and drinks My blood, lives in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father has sent Me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on Me will also live because of Me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as your fathers ate manna, and died; whoever eats this bead will live forever. YMES

1 Peter 2:19-25 For it is pleasing to Yehovah for those who, for the sake of a good conscience, endure sorrow and suffer unjustly. 20 But those who endure afflictions because of their own offences, what praise do have they? But if, when you do well, you endure suffering, then this is very pleasing with Yehovah. 21 For to this were you called; because the Messiah also suffered for us, and left us this example, that you should follow in His steps. 22 He did not sin; neither was deceit found in His mouth. 23 When he was reviled, He didnt revile in return; and He suffered without threats, but committed His cause to the Judge of righteousness. 24 He took away all our sins, and, in His body, lifted them to the cross; that we, when dead to sin, might live by His righteousness; for by His bleeding wounds you are healed. 25 For you, once went astray, like sheep; but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian [1985, “bishop” or “episkopos”] of your being. YMES

We each ask Yehovah to bless the bread as the symbol of the body of Yeshua, broken for our sins. We cant bless it ourselves. We thank Yehovah for His power to heal, remembering that “By His stripes, we are healed”.

This bread is still bread, but now it symbolizes Yeshua’s body. It is not transubstantiated as a billion people ostensibly believe. It has great meaning to those of us who eat it and realize that it represents claiming Yeshua’s sacrifice to atone for our own sins.

At this point we will pass the bread around. Eat it as soon as you receive it.

* * *

As we eat the bread we should remember that “many are sick and some have died” because they have not discerned the healing power of Yeshua’s broken body.

The Symbolism of the Wine

The wine symbolizes Yeshua shed blood.

I Peter 1:17-21 If you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges everyone according to their deeds, live your lives as foreigners in reverent fear; 18 since you know, that you were not redeemed from your useless behavior, that you had handed down from your fathers; with perishable silver, nor with gold, 19 but with the precious blood of that Lamb, without spots or blemishes, namely, the Messiah; 20 who was predestined to this, before the foundation of the world; and was manifested at the end of the age, for your sakes; 21 who, thru Him, have believed in Yehovah, who raised Him from the dead and conferred glory on Him; that your faith and hope might be in Yehovah ... YMES

I Corinthians 11:25 So, after they had eaten, He also took the cup, and said; “This cup is the New Testament in My blood; so do this, as often as you drink it, to remember Me by.” YMES

We ask that Yehovah will bless this wine as a symbol of the shed blood of His Son Yeshua. Particularly, we are thankful that He allowed the shed blood of His Son instead of requiring our blood which is essentially worthless. We continually acknowledge that we are still subject to sin and our only hope is His mercy. We need to be washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. The wine is still wine, it has not changed in any way. But it symbolizes Yeshua’s blood, shed for many to pardon our sins.

At this time we’ll drink the wine reserved for us.

As you drink, remember the Jeremiah 31 covenant that we will help oversee due to the “the New Covenant” in His blood.

When you read about preparing for the Passover, you should take the time to study all of the other places in the Greek Scriptures that use a form of the word “prepare”. In almost every case it has to do with spiritual preparations! Whether it is John the Baptist preparing the way or Yeshua preparing “mansions” it is usually something quite spiritual in nature.

After the Supper, Yeshua comforted His disciples. There are four entire chapters of comfort spoken to His disciples given immediately before He was led away. John 14—John 17 (Reading is optional).

After the evening events, Matthew told us that they sang a hymn (psalm) and then went out. Let’s do likewise. An excellent Psalm to sing is Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd”. (There are several versions.)

The sobering commemoration is now concluded.

* * *

(If you use this format for your commemoration ofYeshua’s Supper observance I would recommend that the moderator begin this commentary as soon as the meal begins.)

[Notes for new observers to be mentioned in advance: There will be a wine glass full for each person, not just a “Protestant sip”. Use real pieces of bread instead of a miser’s ration. You might consider wearing slip on shoes in preparation for the foot washing. Women can get by in our society with shoes on bare feet. Shortly after sunset we will begin the meal. This occasion is serious but not like a funeral, because Yeshua has risen! “Fruit of the vine”, for the timid could technically be grape juice, as it was apparently possible to preserve juice even in Yeshua’s time. The foot washing should be done in another room if one is available. When it is time to wash feet, pair up with someone else—whenever possible of the same sex (you will wash each other’s feet). As this is done, imagine Yeshua performing this same symbolic act. Help your partner, if necessary, replace his shoes and socks. Switch seats and repeat the process. When both persons’ feet are washed, return to your regular seats. As people finish the foot washing, empty the basin and return to the supper.]

Recommended reading: Chapter 35: “Christ Our Passover”?