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Did Yeshua’s (the Lord’s) Supper Replace the Passover?
Yeshua’s Supper is Spiritual Preparation for the Passover!
Chapter 2, Part 2 Preview: Did Yeshua (Jesus) abolish the Passover during His Last Supper, before He suffered, or did He add tremendous additional solemnity to an already important historical event? Had He intended to cause a single jot or tittle to pass from the Torah (Law), wouldn’t 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, one of the basic 10 Commandments, wouldn’t He have mentioned it? The “Lord’s Supper” is spiritual Preparation for the Passover! Tragically, most Christians “prepare” for various aberrations of the Passover, but don’t actually celebrate the Passover. Judaism, on the other hand, celebrates the Passover, but is not spiritually prepared, because they reject the Lamb!
Part 1 of this chapter established the differentiation between “Yeshua’s Supper” and the Passover. Part 2 elaborates on the purpose of Yeshua’s Supper or the “Lord’s Supper”. The first special Supper took place as the 14th of Aviv was ending, after sundown. Then late on the 14th, the following evening, exactly when the Jew’s lambs were being killed—Yeshua (Jesus) too was killed and became “the Lamb of Yehovah who takes away the sin of the world!”. Yeshua’s murder was hastened so as not to occur after sunset on the Feast Day while the Jews were eating their Passover.
Likewise today, Yeshua’s Supper should be commemorated just after sundown on the evening that begins the 14th day of Aviv (based on an actual sighting of the moon). Prior to 747 BC, according to Worlds in Collision, the entire world always began counting the days of the month beginning with an actual crescent moon—NOT somebody’s calculated new moon or an invisible conjunction, and every month was 30 days long.
The following approximates what I typically say during our living room commemoration of Yeshua’s Supper:
“I would like to express my most sincere gratitude for the horrific ordeal 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.
Yeshua’s Supper 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 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, but the exact timing of the Exodus may surprise you!
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 ze’bak [sacrifice] that was necessary for us to share in eternal life. His death 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.
[Note: it is not a “renewed covenant” in Hebrew or Greek. I was once in a congregation where a friend was literally thrown out (shoved down a staircase, and injured) by a mob for privately stating to the speaker that the covenant was not “renewed”, and that if the covenant could be renewed we wouldn’t even need Yeshua—just more bulls! Russ Hills, an eminent Greek scholar just happened to be there. After we quickly left the scene, I asked him his take on “renewed” and he said there was “no way”.]
Hebrews 12:22-24 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living Aloha, to the Jerusalem that’s in the Heavenly realm, to the assembly of tens of thousands of spirit messengers, 23 and to the festival assembly of the firstborn whose names are recorded in Heaven, and to Yehovah, the Judge of everyone, and to the spirits of the righteous who are perfected [Yeshua wouldn’t even admit to being good: Luke 18:19] 24 and to Yeshua, the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the sprinkling of His blood that reveals better things than 'the blood' of Abel.—The Gabriel Bible
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 Yehovah says: “The time is coming [1], when I’ll make a New [marriage] Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah. 32 It won’t be like the [marriage] Covenant that I made with their ancestors during the time when I took them by the hand led them out of the land of Egypt, since they broke My Covenant, tho I was their Husband,” says Yehovah. 33 “In this [marriage] Covenant that I’ll make with the House of Israel after those days,” Yehovah says, “I’ll put My Torah in the very hearts. I’ll be their Elohim, and they’ll be My people. 34 People will no longer teach their neighbors or their relatives, or ask, ‘Do you know Yehovah’ [the Lord], because they’ll all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” says Yehovah. [No more evangelism!] “I’ll forgive their wickedness, and I’ll never again remember their sins.”
35 Yehovah says that He provides the sun to light the day and the 'orderly succession' of the moon and stars to light the night, and He instantaneously calms [U] the raging waves of the sea—Commander Yehovah is His name: 36 “If these fixed conditions ever fail in My presence,” Yehovah says, “then the Israelites will cease to be a nation in My presence forever.”
37 This is what Yehovah says: “If the heavens above can ever be measured, and if the foundation of the earth beneath is ever found, then I would reject all the Israelites for what they’ve done,” says Yehovah. 38 “The time is coming,” Yehovah says, “when the city will be rebuilt for Yehovah from the Hananel Tower to the Corner Gate. 39 The measuring line will stretch from there straight to Gareb Hill, and then turn toward Goah. 40 The whole valley that was covered with dead bodies and ashes, and all of the fields as far as the Kidron Valley, as far as the corner of Horse Gate toward the east, will be 'special' to Yehovah, it will never be uprooted or overthrown again.”
[1] Jeremiah 30 and 31 are one long prophetic monologue about the events to occur at the time of the Second Exodus (Jeremiah 23:7-8), when all 12 tribes of Israel return to the land (not just the Jews!) AND The Time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7)—better known as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:1-22). Not one verse of this 2 chapter prophecy has been fulfilled, including the Torah being written on anyone’s hearts. Why single verse 33 out of all this futuristic context?
At the supper, Yeshua instructed us to “Do this to remember Me” until He comes. Our observance of Yeshua’s Supper shows that we certainly expect Him to return, and that we anticipate drinking His 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 New Covenant was validated by Yeshua’s death, but it will not be implemented until They return! Neither will the 'chosen ones' (saints) receive the promise until Yehovah and His Messiah (“The Lord and His Christ”) return!
Notice the exact comparison with Abraham and his only son (who was offered as an offering) to that of Yeshua and His Father:
Hebrews 11:11,18-20,28-29,32-40 By faith Sarah also, who was sterile, was given the ability to have children, even tho she was past the time of 'life' for this, and gave birth because she firmly believed that the One who had made the promise was trustworthy... 18 even tho he had been told [by Yehovah], “Thru Isaac your descendants will carry on your name. [4] 19 He had thought to himself that it was within Yehovah’s ability to raise him from the dead, and he did get him back in a figurative sense.
20 By faith Isaac promised blessings to Jacob and Esau in regard to their future... 28 By faith they performed the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the One who was destroying the firstborn wouldn’t approach them. 29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea, like anyone would on dry land, but the Egyptians were drowned when they dared to 'try' it...
32 Why should I say more? I don’t have enough time to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtha, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, brought about justice, obtained promises, and shut the mouths of lions. 34 They quenched the relentless forces of fires, escaped from the edge of swords, were healed of diseases, became valiant in battle, and overthrew the camps of enemies. 35 Women received their children by a resurrection from the dead. Others were put to death during torture, not even hoping to be rescued [6], so that they could secure a better resurrection. 36 Others endured being mocked and whipped, while others were chained and imprisoned. 37 Some were stoned, others were sawn in half, others were killed by the edge of swords, others roamed around clothed in sheep and goat skins. They were poor, oppressed and mistreated. 38 The world was not worthy of them, yet they wandered in deserts and mountains, or hid in caves and fissures in the earth.
39 None of these honorable witnesses received the promised blessings, 40 since Yehovah had determined that it is better that they not be made perfect and complete beings without [ahead of] us.
[4] Saxons can be translated as “sons of Isaac.” [6] Aramaic: “not hoping for deliverance” (or “to escape”), Greek: “refusing deliverance” or “ransom.” Presumably the torture was an unsuccessful attempt to get them to recant. The unintended consequence is that their victims will be even better compensated, receiving “A better resurrection.”
We will not receive our promise until Abraham and all of the 'cherished ones' of old receive their reward—“it is better that they not be made perfect and complete beings ahead of us.”—meaning all of the 'cherished ones' 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 and said, “All of you drink from it.
See Mark as well:
Mark 14:23-25 Then He took a cup, praised [Gr. eulogeo] and blessed [4] it, and passed it to them. And they all drank from it. 24 He told them, “This is My blood of the New Covenant [5] that is poured out on behalf of many. 25 I’ll definitely not taste the fruit of the vine again until the day when I drink a new variety [or fresh wine] in Yehovah’s Kingdom.
[4] The Aramaic mentions both praise and blessing here. The distinction is like the distinction between “giving thanks” and “prayer”, as in where both are mentioned in the same verse in the Greek (Luke 18:11; 2 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 1:16; Colossians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, Philemon 1:4). [5] Almost every modern translation omits the word “New” here, siding with a small minority of Greek texts, breaking the connection with the New Covenant promises of Jeremiah 30 and 31. Of over 6,000 known copies of the Greek texts, all but 2 or 3 mention New Covenant, those few corrupted Wescott and Hort editions are the ones that the “scholars” rely on in the modern translations. Some few others say “renewed” here, claiming that the original Hebrew source of the term (Jeremiah 31:31) is “renewed.” Yet only the root word there is “renew.” Chadash khaw-dawsh’ is new, while chadash khaw-dash’ (with a different vowel point) is renew, such as “renew {02318} the face of the earth” or “renew {02318} a right spirit within me.” Nevertheless, there are no specified differences between the covenants other than the promised land being an eternal thing.
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 facedown and prayed, “Father, if it is possible, allow this cup to pass away from Me. Yet not what I want, but whatever You want.” [also Luke 22:42]
His disciples were not even close to being ready for Passover. When the rooster crowed Peter understood that.
Matthew 20:22 But Yeshua replied, “You don’t realize what you’re asking for [3]. Are you able to drink the cup that I’m about to drink, or be immersed with the immersion that I’m immersed with?” And they told Him, “We can.” [also 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 didn’t take your leaven (sins) with Him to the cross, then He didn’t atone for your sins! Certainly He was a perfect and innocent Passover Lamb, that has always been the symbolism. Yet the sins of the person killing the lamb were also symbolically transferred onto the lamb. The lamb was still perfect, but then it bore the leaven of those responsible for the killing it. If the Pascal lamb were somehow shielded from the spiritual leaven, how could it atone for it? Still, to have deliberately added actual leaven to an offering would symbolically be tantamount to deliberately profaning it.
Galatians 1:3-4 May dignity be with you, and peace from Yehovah the Father and from our Sovereign Yeshua Messiah, 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He could deliver us from this evil world, according to the will of Yehovah our Father.
1 John 2:2 He is the atoning zebak [sacrifice] for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the entire world.
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 Otherwise He would have to have suffered many times since the beginning of the world. But now, at the end of the age, He has offered Himself once as a zebak to abolish sin. 27 And just as people are destined to die once, and after their death comes Judgment Day, 28 so the Messiah was also offered once, and personally placed on the altar to bear the sins of many, and He’ll appear a second time, not to bear sin, but for the eternal life of those who expect Him.
Save your Unleavened Bread for the actual Passover!
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 Yeshua’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! Don’t come to the Supper with eating on your mind, rather come to the Supper mentally prepared to consider the suffering that Yeshua endured:
1 Corinthians 11:20-33 When you gather together, you eat and drink inappropriately for the Messiah’s Day [4]. 21 Because some of you eat your supper too soon, some go hungry while others get drunk. 22 What! Don’t you have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the assembly of Aloha and shame those who have nothing? What should I tell you? I certainly won’t commend you for this!
23 I have received from our Sovereign the same thing that I relayed to you, that our Sovereign Yeshua (Jesus), on the night He was betrayed, took a loaf of bread [5], 24 and blessed and broke it and said, “Take this and eat it, this is My body that is broken for you, do this to remember Me by.” 25 So, after they had eaten it, He then took the cup and said, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, do this, as often as you drink it, to remember Me by.” 26 Every time you eat this loaf of bread and drink from this cup, you commemorate the death of our Sovereign UNTIL He returns [6].
27 So anyone who eats the Sovereign’s bread and drinks from His cup who isn’t worthy of it is guilty of the blood of the Sovereign and of His body. 28 “But scrutinize yourselves! Each of you should scrutinize your own genuineness before eating this bread and drinking from this cup, 29 because anyone who eats and drinks from it unworthily, eats and drinks condemnation on themselves by not discerning the Sovereign’s body. 30 This is why many of you are diseased and sickly and many have died. 31 If we judge ourselves, we won’t be summoned for judgment. 32 But when we’re judged by our Sovereign, we’re being chastised so that we won’t be condemned with the world. 33 So friends, when you gather to eat, wait for each other.
[4] The Greek says “supper” rather than “day.” [5] Thayer’s Lexicon counts: “bread (71), loaf (2), loaves (23), meal (1).” Strong’s is brief but to the point: “bread, loaf. From airo; bread (as raised) or a loaf -- (shew-)bread, loaf.” As opposed to the unleavened bread (azumos) that is used the following night at Passover. [6] While the “lord’s Supper” will not be commemorated after He returns, the Passover will be celebrated, as prophesied in Ezekiel 45:21, a millennial reign chapter, as will the Feast of Tabernacles, as prophesied in the very evident millennial chapter of Zechariah 14, verses 16-21 in particular. See Did Yeshua’s Supper” Replace the Passover?
Yeshua’s Supper is a solemn occasion but it is not a perpetual memorial like the Feast Days (Numbers 10:10). As soon as He is with us, it simply won’t make sense to memorialize Him! He “wipe away the tears from every face”.
Isaiah 25:6-9 Commander Yehovah will prepare a 'lavish' banquet on this mountain using the 'best foods' for every nation, a banquet with well aged wines, of 'choice' cuts full of marrow and refined wines. 7 On this mountain He (Commander Yehovah) will remove the shroud that looms over all people, the veil that 'overshadows' every nation. 8 He (Commander Yehovah)) will devour death forever! The Sovereign Yehovah [2] [“Yeshua”] will wipe away the tears from every face. He’ll eliminate the scorn of His people from the entire earth. Yehovah has spoken! 9 When That Day Comes* Israel will be saying, “This is our Elohim! We have been waiting for Him to save us! This is Yehovah! We’ve been waiting for Him. Let’s rejoice and celebrate His salvation!
[2] Note the context of the next verse—death ceasing (for the righteous) when Messiah returns. Your Bible most likely says “Lord GOD” in verse 8, but in truth it is “adonai (Sovereign) YHVH”! He, the Alpha and the Omega (Yeshua), is the One who will wipe away the tears! Revelation 21:4-6. Ignore the “GOD”, check the Hebrew: 3069 [e], a slight variant of the name YHVH. See Adonai (Adonai)
He won’t 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 each other’s feet. May Yehovah instill and preserve in us an attitude of service toward those He is calling.
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 for Him to leave this world and return to His Father. He loved His own people who were in the world, and He loved them to the end. 2 During supper, Satan had already influenced Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray Him. 3 Yeshua knew that the Father had put everything under His control, and that He had come from the Father, and was going back to Yehovah. 4 He got up from the supper and laid aside His outer clothing, and took a linen cloth and wrapped it around His waist. 5 Then He poured water into a wash basin and began to wash the feet of His disciples. He wiped them with the linen cloth that He had tied around His waist.
6 When He came to Simon Cephas, Simon asked Him, “Sovereign, are You going to wash my feet?” 7 Yeshua replied, “You don’t comprehend what I am doing now, but later you’ll understand.” 8 Simon Cephas told Him, “You’ll never wash my feet.” Yeshua replied, “Unless I wash you, you’ll have nothing to do with Me.” 9 Then Simon Cephas said, “Sovereign, then don’t just wash my feet but my hands and my head as well.” 10 Yeshua told him, “A person who has had a bath only needs to wash their feet because they are clean everywhere else.” That’s why He said, “You are 'basically' clean, tho not all of you are clean.” 11 Yeshua knew who would betray Him, that’s why He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet, He put on His outer clothing and reclined at the table again. Then He asked them, “Do you comprehend what I’ve done for you? 13 You call Me Rabbi and Sovereign, and you’re right because that’s what I am. 14 So if I, your Rabbi and Sovereign, have washed your feet, how much more important is it for you to wash each other’s feet? 15 I’ve set an example for you, so that you can do what I’ve done for you. 16 I tell you with absolute certainty that no servant is greater than his master, and no messenger [Gr. apostolos] is greater than the person who sent him. 17 If you understand these things, you’ll be blessed for doing them.
Foot washing is a symbol of Yeshua’s desire to serve us, and our desire to serve each other. As our Life Giver did, we will pause from the meal and wash our fellow servant’s feet—just as we were instructed to do.
More of Luke’s Account
In part one we saw in Luke’s account that Yeshua would “NOT BY ANY MEANS EAT IT [Passover] until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of Yehovah [Yehovah].”
Continuing in Luke:
Luke 22:19-27 Then He took a loaf of bread [3] and gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them and said, “This is My body that is given on your behalf. Do this to remember Me.” 20 After supper He did the same with the cup, He said, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood that is poured out on your behalf! 21 But look, the hand of the man betraying Me is on the table. 22 The Human Son is going as it was determined, but I pity the man who does the betraying.” 23 They began to discuss among themselves which of them was going to do this.
24 There was also a disagreement among them about which of them would be considered the greatest. 25 Yeshua told them, “The kings of the nations exercise dominion over their people, and those exercising authority over them call themselves 'benefactors'. 26 But this will not be the case with you. Anyone who is great among you must be like the least, and the one who leads should be like a servant. 27 Who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Isn’t it the person at the table? But I’m here among you as someone who serves.
[3] This was not unleavened bread because it was Yeshua’s Supper-Preparation Day for the Passover tomorrow. That’s why the Greek specifies it was a loaf of risen bread [as in Matthew 4:3 & 14:17]: “from airo; bread (as raised) or a loaf—(shew-)bread, loaf.” It was as thick as a man’s thumb, easily broken not cut, as opposed to the unleavened bread (azumos) that is used the following night at Passover.
(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 'special one'—those who obey His Commandments and have the Testimony of Yeshua. Part of the answer is in these new symbols. He wasn’t 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 You are the ones who have stayed with Me in My trials, 29 and I PROMISE YOU THE KINGDOM just as My Father has promised it to Me, 30 so that you can eat and drink at the table in My Kingdom and sit on thrones governing the twelve tribes of Israel.” 31 Yeshua told Simon, “Satan wants to sift all of you [4] like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith won’t fail! So once you have returned to Me, strengthen your friends.” 33 Simon told Him, “Sovereign, I’m ready to go both to prison and to death with you.” 34 Yeshua replied, “I tell you, Simon, the rooster won’t crow today until you have denied that you know Me three times.” 35 He told them, “When I sent you without handbags, wallets and sandals, were you missing anything?” They replied, “Nothing.” 36 He said, “From now on whoever has a moneybag should take it, and also a traveling bag. Anyone who doesn’t have a sword should sell their coat and buy himself a sword. 37 I assure you that I will fulfill the passage, ‘He was numbered with the transgressors.’ Everything concerning Me will be fulfilled.” 38 They told Him, “Sovereign, here are two swords!” He replied, “That’s enough.”
39 Coming out, He proceeded as usual to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him. 40 When He arrived, He told them, “Pray that you won’t give in to temptation.” 41 He walked about a stone’s throw away and knelt down and prayed repeatedly, 42 saying, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43 Then a Messenger from Heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed even more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 He got up from His prayer, He went to His disciples and He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46 He asked them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you won’t be tempted.” 47 While He was speaking, a crowd arrived. The one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came up to Yeshua and kissed Him [5]. He had given them this sign, “The One I kiss is the One.” 48 Yeshua asked, “Judas, are you betraying the Human Son with a kiss?”
49 Those who were with Him anticipated what was about to happen, so they asked Him, “Sovereign, should we strike them with the sword?” 50 Then one of them struck an underling of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 Yeshua said, “That’s enough.” He touched the ear of the man who had been struck and healed him. 52 Yeshua asked the high priests and elders and the Temple guard who had come for Him, “Have you come out against Me as you would a robber, with swords and clubs to arrest Me? 53 I was with you every day in the Temple, and you didn’t arrest Me. But this is your hour, when darkness reigns!
[4] Younan’s incomplete interlinear shows that this in not just about sifting Peter. The Greek is not clear. [5] The Greek omits much of this verse. [A] Adler says, verses 17 & 18: “He took the cup, and gave thanks and said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 Know that I’ll never drink of the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of [Yehovah] comes”, isn’t included in any MSS. of the Peshitto. (They were borrowed from Matthew & Mark). Lamsa, who was ostensibly translating from the Aramaic, accidentally included them without comment.
* * *
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 'chosen ones'.
The Symbolism of Leavened Bread
Aside from the fact that Yeshua’s Supper was not actually part of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, there is another simple reason why Yeshua didn’t use Unleavened Bread at His last supper—if He had done so, people might have thought that He was changing the Passover symbols!
1 Corinthians 11:23-24 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 ordinary bread, 24 and blessed, and broke it, and said, “Take this and eat it, this is My body that is broken for you, do this to remember Me by.”
John 6:47-58 I tell you with absolute certainty that there is eternal life for anyone who believes in Me. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 But this is the bread that comes down from Heaven, so that a person can eat it and ‘never’ die. 51 I’m the bread of life who has come down from Heaven, if anyone eats this bread they’ll 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 began arguing with each other and asked, “How can He give us His body to eat?”
53 Yeshua told them, “I tell you with absolute certainty that unless you eat the body of the Human Son and drink His blood, you have no life within you, 54 but anyone who eats My body and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I’ll raise them from the dead on the Last Day. 55 My body is real food and My blood is real drink. 56 Anyone who eats My body and drinks My blood remains in union with Me, and I in him. 57 The living Father has sent Me, and I live because of the Father. Similarly, anyone who feeds on Me will also live because of Me. 58 This is the bread that came down from Heaven, unlike the manna your ancestors ate, and still died. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.
1 Peter 2:19-25 Yehovah favors those who, for the sake of conscience, withstand unfair treatment. 20 But what credit would they deserve if they withstand punishment when they have sinned? But if you do well, and withstand unfair treatment, Yehovah considers that commendable. 21 This is why you were called, because the Messiah also suffered for us as a role model, so that you could follow in His steps. 22 He never sinned, nor did He ever deceive anyone. 23 When He was insulted, He didn’t insult in return, and He suffered without threatening, but committed everything to the One who judges righteously. 24 He took all of our sins and He lifted them in His body to the cross, so that we could die to sin and live 'as a result of' His [4] righteousness, because you are healed by His bleeding wounds. 25 You had wandered like sheep, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your lives.
We each ask Yehovah to bless the bread as the symbol of the body of Yeshua, broken for our sins. We can’t bless it ourselves. We thank Yehovah for His power to heal, remembering that “By His bleeding wounds, 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 death 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 haven’t discerned the healing power of Yeshua’s broken body.
The Symbolism of the Wine
The wine symbolizes Yeshua’s shed blood.
1 Peter 1:17-22 If you call Him “Father”, who impartially judges everyone according to their behavior, live your lives in reverent fear as travelers in a foreign land. 18 You know that the ransom from your worthless lifestyles, inherited from your ancestors, wasn’t paid for with corruptible [corrupting?] [1b] silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of the Messiah, the spotless and unblemished Lamb. 20 He was predestined for this before the foundation of the world, and this former mystery has been made apparent for you at the end of the age. 21 Thru Him you have believed in Yehovah, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him honor, so that your faith and hope could be in Yehovah. 22 Since you have purified your minds by obedience to the truth, and are filled with unbiased love, you must love each other with a pure and perfect mind,
[1a,b] The Greek says that gold is perishable or corruptible, even tho the same verse says it can even withstand fire. Gold is purified (Zechariah 13:9) and tested (Revelation 3:18) in fire! In verse 18 there is another word that can be translated as either “perishable” or “corruptible”, but it has to do with human corruption. Precious metals are neither perishable or corruptible, but people who sin to acquire it are both corruptible & perishable.
I Corinthians 11:25 So, after they had eaten it, He then took the cup and said, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, do this, as often as you drink it, to remember Me by.”
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 that 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.
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When you read about preparing for the Passover, you should take the time to study all of the other places in the Testimony of Yeshua (the “New Testament”) that use a form of the word “prepare”. In almost every case it has to do with spiritual preparations! Whether it is John the Immerser 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. There are several versions.
The sobering commemoration is now concluded.
Yeshua’s parting message in John 14-17 that He gave His disciples immediately before He was crucified is an awesome thing to read during the time prior to and during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. I hope you read it.
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(If you use this format for your commemoration of Yeshua’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 since 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. If necessary, help your partner replace their shoes and socks. Switch seats and repeat the process. When both peoples’ feet have been washed then return to your regular seats. As people finish the foot washing, empty the basin and return to the supper.)
My reply from a recent email exchange: “I have been back and forth on the necessity of circumcision and currently believe that a man can enter the Kingdom as an Israelite or a non-Israelite, depending on circumcision. Yet it is very interesting that every one of the many references to circumcision in the major and minor Prophets stresses the importance of it during the future, and every reference to the "uncircumcised" is a very bad situation, particularly if a person wants to enter the third (Ezekiel’s) Temple! And most prophecy is still future.
Yes, Yeshua’s Supper is a commemoration done on the preparation Day for the Passover, since He couldn’t possibly eat it and be it at the same time.
But as for who should participate in the bread and the wine, I would want to see anyone doing that as spiritually mature and committed enough to have been immersed into His body:
1 Corinthians 11:29 because anyone who eats and drinks from it unworthily, eats and drinks condemnation on themselves by not discerning the Sovereign’s body.
I can think of no reason for children not to be present. Why shouldn’t they see what they are missing out on?
Were the Temple still standing, and when it is again, I see no other option but circumcision. But for nearly 2,000 years, even the Jews haven’t been able to really do a literal Passover, so they invented Seder traditions as a substitute.
Chapter 3: “Messiah (Christ) Our Passover”?
Thursday Crucifixion Arguments
March 24, 2024 comments: Why do some people say that Yeshua was crucified on a Thursday? Here are some excerpts from relevant articles.
Here is my first search result using “Jesus Yeshua crucifixion Thursday” that presumes a Thursday crucifixion:
“Understand that Jesus was not speaking of His body being buried in an above-ground tomb. He spoke of His soul that departed His body at death (3 pm) and went into Abraham’s Bosom, the heart of the earth.” Pursue that further if you wish!
The second Thursday proponent assumes 30 AD, and as is so commonly done, also retrofits the fourth century Hillel 2 calendar into the first century to establish week days. That calendar was still evolving another 600 years before being widely accepted:
“In the year 30 AD Friday, the 15th of the Jewish month Nisan was also a Sabbath—so two Sabbaths occurred back to back—Friday and Saturday.”
This third site, summarizing the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday positions assumes 32 AD, and also retrofits the fourth century Hillel 2 calendar into the first century to establish week days:
“It is clear from the Old Testament instructions on the Passover (Exodus 12:6; Leviticus 23:5) that the lamb was to be slaughtered late in the day on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan—which was Thursday afternoon in AD 32. Thursday advocates point out that at the same time Israel was slaughtering their Passover lambs on Nisan 14, Jesus, the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29) was dying on a cross.”
The fourth Thursday proponent also retrofits the Hillel 2 calendar and the assumed 30 AD and Thursday with no reference to an actual sighted moon beginning every month, and how they know which New Moon (month) was the first one that year—the only factors dating the New Year that year, as Jewish history undeniably records during the first century:
““As is often the case, the gospel of John preserves a more accurate chronology of what went on...Reading Mark, Matthew, and Luke one can get the impression that the “last supper” was the Passover meal. Some have even argued that Jesus might have eaten the Passover meal a day early—knowing ahead of time that he would be dead. But the fact is, Jesus ate no Passover meal in 30 AD. When the Passover meal began at sundown on Thursday Jesus was dead. He had been hastily put in a tomb until after the festival when proper and full Jewish burial rites could be carried out.”
Wikipedia, the fifth reference doesn’t say much specifically, but consider this: When Yeshua said that He would leave just one specific sign that He was the Messiah, would it just be vague or symbolic, some recently concocted idiom, or was it a literal miracle, like all His other miracles?
Matthew 12:38-41 Then some of the Torah teachers and Pharisees said to Him, “Sovereign, we want to see a miraculous sign from You.” 39 But He replied, “A wicked and unfaithful people demand a sign, but the only sign they’ll be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 Just as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, in the same manner, the Human Son will be in the inner part of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 The people of Nineveh will stand up on Judgment Day with this group of people, and will condemn them, because they amended their ways at the heralding of Jonah, and now Someone greater than Jonah is here.
“The consensus of scholarship is that the New Testament accounts represent a crucifixion occurring on a Friday, but a Thursday or Wednesday crucifixion have also been proposed. Some scholars explain a Thursday crucifixion based on a “double sabbath” caused by an extra Passover sabbath falling on Thursday dusk to Friday afternoon, ahead of the normal weekly Sabbath.Some have argued that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday, not Friday, on the grounds of the mention of “three days and three nights” in Matthew 12:40 before his resurrection, celebrated on Sunday. Others have countered by saying that this ignores the Jewish idiom by which a “day and night” may refer to any part of a 24-hour period, that the expression in Matthew is idiomatic, not a statement that Jesus was 72 hours in the tomb, and that the many references to a resurrection on the third day do not require three literal nights.”
“The sixth reference does not take Yeshua’s three days and three nights account literally, preferring the day and a half route. Sadly, no one believed Yeshua even at that time and greeted Him when the stone was rolled away.
The seventh source gives several explanations:
...consider looking into what’s coming out from the translations of the Dead Sea Scrolls, especially regarding the difference in calendars used by the Essenes and the Pharisees. There is an argument that John was possibly using a different calendar (to that used in the other gospels) in his book. Overall, IIRC the scrolls support your increments.
OR “The confusion comes from mislabeling Nisan 15 as an annual Sabbath.” This guy should read Leviticus 23:6-8!
OR “The "heart of the earth" does not necessarily mean the tomb. If one considers that it might mean in custody of the kingdom of Rome...”
OR, I was about to leave this site, but I looked at the last option and it was great! Start your search at: “When we collect all the evidences from the four gospel accounts and place them side by side, we get the following sequence in the right order:”
The 7th site is more of the same from the first site.
The 8th site does not realize that the Passover (an evening sacrifice, preceding the First Day of Unleavened Bread) is not part of the three days and three nights in the tomb.
I would be willing to respond to any other viewpoints.