1. Passover : Last Supper

2. Four ‘Ages’ of Creation… EXODUS/P ASSOVER DEATH & RESURRECTION OF JESUS NEW HEAVEN & EARTH CREATION Time of the Patriarchs Covenant with Israel in the Promised Land New Covenant for all people. The ‘end times’ Eternity

3. Some parallels to ponder Israelites were in slavery and bondage to Israel Blood of the lamb protected Israel from death Lamb was to be spotless/perfect as declared by a priest Lamb was to be selected/chosen 4 days before the Passover (set apart = holy) No bones of the lamb were to be broken All people are in slavery and bondage to sin & death Blood of Jesus provides life to all who believe Jesus was declared the lamb of God by John the Baptist (a levite), and at his trial the priests could find no charge against him Jesus was publicly acknowledged with proclamation 4 days before his arrest on the eve of Passover Jesus’ legs were not broken as he died before sunset

4. But we can go deeper… WHY THE NEED FOR A SACRIFICE? 1) Ex 6:6-7 – I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians (a) – I will redeem you with an outstretched arm (b) (a) = achieved by the 10 th plague (b) = achieved by the sacrifice of the lamb 2) The sacrificed lamb acted as a substitute. Offered in faith and accepted/credited as righteousness

5. … and in the Christian context: WHY THE NEED FOR A SACRIFICE? Rom 6:23 : “the wages of sin is death” The judgement is clear – we cannot dwell with God (ie have life) and remain in our sin. The price of sin must be met → death is inevitable Sufficiency of another’s sacrifice: Rom 5:18-19 Eph 2:4-5 Col 2:13-15 et al… Cf the Passover lamb being sufficient for 1 or more families

6. So what… …was Jesus saying at the last supper? Mt26:26-28 -The unleavened bread: Eaten in haste for they were a pilgrim people setting out on a journey // Jesus personalises the bread and links it to his sacrifice. Through his sacrifice we become a pilgrim people -The cup of wine: Blood of the lamb sacrificed to redeem a people // Blood of God’s son sacrificed to redeem all people …does that mean for me? God is gracious – 2 Peter 3:9 God’s forbearance does not last forever – at some point for everyone God says ‘enough’ cf Mt21:37 The evidence is there for those who choose to see it (Jn12:37; Heb 3:15ff)