The room was high enough that they could see across the city of Jerusalem. They could even make out that strange hill to the north that looked like a skull. The disciples had rented this room, and now all twelve of them were gathered there to celebrate another Passover Seder with Jesus.
But something didn’t feel right. Jesus seemed preoccupied as he looked around at them. It got quiet as he stood up to speak,
“With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15–16)
The disciples were a little confused why Jesus was being so passionate. They had already celebrated two Passovers together, so what was so special about, “this Passover”? And what was this talk about “no longer eating of it”?
They could feel the emotion and seriousness in Jesus’ words. They knew this was special. But it wasn’t until after the traumatic and difficult days that followed that they begin to connect the dots.
John made the first connection when he recalled John the Baptist yelling at Jesus saying,
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
The disciples realized this was what Jesus was talking about when he said his blood was the “blood of the new covenant.” He was the sacrificial Lamb. Not just for the sins of the Jews, or the sins of Israel, but for the sins of the world!
Then they recalled Jesus saying the bread was his body, and how that body had been beaten and crucified, but it came back to life. This overwhelmed them as they grasped how prophetic Jesus was being that evening when he spoke the Seder blessing over the bread…
“Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, Hamotzi lechem min haaretz”
Blessed are you Lord, our God, King of the universe, who brings forth the bread of the earth.“Take, eat; this is My body.”
The disciples rejoiced because they knew it was their God, the King of the Universe, who had brought forth the Bread of Life from the grave!!!
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