Passover with the King

April 10, 2022 Background Scripture: Matthew 26:17 - 30 Lesson Passage: Matthew 26: 17- 30 Oftentimes it's the company that we keep that makes all the difference as to whether a situation becomes a fond mem01Y. This is especially true when we set out to celebrate a special occasion. When this country elects a president, there are individuals who recall being in high school with them. Little did they know that that person was destined for greatness. Sometimes we see people's potential, but many times we don't. We are left to marvel at the outcome. This was no different for those who lived at the time of Jesus' ministry on earth. What those people thought of Jesus as they looked back at their interactions with him is a matter of their perspective. Hence, each account of the gospel provides a historical presentation of Jesus from a unique perspective. Today's lesson is taken from the gospel account recorded by Matthew. Matthew's account presents Jesus as a descendant of David and heir to the throne of Israel. As such, viewing the historical events recorded by Matthew from this perspective will often yield interesting insight. Matthew opens his account with a genealogy that connects Jesus' human roots to King David. That background gives a unique perspective on the final Passover meal Jesus shared with his disciples. The Law clearly stipulated that the Passover meal was to be eaten at home with family, or with neighbors if the number of persons in the household is too small to consume the Passover lamb. No doubt, the question Jesus' disciples asked him about where he would be eating the Passover meal stemmed from the fact that he had no place he called home for the previous three years. (Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.) The question that was asked concerning where he would be observing the meal is evidence that he had eaten the Passover meal at different places during those years. His disciples did not know until during the meal that they were sharing the Passover meal with Jesus for the last time. Neither did they know the details of Jesus' human and divine connections. And it was days later before they began to understand the revelation of who Jesus is. He was, and is, as the wise men from the East had said, the one born king of the Jews. Jesus' revelation of his divine identity to his disciples made the evening even more memorable. The other Passover meals they had eaten with Jesus probably felt like a common experience to them. Jewish families were required by the Law to observe the Passover meal every year. Therefore, they did what the Law required of Jewish men to do. But there was a whirlwind of activities happening during this last observance. Jesus did not allow any of those distractions to take from the reverence and special nature of this supper. There were many things going on that evening and Jesus made sure that the location of their meal was kept secret until the evening as they came together. Only Jesus and two of his disciples knew where they would be that evening. Once they gathered for the Passover meal, Judas, his betrayer, now knew where Jesus would spend the evening. Before the meal ended, Jesus dismissed Judas from the gathering. Jesus and the remaining eleven disciples barely had time to finish the meal and enter the Garden for prayer before his betrayer led the lynch mob to him. Judas had completed his evil deed and Jesus was now in the hands of his persecutors. The other eleven disciples would look back on that evening and know with certainty that they had observed the Passover with the King. Robert C, Hudson March 10, 2022