The time had come.  The Passover meal had been prepared and the apostolic team gathered around Jesus.  It was a critical moment which was to define the end of the old covenant and the beginning of the new.  It was the culmination of Israel's history which had pointed to God's Redeemer buying back sinful humanity from Satan's control.  In a few hours' time, the cross would become the torturous instrument of death. The image of the dying Jesus would be most dreadful to watch, but it needed a clear explanation, or it would remain a mystery.

That explanation was not given to the crowds or shared with Jesus’ accusers or they would have never crucified the Lord of Glory (1 Corinthians 2:7-8) – it was God’s secret plan to unseat Satan and release those he had held captive (Isaiah 42:6-7).  That is why the Last Supper was so significant.  It did not just set the pattern for our 'breaking of bread' communion services.  It was Jesus' last opportunity to tell the apostles the significance of His death which would bring eternal life to many.

Although the Passover celebration looked back 1,500 years to the miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt, it also described the cross – God’s miraculous provision for sinful people to be delivered from their slavery to sin (Romans 6:20-23).  In both events, the lamb was free from defects, the best from the flock; the lamb was killed as a substitute sacrifice in place of sinful human beings; the blood was the sign of protection from God's wrath for all who sheltered beneath it; the bread was eaten, strengthening those who believed to serve God and travel with Him; and the wine was drunk in thanksgiving for what God had done (Exodus 12:5-13).
 
The intense desire of Jesus to eat the Passover with the apostles was important for us too.  We cannot be saved by trying to copy the example of Christ's life; rather we must trust in the atoning sacrifice of His death.  The primary purpose of His body was not to do miracles, but to enable the miracle of new birth to all who believed in the sacrifice of His death.  In establishing bread and wine as the essential elements of remembering Him, He left a spiritual legacy based on His death rather than His life.  Although the next few days would be unbearably dark for the apostles, they would later have the responsibility to explain the death and resurrection of Jesus and invite many to believe in Him as the Saviour of the world.  That is where we come in!  If you are saved it is because you have trusted Jesus to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).  If others are to come to faith they must see beyond a moving mystery to a clear understanding of His death.  Do not leave them in the dark.  Explain to them why Jesus died, and that He died for them (www.crosscheck.org.uk).