08-13-2022, 03:37 PM
There's a lot of confusion arising from poor translations into English at this point. First, we note that the Jews had drifted into traditions that were contrary to the specific commands of Moses regarding Passover and Unleavened Bread. These were two different observances that occurred together. Passover was the 14th of Nissan (Abib). Unleavened Bread began the next day, but preparations were connected to the Passover celebration. The lamb would be slaughtered sometime between sunset on the 13th and sunset on the 14th, and eaten during the meal after sunset. During the day they also removed all leaven and burned everything containing it by 11AM local time (the tradition in Jesus' day), in preparation for Unleavened Bread. Lunch that day started the switch to unleavened bread leading up to the Passover meal that night.
In most English translations, verse 17 reads some variation of "on the first day of Unleavened Bread" and it's wrong. The Greek words are not that precise; it should read more like "before the days of Unleavened Bread". It refers to the season of the year when folks began gearing up for the two events. The parallel passage in Mark 14:12 has the same problem, while in Luke 22:7 the Greek indicates the season ("day" is not necessarily meant literally) of Unleavened Bread.
On top of this, everyone should remember that the Passover was a family celebration; quite literally you were required to share it with your immediate household family members. Yet, in Jesus' day, a tradition had arisen of celebrating some portion of the Seder rituals on the night before Passover (the evening of Nissan 13th) with your friends and professional associates. This is what the disciples refer to in their question. It would have been a major highlight to their discipleship program because, with Jesus being so very popular, He must have turned down an awful lot of offers from supporters in order to have private time in a solemn ritual setting with the Twelve. They hadn't gotten much time alone with Him lately.
So, when they broached the question of where to hold their private gathering, Jesus told them how to find the place. Mark's and Luke's accounts are so specific as to mention something that would have been quite unusual among the Hebrew people: a man carrying a pitcher of water, something only women would be seen doing in public. Thus, it was very easy for them to identify and follow this servant doing something so out of step with Hebrew customs. Whoever was the householder there had already agreed with Jesus to provide a private second story room.
They spent the afternoon gathering the customary food and getting it cooked and ready. Keep in mind that part of this whole scene includes the very real threat that Jesus could be arrested at any time. The idea was to avoid Him being seen in the city during daylight, so the disciples would have divided up the tasks among them. As soon as the sun was set, those not already there entered the room through an outer staircase anchored in the street that such rooms always had. They were built like that so no one need disturb the household below.
They were trying to get into the right mood when Jesus dropped a verbal bomb on them: One of those present would betray Him to the authorities. Jesus emphatically stated that someone sharing this very meal with Him would do this awful thing. Furthermore, it was far better that this traitor had never been born. To say they were shocked would be an understatement. By this time they were just humble enough that, instead of looking about at the others in suspicious anger, each worried that something he might do would give Him away.
When Judas echoed their questions, pretending the same innocent angst, Jesus turned to him with a vernacular statement meaning, "yes". Judas now understood that Jesus knew.
Without bogging ourselves down with what parts of the Seder they included in this Day of Preparation celebration, we know that Jesus picked out two elements to give them a new meaning. He took the bread that symbolized the hope of someday eating bread in the Messianic Kingdom. He spoke a blessing over it, then passed it around, as each man was supposed to take a piece. Then He announced that this symbolized His human body. Luke notes He added the comment that it was to be broken for on their behalf, and that they were to repeat this ritual in future days as a remembrance of His looming sacrifice.
For the particular cup of wine poured to celebrate the blessings of the Covenant, Jesus said it symbolized His blood inaugurating a New Covenant. This sacrifice would cover the sins of a great many people. He also said it was the last cup of wine that He would drink until His Father poured out new wine in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thus, the Seder became the Lord's Supper.
In most English translations, verse 17 reads some variation of "on the first day of Unleavened Bread" and it's wrong. The Greek words are not that precise; it should read more like "before the days of Unleavened Bread". It refers to the season of the year when folks began gearing up for the two events. The parallel passage in Mark 14:12 has the same problem, while in Luke 22:7 the Greek indicates the season ("day" is not necessarily meant literally) of Unleavened Bread.
On top of this, everyone should remember that the Passover was a family celebration; quite literally you were required to share it with your immediate household family members. Yet, in Jesus' day, a tradition had arisen of celebrating some portion of the Seder rituals on the night before Passover (the evening of Nissan 13th) with your friends and professional associates. This is what the disciples refer to in their question. It would have been a major highlight to their discipleship program because, with Jesus being so very popular, He must have turned down an awful lot of offers from supporters in order to have private time in a solemn ritual setting with the Twelve. They hadn't gotten much time alone with Him lately.
So, when they broached the question of where to hold their private gathering, Jesus told them how to find the place. Mark's and Luke's accounts are so specific as to mention something that would have been quite unusual among the Hebrew people: a man carrying a pitcher of water, something only women would be seen doing in public. Thus, it was very easy for them to identify and follow this servant doing something so out of step with Hebrew customs. Whoever was the householder there had already agreed with Jesus to provide a private second story room.
They spent the afternoon gathering the customary food and getting it cooked and ready. Keep in mind that part of this whole scene includes the very real threat that Jesus could be arrested at any time. The idea was to avoid Him being seen in the city during daylight, so the disciples would have divided up the tasks among them. As soon as the sun was set, those not already there entered the room through an outer staircase anchored in the street that such rooms always had. They were built like that so no one need disturb the household below.
They were trying to get into the right mood when Jesus dropped a verbal bomb on them: One of those present would betray Him to the authorities. Jesus emphatically stated that someone sharing this very meal with Him would do this awful thing. Furthermore, it was far better that this traitor had never been born. To say they were shocked would be an understatement. By this time they were just humble enough that, instead of looking about at the others in suspicious anger, each worried that something he might do would give Him away.
When Judas echoed their questions, pretending the same innocent angst, Jesus turned to him with a vernacular statement meaning, "yes". Judas now understood that Jesus knew.
Without bogging ourselves down with what parts of the Seder they included in this Day of Preparation celebration, we know that Jesus picked out two elements to give them a new meaning. He took the bread that symbolized the hope of someday eating bread in the Messianic Kingdom. He spoke a blessing over it, then passed it around, as each man was supposed to take a piece. Then He announced that this symbolized His human body. Luke notes He added the comment that it was to be broken for on their behalf, and that they were to repeat this ritual in future days as a remembrance of His looming sacrifice.
For the particular cup of wine poured to celebrate the blessings of the Covenant, Jesus said it symbolized His blood inaugurating a New Covenant. This sacrifice would cover the sins of a great many people. He also said it was the last cup of wine that He would drink until His Father poured out new wine in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thus, the Seder became the Lord's Supper.
