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Jesus and Passover traditions
So why do people not want the Last Supper to be a Passover meal?
For some, it comes down to intricate theories about the timing of the crucifixion and resurrection. To make everything fit within the timeframe they propose, the Last Supper has to happen a day earlier than what the Synoptics say.
For others, it comes down to protecting their theology. If you believe that Jesus followed the Torah to the letter, then you’ve got a problem with his Passover. If you believe that “one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law” means that Jesus read the Old Testament through Command-Example-Inference lenses, then you’d prefer that the Last Supper not be a Passover meal.
Because Jesus didn’t strictly follow the regulations of the Law of Moses regarding the Passover. He followed the customs of his day. While the Law instructed that the Passover was to be eaten while standing (Exodus 12:11), Jewish tradition had gone so far as to require that the meal be eaten while reclining. The idea was to eat not as slaves but as kings. The Four Questions used in a Jewish Seder say:
Why is this night different from all other nights?
On all other nights we eat leavened products and matzah, and on this night only matzah.
On all other nights we eat all vegetables, and on this night only bitter herbs.
On all other nights, we don’t dip our food even once, and on this night we dip twice.
On all other nights we eat sitting or reclining, and on this night we only recline.
It’s noteworthy that Jesus and his disciples reclined around the Passover table.
We see in the Last Supper reflections of other traditions that had grown up around Passover: the use of the four cups of wine, the ceremonial dipping of food, the singing of the Hallal psalms.
If you take a legalistic approach to religious observances, you’ll be uncomfortable with the idea of the Last Supper as a Passover meal. And you’ll probably be a fan of the gospel of John!
Photo from Pixabay.com
Was the Last Supper a Passover meal? (2)
To say that the Last Supper wasn’t a Passover meal, we have to disregard the direct statements from the synoptic gospels. That just doesn’t work. So what do we do with John’s gospel?
The NIV translation of John 13:1 is less than helpful (the insertion of “it was” has no textual support). Let’s look at the NASB:
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” (NASB)
The meaning is still a bit hard to pull out (John could write such complex thoughts with such simple words!). But the time reference is obvious. John starts at a point before the Passover.
However, as Dr. Neil Lightfoot pointed out at the ACU lectures a few years ago, Passover began with the meal. It wasn’t Passover until they ate. The next verse references the meal. What is described, the washing of feet, happened at the very beginning of Passover; it’s likely that Jesus did right after the meal was served what was normally done before the meal. This special Passover began with an act of service.
The passage about the Jews not wanting to defile themselves has two explanations, both possible and not mutually exclusive.
- In their obsession with Jesus’ arrest, they had not yet partaken of the Passover meal. They intended to see him killed, then eat of a slightly delayed supper.
- The feast of Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread occurred one after the other. The two were often referred to as one event: the feast or just Passover. These were holy days, and these Jews didn’t want to defile themselves by entering the court of a Gentile. They could scheme, lie, and hold unjust trials; they couldn’t enter the dwelling of a non-Jew.
We need to remember that the idea that the gospels were written as part of a legal code would have been foreign to early Christians. They weren’t reading these stories to see if the Lord’s Supper was supposed to use unleavened bread or not. This was the powerful story of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
We need to read the story the same way.
Was the Last Supper a Passover meal?
This next Sunday is Easter. It’s Holy Week for much of the Christian world. And Passover begins this Friday evening.
So it’s a good time to look at the Last Supper. Was it a Passover meal?
The answer would be an easy yes, except for what the Gospel of John says:
“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” (John 13:1)
And he also says:
“Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.” (John 18:28)
Yet the synoptics seem pretty clear about the nature of the meal:
“On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.” (Matthew 26:17–19)
“On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.” (Mark 14:12–16)
“Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.” They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.” (Luke 22:7–13)
I’d like to hear your thoughts.