Pesach
Passover and the Lamb
Yeshua's last supper was a Passover meal. Its cup, its bread and its lamb all point to him.
At the first Passover, the blood of a spotless lamb on the doorposts meant death passed over (Exodus 12). Every year since, Jewish families retell it at the Seder.
Yeshua was crucified at Passover. At his last Seder he took the bread and said, "This is my body", and after supper the cup, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood" (Luke 22:19-20), likely the third cup, the cup of redemption.
Many Messianic Jews notice the afikoman: the middle of three matzot is broken, wrapped, hidden and brought back. Matzah is pierced and striped. It isn't a proof, but the picture is striking.
Paul writes, "Messiah, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place" (1 Corinthians 5:7). John notes that, like the Passover lamb, none of his bones were broken (John 19:36; Exodus 12:46).
In the Scriptures
13וְהָיָה֩ הַדָּ֨ם לָכֶ֜ם לְאֹ֗ת עַ֤ל הַבָּתִּים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתֶּ֣ם שָׁ֔ם וְרָאִ֨יתִי֙ אֶת־הַדָּ֔ם וּפָסַחְתִּ֖י עֲלֵכֶ֑ם וְלֹֽא־יִֽהְיֶ֨ה בָכֶ֥ם נֶ֨גֶף֙ לְמַשְׁחִ֔ית בְּהַכֹּתִ֖י בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
13And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Exodus 12:13 (Hebrew & JPS 1917)
19He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” 20Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Luke 22:19-20 (WMB)
7Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Messiah, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.
1 Corinthians 5:7 (WMB)