I am grateful for the ministry of Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum who has recently been to our church in New Zealand. For all those unaware, he is a leading messianic Jewish scholar. He also started a ministry, Ariel (meaning: Lion of God), aimed at Jewish evangelism and Jewish/ Gentile discipleship.
I have studied much of his material, particularly in my early twenties, and I have also had the joy of going on two historical and geographical study tours of Israel and Jordan (on one of those tours).
Here is something from “Arnie” for you to reflect upon around this Easter time.
The Last Passover = The First Lord’s Supper – Luke 22:14-20
When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, it was not in a cultural vacuum. Sadly, we can miss much beauty and significance, particularly the interplay between the Testaments in Scripture, as we don’t have this foundational knowledge.
The Lord’s Supper, I believe, is one example.
In the Passover meal, there are two main elements, unleavened bread and wine (sorry, no grape juice), with the unleavened bread mentioned in Luke 22:19.
When Jesus said, This is my body, this was spoken of in the context of the Jewish Passover bread that was being used on this occasion.
Here is what “the Frucht” says in regards to the Passover bread and how it illuminates the sacrificial offering of Jesus the Messiah.
There were three requirements for the bread to qualify for the Passover. The first requirement is that the bread had to be unleavened and leaven was the symbol of sin. Jesus had an unleavened body in that he was sinless (II Corinthians 5:21). If Jesus had committed only one sin, that would have disqualified Him from being the Passover sacrifice. But Jesus was the only Jew who ever lived that kept the Mosaic Law perfectly, and by His keeping of the Law he did have an unleavened body. Secondly, the bread had to be striped. The body of Jesus was striped by means of the scourge (John 19:1). Isaiah 53:5 prophesied, with his stripes we are healed. The third requirement is that it had to be pierced. The body of Jesus was pierced at the Crucifixion on two occasions. First by the nails at his crucifixion (John 19:17-18) and then by the spear (John 19:33, 37).
The symbolism continues in the use of a special bag used by Jews on this occasion.
The Jews use a special bag called the matzah tash, one bag with three compartments. This represents the Trinity. The three loaves of unleavened bread is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the Afikomen ceremony the middle matzah is removed, broken in two and then wrapped in linen cloth, hidden away and later found again in conjunction with the third cup, broken into smaller pieces and given to each one around the table. The removal of [the] middle matzah from the bag represents the incarnation when God became man in the person of Jesus. The breaking of the middle loaf is a picture of the death of the Messiah. The wrapping in linen cloth pictures the body of Jesus which, when it was removed from the cross, was also wrapped in linen cloth (Luke 22:52-53). The hiding is a picture of the burial. The removal and the unwrapping in conjunction with the third of four cups represents the resurrection on the third day. The eating of it is a picture of John 6:22-59 where Jesus taught that one must eat His body and drink His blood to have eternal life. What this means is to believe on Him (John 6:34, 47).
We now turn to the other main element, the Wine, where in the Passover meal, individuals will consume four cups.
The second main element of the Passover is the wine and the first cup is mentioned in Luke 22:17-18 which is the Cup of Blessing or the Cup of Thanksgiving. The third cup is mentioned in Luke 22:20 which is the Cup of Redemption. The cup which symbolizes the physical redemption from Egypt is a symbol of the spiritual redemption through Christ.
I love the illumination of the third cup!
Just think about this historically. The disciples had been drinking this cup that represented their physical redemption from Egypt, and it was personal, as every Jew is encouraged to personalize the Passover each year.
Now, Jesus was saying, ultimate personal redemption is found in me, in what I am going to accomplish as the final Passover sacrifice. This was only going to be spiritual, in the short term, but, at the end of days, it would also have a physical reality.
Their elevation of understanding, given their historical grounding, would have made Messiah’s words, even more significant and real (maybe after some time and reflection – post resurrection).
Therefore, when you have communion, you are having an abridged version of the Passover meal, remembering the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), Jesus our Passover sacrifice (1 Corinthians 5:6-7).
Thank God for our redemption in Christ!!!
Until Next Time
I am Jonny King
Recent Comments