All male Jews were required to go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. This night was followed by seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Gradually this became known as the "Passover Week". Christ's instructions to the disciples as to where they would celebrate the Passover were very interesting. Read verses 10-12 again. It was unusual for a man to be carrying a pitcher of water but he was the man Peter and John were to follow. On every other occasion in the Gospels, the word "follow" is only used in relation to following Christ. But there is a real lesson in that fact. When that man turned, they were to turn. Wherever he went, they were to go. Wherever he stopped, they were to stop. Isn't that a wonderful illustration as to how we are to follow Christ and go or do that He leads? Considerable preparation had to be made for the evening meal. A lamb had to be purchased and roasted together with unleavened bread, bitter herbs and other items. It would be interesting to know who the man was whose house they met in and if Christ had made any prior arrangements with him. There were thirteen men to be accommodated. The Passover meal took four to five hours. It was a feast of memory, depicting the night in Egypt when the angel of death saw the blood on the doorposts and passed over those homes without entering. It foreshadowed Christ's death on the cross where His blood was shed and covered us, cleansing us from our sin. Christ spoke of that Passover Feast in a remarkable way. He said, "I have been longing to eat this Feast with you. I know what it stands for and I know what is ahead. This really is the last Passover. From now on there will be something else to celebrate - my death on the cross for you." The disciples didn't understand then but they did later. With hindsight, we can see what He meant and in turn we thank God for Christ, the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Praise Him again today for all of ths. |
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