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Jesus prepared a Passover dinner. It was the last Passover Feast they would have together. Passover was an important holiday for the Jews to commemorate the Lord breaking the chains of slavery in Egypt and bringing the people of Israel to freedom. However, from that point on, the Passover would be remembered as the day of Jesus. We celebrate his glorious death that breaks the chain of sin and death, brings freedom to all who come to him, and leads them to salvation and eternal life as children of God.
Although Jesus knew one was plotting to betray him out of the wickedness of his heart (10, 21), and the rest were too weak to stand by him through his suffering (19), Jesus did not hesitate to offer his body and blood as the Passover lamb. The blood was shed to make a new covenant of salvation–that we can now come to God through Jesus. Those who believe in the blood covenant will not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16). Would you accept Jesus’ invitation to take a part in the covenant, by taking him into your heart? Would you come before him who already knows all your weaknesses? Let’s ask to receive His body and blood to grow in his image, bearing spiritual fruit.
Mar 30, 2026
THE NEW PASSOVER
Passage: Mark 14:12-26
Key verse: 24
NIV
chapter 14
12. On the first day of the Festival 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?"
13. 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.
14. 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?’
15. He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."
16. The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
17. When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.
18. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me - one who is eating with me."
19. They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely you don’t mean me?"
20. "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me.
21. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
22. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."
23. Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them.
25. "Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
26. When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Prayer: Father, thank you for your grace and salvation. I am undeserving, but I come to you having confidence in your promise.
One Word: The new covenant