As the Passover celebration drew near, Jerusalem hummed with excitement. Everyone wondered
if Jesus—teacher, miracle-worker, and prophet—would come for Passover. (John 11:56-57) The
Passover meal was a permanent statute God intended for every Israelite family to observe each
year. (See Ex. 12:1-28; Lev. 23:5-8.) But it was no secret the religious leaders were determined
to kill Jesus. Jesus had warned His disciples what would happen this Passover. (Mark 10:33-34;
Luke 18:31)
As they ate the Passover meal, Jesus broke bread and gave it to His disciples. He shared the cup
with them too, explaining that the bread and cup represented His body and blood. Jesus
established a new covenant.
In the Old Testament, God made a covenant, or promise, with His people. He gave them
commandments to follow so they could live in right relationship with Him. But God’s people broke
the covenant. They didn’t obey God, and they didn’t love Him.
What the sacrifice of the Passover lamb could not do—take away sins once and for all—the
perfect Lamb of God was going to do. Jesus, the perfectly sinless Son of God, was going to take
the punishment for sin upon Himself. (See Heb. 10:1-10.) As Jesus’ disciples prepared for
Passover, Jesus prepared to die. By dying on the cross, Jesus brought forgiveness and made the
way for people to know and love God again.
Christ- Connection: Jesus showed His disciples with the bread and the drink that He is the true Passover
Lamb. God’s people had broken the old covenant, and God promised to make a new
covenant to forgive sins. The new covenant says that everyone who turns away from sin
and trusts in Jesus’ death and resurrection will be forgiven of his sins and will have
eternal life.
Believers take the Lord’s Supper to remember what Jesus did for us in His death and
resurrection. We remember God’s faithfulness, and we look forward to the day that Jesus will
return.
If your kids are not ready to take the Lord’s Supper at church, gently explain that the Lord's
Supper, like baptism, is an ordinance of the church and is a celebration for those who have
repented of their sin and trusted in Jesus for salvation.