Holy Week Devotional: Day 5
Thursday, April 17, 2025
by Jimmy Kim
Matthew 26:17-29 ESV
17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
The Passover serves for the Jewish people as a major holiday, a time of corporate remembrance of God’s rescue from their slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12), and more specifically, the passing over of the Lord as He executed judgment against those who opposed Him (Ex. 12:23). The weeklong festival includes the Passover meal, which is more than a simple family gathering around a table satiating hungry bellies. It is an intentional meal, full of lessons and reminders, each item, each act, rich in significance in retelling the Exodus account. Every child and adult, with each ensuing year, would come to a deeper and deeper understanding of how God frees His people from oppression and points them to a Promised Land. It is a reminder of God’s steadfast love. Remember the refrain that God uses of Himself in Exodus 34:6-7:
…“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…
When Jesus instructs His disciples to go prepare for the Passover (the Feast of Unleavened Bread), He is doing so in a moment of history that should not be too quickly overlooked by us today. Jesus is more than remembering the past by His observance of this meal. He is connecting the thousands year old tradition directly to Himself! Jesus, the Son of God, is initiating another miracle, one greater than what took place in the Exodus account. Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29), would be at the center of this new meal of remembrance.
Notice Jesus’ words, “My time is at hand.” He is a target for His enemies who want Him dead. In John’s account of Jesus, he repeatedly informs his readers at key moments that Jesus time had not yet come (John 2:4, 7:6, 7:8, 7:30, 8:20) but now, during the Passover, He says that it is time. Not simply time for a meal. Rather, time to usher in a new Passover where the blood of Jesus (to be shed on the cross in a matter of hours) would save many generations more.
The disciples surely knew that Jesus was going “off script.” Ponder their bewilderment. What is Jesus doing? What is He talking about? Little did they realize how this meal with Him would set into motion His arrest, trial, and death. With this meal, of Jesus we can repeat the refrain, “the Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious…abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Let us then remember Him and remain hopeful for that day when we will share fully this meal with Jesus in His Father’s kingdom.
Related Resources:
- Listen to our worship music playlist to help prepare your heart this Easter.
- Attend or stream our Maundy Thursday service at 7 pm ET.
