e) The convincing harmonization
Matthew 26:17 follows the Galilean reckoning, so Jesus and the disciples had to kill their lamb on Thursday and eat the Passover meal Thursday evening. The Judeans and Sadducees didn’t begin their Passover day festivities until late on Thursday and wouldn’t kill their lambs until the prescribed time of day on Friday. That harmonizes John 18:28 with the other gospels.
Jesus had to die on Friday between three and five o’clock because that’s when the Judean Passover lambs would be killed. But He also had to keep the Passover to transform it into the Lord’s Table. How could Jesus keep the Passover and still be the Passover lamb? Only if God allowed the two options for reckoning days to take place in history. When it came time for Jesus to die, there was no problem in having Him participate in the Galilean Passover on Thursday night and die during the Judean Passover on Friday afternoon.
Certainly the priest accommodated the two reckonings because it would be virtually impossible for them to kill all the lambs in one two-hour period. With the Galileans coming to the Temple on Thursday and the Judeans on Friday, at least the killing of the lambs could be divided into two days and they could accomplish their task much more easily. Since it was difficult to find a room in Jerusalem to hold the Passover meal, how convenient it was to be able to double the capacity of the city by having two different days to eat the Passover.
Conclusion
God rules history and all tradition and customs to bring about the minute fulfillment of His perfect plan. Jesus had to keep the Passover to fulfill all righteousness, instruct His disciples, and give them a new memorial feast. Yet He had to die as the Passover Lamb. He did both because God controls history. We see Jesus Christ as anything but a victim. In three brief verses Matthew is able to present the majesty of Jesus Christ. This isn’t something Jesus could have arranged on the weekend. It had to have been planned before the foundation of the world by the providence of God. Our Lord controlled every event on His path to the cross. None of His glory and dignity are lost in the midst of His betrayal.
Focusing on the Facts
1. What was the purpose of the life of Christ (see p. 1)?
2. Explain how the theme of sacrifice is revealed in both the Old and New Testaments (see p. 1).
3. What feasts were celebrated by Israel? What was the significance of each one (see pp. 2-3)?
4. What does the Passover symbolize? Explain (see p. 3).
5. How did Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem on Monday symbolize the Passover lamb (see p. 4)?
6. What did the Passover remind the nation of Israel about (see p. 4)?
7. Explain the significance of unleavened bread (see p. 4).
8. On what day of the week was Christ crucified? How can we be sure (see p. 5)?
9. What did the people have to do in preparation for the Passover? What do the different preparations represent (see pp. 5-6)?
10. Why did the disciples need to know where they were going to eat the Passover (see p. 6)?
11. Why did Jesus send only Peter and John into Jerusalem (see p. 7)?
12. Why was Jesus secretive about where they would eat the Passover (see pp. 7-8)?
13. What is significant about the phrase “I will keep” in Matthew 26:18 (see p. 8)?
14. Define the problem raised by John 18:28 (see pp. 8-9).
15. How can we be sure that Christ and His disciples did in fact eat the Passover meal (see p. 9)?
16. How did the Jewish people reckon their days? Explain (see pp. 9-10).
17. Explain how Jesus could eat the Passover with His disciples yet die as the Passover Lamb the next day (see pp. 10-11).
Pondering the Principles
1. What does the sacrifice of Christ mean to you? If His death is the focal point of all redemptive history, how does that affect you? Thank Christ for His willingness to offer Himself. Are you willing to make a sacrifice for someone else? List some specific things you might do. Now commit yourself to doing those things this week.
2. Read Hebrews 10:1-25. What do those verses teach you about how sin is removed? Verses 19-25 detail how we should respond to what Christ has done. To what extent are you actively responding? Make a list of each response you should have. You may want to carry it in your Bible. At the end of each day this week, record next to each response how you fulfilled each one that day. Challenge yourself to pursue ways that you can fulfill the role God wants you to have.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
