The Final Passover & The New Covenant
The Final Passover & The New Covenant
Matthew 26:19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them, and they made ready the Passover.
The Feast of Passover, closely associated with The Feast of Unleavened Bread, was the central feast of the Jewish year. These two feasts combined to make an eight-day celebration, that began with the Passover.
Both feasts commemorated the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage. The Passover was a ritual observance of Israel that celebrates Yahweh’s deliverance of the community from Egypt. The observance took place on the 14th day of Nisan (Apr–May; Abib in older calendars) and included the slaughter of a lamb and it’s consumption in a meal shared by the whole family.
The Close Of The Old Covenant
The Israelites were redeemed through the exodus to become a new people before God.
Matthew 26:27 And He took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink ye all of it; 28 for this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Hebrews 8:6 But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Jeremiah 31:31 “Behold, the days come,” saith the LORD, “that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”
Romans 9:4 Who are Israelites and to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.
Israel was privileged to have been given the covenants. The first covenant was with Abraham, the physical father of all Jews, (Gen. 12:15–17) and the spiritual father of all who believe. (Rom. 4:11) Through Moses, Israel was given the covenant of law at Mount Sinai (Ex. 19–31; cf. Deut. 29–30. Through David, Israel was given the covenant of an eternal kingdom (2 Sam. 7:8–16). It would even be through Israel that God’s supreme covenant of redemption through His Son would come (Jer. 31:31–34; Ezek. 37:26). No other nation has or ever will be blessed with such covenants.
No aspect of Israel’s history pointed out their uniqueness as the recipients of redemptive revelation more than these covenants.
Jesus Gives The New Covenant
Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Hebrews 8:8 For finding fault with them, He says, “Behold, the days come,” saith the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”
At Jesus’ last Passover, He institutes the new covenant, spoken of by Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 31:33 “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the LORD.”
Jesus was making a New Covenant with the house of Israel; every one of those disciples that werethere were faithful Jews. The eleven disciples were representatives of the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
The New Covenant was a covenant made with Israel, but it is being fulfilled today by believers from all the nations. The writer of Hebrews applies
three essential elements of this covenant to us today. ~Hebrews 8:1-12
It is very helpful for us to understand that these terms and conditions of the New Covenant are faithfully carried out whenever anybody turns to Christ.
The first element of the New Covenant. “I will put my law into their minds, and write them on their hearts.” There will be a new awareness rising within us so that we know inwardly how to tell right from wrong.
The second element of the New Covenant. “I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord…’ ” It means that when you became a believer in Jesus, you became aware that you had become a member of a new family and that God occupied a different relationship in your life. He was no longer a stern judge, condemning you every time you turned around, but he was now a loving Father.
The third element of the New Covenant. “For I will forgive their wickedness and I will remember their sins no more.”
Do you remember the lifting of the load of guilt in your life when you first came to Christ?
Many Christians fail to see that forgiveness is something we need every day. Every day we need the cleansing of the blood of Jesus.
That’s the New Covenant, wonderfully applied to us today, to us who are not Jews, who do not belong to the house of Israel. Thank God for the New Covenant! Thank Him today for His Son, and for the salvation and grace found in Christ alone.