Jonathan Switzer: Appetizer, Dinner and Dessert

It was Jesus' last meal.  The last two articles I wrote discussed Jesus' socially unacceptable washing of the disciples feet and the terrible second cup of the Passover, the Cup of Plagues.  So much of the meal has come alive in light of Christ's imminent death.  We just finished the second cup of wine before the meal.  Tough meal so far!

Appetizer, Dinner, Dessert

At that point before the meal, they broke the middle matzoth (three matzoth called the unity in traditional Jewish practice).  In fact, Jesus broke it and said, “take, eat, this is my body.”  Clearly, and amazingly, the broken middle matzoth refers to the second person of the trinity (Three in one).  That's right, it referred to Jesus, who would be broken (though not one of his bones would be broken!) later that night and the next day and ultimately die on the cross.  (note: Christ probably used different unleavened bread than matzoth.  But for brevity we will just say matzoth here.)

You might even say, at that momentous Passover meal, Christ offered himself as the appetizer…

So Jesus broke the Matzoth, put it aside and ate the remaining Matzoth with the disciples.  At modern Passover's, we dip it in the bowl of bitter herbs and charoseth (representing their hard bondage in Egypt and the bricks without mortar AND ALSO representing Jesus’ broken body and suffering).  

It is most likely that at this point Jesus answered John’s question: Who will betray you?  His response was that he would be betrayed by, “the one who dips his hand in the bowl with me.” Or “the one to whom I give the bread.”  Then we are told that he gave the broken bread (representing his coming death on the cross) to Judas and told him, “What you do, do quickly.”  

Some appetizer, huh!  First, a cup of suffering/plagues for drink.  Then, a little bit of betrayal to be broken to death for appetizer.  Wonder what the main course will be like!?

Main Course

Before the main course, the story of the Passover would be told during a normal Seder as they ate the unleavened bread and bitter herbs just before the meal.  Oh to be a fly on the wall of the last supper.  Christ is the Passover.  His blood was soon to be put on the doorposts of hearts so that death would pass over.  He had come to rescue us from the bondage of the world and sin. 

But, how about the disciples?  Did they understand it yet?  Or were they still wondering who would be the greatest?

Nevertheless, they now came to the main course: Lamb.  

The Lamb of God was serving lamb to the disciples.  Amazing.  He was the Servant Lamb of God who is also the Great Shepherd King serving up himself as the sacrifice for the sin of the world.  (Like the previous article, it was extravagant love and humble servanthood on full display).  Jesus was the perfect, sinless lamb without blemish who was the sin offering. 

What a meal.  It’s so full of meaning and irony, one might almost have trouble eating it all. 

More Wine Anyone?

After the main meal, most people are thirsty and a proper host will offer another drink. 

Similarly, the Passover has a third cup just after the meal.  This is called the Cup of Redemption.  It symbolizes the fact that God had redeemed the Israelites out of Egypt and made them a people again.  After all the suffering associated with the Cup of Plagues, the relief of redemption can be quite profound. 

So, it makes sense that this is the point when Jesus stood and took the cup and said, “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood, which is shed for you, do this in remembrance of me.”  Jesus’ reference to the New Covenant clearly pointed to Jeremiah’s words, “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.”  (Jer. 31:31) 

Jesus was saying that He was Redemption.  He would change everything and institute a New Covenant.  His own death which he kept talking about would start it all off. 

Yet, redemption from Egypt had been joyous.  However, this New Covenant’s redemption, though joyous, would be established on Jesus’ death.  How does one be joyous about that?  The whole meaning of redemption suddenly takes (or took for the disciples) on a whole new level of sobriety. 

The disciples would have known the Passover meaning of the Cup of Redemption.  Also, they probably had spent much time meditating on Jeremiah’s words about New Covenant.  So, the new meaning that Christ gave…well…one wonders if the disciples understood it that night or not.  Did it just go over their head? 

The meal had started with the Cup of Blessing before which Christ washed the disciples feet.  Then came the painful Cup of Plagues which Jesus drank with the disciples but later would ask the Lord to "take this cup from me, but not my will but yours be done."  Then the appetizer, the broken bread symbolizing Jesus coming sacrifice on the cross; at which point Jesus sent Judas out to betray him.  That brought us to the story of Passover, where Christ's blood now covers the doorposts of our hearts.  Then the Lamb without blemish served lamb without blemish for the main meal.  Which brought us to the Cup of Redemption, which is the New Covenant in Jesus' blood.  


We only have a few parts left to this meal.  Yet there are a few final things to see in them also. 


Finishing up the Meal

As a modern Passover Seder comes to a close, the broken Matzoth is found and redeemed with a coin.  Then it is eaten by all. 

Almost like dessert after the meal.  Jesus is the broken Matzoth, raised from the dead, Redeemer of the World.  

Remember, the broken Matzoth started the appetizer at the beginning of the meal, Jesus’ death, his body broken for us.  Now that same broken Matzoth is found for dessert after the meal, symbolizing Jesus’ resurrection.  Think about it: betrayal (to brokenness and death) for appetizer and Resurrection for dessert... No one could say it’s a boring meal!

Final Drink

At last, a good host will offer a final drink.  The final cup of the Passover meal is called the Cup of Praise.  Interestingly, we are told that the disciples sang a hymn and headed out to the Mt. of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Of course, it makes sense that praise arises after the redemption.  However, now redemption meant Jesus’ death on the cross.  As a result, the redemption itself is almost not cause for praise.  How could we celebrate Jesus’ death?  How could Jesus even sing a hymn at that point on the evening before His Passion?

But remember, of course, the broken Matzoth had been found, symbolizing Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  There is cause for celebration.  Not only has redemption come, but the redeemer is not dead.  He is risen and at the right hand of the Father.  So, yes, we can truly celebrate!

It was quite the meal.  John records Jesus’ lengthy comments that night about God sharing His glory with Jesus who would share it with the disciples.  They had drunk together the cup of Blessing/Thanksgiving, the cup of Plagues, the cup of Redemption and the cup of Praise.  They had broken the middle piece of unleavened bread, which they now knew represented Christ’s body.  They had been served lamb by the Lamb.  They now equated the cup of Redemption with Jeremiah’s New Covenant in Jesus’ blood. 

Yet, as they headed toward Gethsemane, the imminent betrayal and death of Jesus must have hung over all their heads; even while the anticipation of Christ’s great salvation lay close to their hearts.  It all must have been very confusing.  

No wonder they became sleepy at Gethsemane’.  Though Christ gave amazing, new meaning to Passover, right in the midst of that evening, the disciples still did not understand. 

Conclusion

In the same way, you and I may find ourselves drinking any one of these cups.  Perhaps, we find ourselves full of thanksgiving for God’s great grace toward us (Cup of Blessing).  Or, we might be going through great struggle feeling the effects of our sin or that of others (Cup of Plagues).  Perhaps, we find ourselves deeply aware of how Jesus lifted us from the muck of sin and set us on a rock, redeeming us (just like Mary Magdalene) (Cup of Redemption).  Or perhaps, we find ourselves anticipating the return of our Lord and the glory of eternity with Him (Cup of Praise). 

We simply may find ourselves confused and tired.

Yet, whatever cup you and I face now, we can be thankful.  God has those two final cups after the meal for us.  When we let go of control, God comes through.  The broken matzoth (second person of the trinity) was redeemed.  Christ has risen from the dead and is preparing a place for us in heaven.  God, our host, will end the meal with the Cup of Redemption and the Cup of Praise.  His resurrection power is available to us now.  Heaven awaits!

So, if you don’t like what you’re drinking or eating now, if you feel yourself losing control of your situation, be patient, God has greater things in store.  God is the best of hosts.  Stick in there and wait for His salvation.  Resurrection comes after crucifixion.  Your cross will end in glory.  The meal ends on a better note.  You might even find yourself ready to sing at that point.  “He 
calls us to His banqueting table at the wedding of the Lamb!”  

Jesus is the Bread of Life and the Cup of Redemption.  He drank the Cup of Plagues for us.  Let us partake of His body and let us drink deeply of his redemption and praise.  Like Christ in Gethsemane, it is time.  It is time for us to let go of control of our lives.  It’s time to hand that control over to Jesus.  Regardless how fiercely our flesh fights to hang on, we must take up our cross.  We must let go of every hope but the promises of God, through Jesus Christ; like Christ did in Gethsemane. 

He’d had a great meal with his best friends.  However, that night would seem to never end for Jesus.  The next sleep he would get would be the sleep of death…on the cross, the next day after being beaten and given a crown of thorns.  The Passover meal was over, but the Cup of Suffering was just beginning for Jesus.    It would be a long bitter drought.  The bread was about to be broken.  The Cup of Redemption was about to be tasted.

Through it all extravagant love and humble servanthood were on full display for all the world and all generations to see.  So, don’t lose hope!  Neither let us be afraid to let go of control, to take up our cross.  Joy awaits!  

The final cup will be Praise!