Lk. 22:7-16, 24-30 (Matt. 26:17-20; Mk. 14:12-17)

Jesus gave Himself up for us (Gal. 2:20); but it was not suicide.  Judas betrayed (delivered up) Jesus, and the leaders plotted to kill him; but it is insufficient to simply say it was murder.  Others terms such as execution or martyrdom also fail to capture the essence of the cross.  The Biblical term is sacrifice and the deep picture of what this means comes from Passover as instituted in Exodus 12.  From the first time Jesus pointed His disciples to Jerusalem and the cross He made clear what He was doing.  Note the contrast of killing and sacrifice.

KILLING		SACRIFICE
Taking someone else’s life		Giving your own life
Selfish	Matt. 16:24	Selfless
Powerless to save	Matt. 16:25	Powerful to save
Worthless	Matt. 16:26	Worthy
Caiaphas (Jn. 11:49-51)	Illustration	Mary (John 12:2-8)

Jesus knew that the time was near for His sacrificial death.  He knew it because of the Greeks who sought an audience with Him (John 12:20-23).  He knew it because He understood the necessary connection with Passover (Lk. 22:1,7).  Thus Jesus had apparently arranged to have a place where He could eat the Passover and fellowship with His disciples.  Thus He sent two of the closest, Peter and John, to make the arrangements.  John tells us that at this time Jesus loved His disciples to the end (Jn. 13:1).  Luke records Jesus saying with fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.  We should note that Jesus intends to eat this meal again, in the kingdom, after it is fulfilled. 

The Passover is rooted in the Exodus.  The instructions were given to the people while in Egypt (Ex. 12:1-28) before they arrived at Mt. Sinai where they received the Law of Moses.  For myself, I believe Jesus celebrated the meal with His disciples a day early, on Wednesday evening, which is why He emphasized the desire that He had to have this meal with them.  I believe He was on the cross Thursday, dying late in the day at the time the killing of the lambs was being completed in the Temple area.  Here is a chart to explain, although Thursday or Friday crucifixion is not an issue that needs to divide or define us.

Days of Jesus	Events	Date	Lev. 23
Thurs late in day	Killing of lambs (Jesus dies)	13th Day
Thurs 6P to Fri 6P	Passover (Sabbath)	14th day	Lev. 23:5
Fri 6P to Sat 6P	1st of Unl. Bread (in the tomb)	15th day	Lev. 23:6-8
Sat 6P to Sun 6P	2nd day Unl. Bread (resurrected)	16th	Lev. 23:9-14

The typology is clear with respect to Christ.  First, He is our Passover … sacrificed for us (1 Cor. 5:7).  Then, He is Christ the firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:20-28; Acts 26:23).  This is the gospel: Christ died for our sins, was buried and was raised the third day according to the Scriptures.