The Feast of Passover

The Feast of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are distinct celebrations. However, because they were observed during the same period, the two are sometimes used synonymously. In this passage, Luke uses them in such way. When did the Last Supper take place? In the Synoptic Gospels, it is described as occurring on the day of the Passover. However, according to the Gospel of John, that day was the very day when Jesus was crucified. How can we resolve this apparent contradiction? Let us take note of the two calendars in use at that time (the official calendar and the private one). According to the official calendar, Jesus was crucified on the day of the Passover. However, it is believed that Jesus, following the private calendar, ate the Passover meal with His disciples the evening before. (This private calendar was most likely that of the Essene community of Qumran, known from the Dead Sea Scrolls.) In the account of the Last Supper, the sacrificial lamb is never mentioned because the lamb had not yet been slaughtered. The meal proceeded without a lamb because Jesus Himself was about to become the Passover Lamb. At that moment, the disciples still did not understand the meaning of the cross. Yet Jesus loved His ignorant and self-centered disciples with His very life. Now, let us be still and meditate on how great the love of Jesus is for you.

Mystery surrounding Judah

“Why did Judas betray Jesus?” The Bible does not give a detailed explanation of his motive. However, we do know that Judas was ruled by greed (ref. John 12:6). Luke writes, “And Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who belonged to the number of the twelve” (v 3). The words “the twelve” and “Satan” seem utterly incompatible. Thit very contrast shows how grave Judas’s act of betrayal truly was. “Why did Jesus choose Judas?” This too remains a mystery. What we can say is that Judas was not destined or forced to become what he did. Jesus also loved Judas and gave him many opportunities to repent. Judas, by his own will, opened his heart to Satan and betrayed Jesus. The choice of Judas is indeed mysterious. However just as mysterious is this: “Why did God choose someone like me?” Let us now give thanks for God’s grace and confess our love for Christ.