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Comparing Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and 1Corinthians, this is a summary of events that took place in association with the new covenant Passover in as chronological an order as possible.
1) Following the evening of Nisan 13 of the first month of Nisan/Abib, at the beginning of the 14th, Christ ate his last meal with his disciples before the Passover proper which took place the following evening of Nisan 14,
Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that his hour had come... (Jn. 13:1; NASB used throughout unless otherwise noted; emphasis added).
2) Christ could not eat the Passover proper at the conclusion of Nisan 14, because he would have to die at around the same time that the Passover lambs were being killed (approximately 3:00 pm on Nisan 14),
When the hour had come, he reclined (at the table) and the apostles with him. And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (Lk. 22:14-16; emphasis added).
3) Christ’s last meal with his disciples commenced at the conclusion of Nisan 13 and the beginning of Nisan 14. As God calculates each day from evening to evening (Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31), we would expect the beginning of the 14th of Nisan to be in the evening,
When it was evening he came with the twelve (Mk. 14:17; emphasis added).
4) The disciples were already eating before Christ blessed the bread and wine that was to symbolize his body and blood (Mt. 26:26). Therefore, one can conclude that Christ asked a blessing on the meal proper as was his custom (Mt. 14:19; 26:26; Mk. 6:41; 14:22; Lk. 9:16; 24:30).
It should be noted that the apostle Paul confirms, along with Luke's account, that some wine was blessed a second time, but it was later on that evening and an explanation of its meaning given when the meal was concluding (Lk. 22:17-20 cf. 1Cor. 11:25).
5) After the blessing was given, and after the disciples had begun eating, Christ got up from the table and began washing the disciples' feet,
(He) got up from supper, and laid aside his garments; and taking a towel, he girded himself. Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded (Jn. 13:4-5).
It is important to note that the foot-washing occurred before Judas partook of the morsel mentioned in John 13:26.
5 (a) We are also to do what Christ did, but for each other, showing our willingness to humble ourselves and serve one another,
If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you (Jn. 13:14-15).
6) After the foot-washing and while the disciples were eating, Christ asked a blessing on some bread and explained what it symbolized,
While they were eating, he took (some) bread, and after a blessing he broke (it), and gave (it) to them, and said, "Take (it); this is my body" (Mk. 14:22 cf. Mt. 26:26; comments in parentheses added).
7) After the meal had finished, Christ blessed some wine, poured it out, and explained what it symbolized,
And in the same way (he took) the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood (Lk. 22:20 cf. 1Cor. 11:25; emphasis added).
The wine was poured out so that each disciple had some of his own (Lk. 22:17). The wine, which was in one large cup, was divided amongst the 12 disciples.
The evening's activities concluded with singing a hymn (Mk. 14:26).
In summary, God’s people are to gather together annually for a meal at the end of the 14th day (Num. 9:1-3; Dt. 16:6) of the first month of God’s year (Ex. 12:1-2; Dt. 16:1), which commences in the spring (March/April). During the course of this meal, all baptized members of the body of Christ will take a break to wash one another’s feet and meditate on the meaning behind this activity (see: Explanation of the Symbols of the New Testament Passover). Later, an individual will ask a blessing on the unleavened bread (Mt. 26:26) and the group will discuss what it represents. When the meal is coming to an end, a blessing is asked on some wine, and group discussion will examine what the wine represents (Mt. 26:27; 1Cor. 10:16). At the conclusion of the meal, a hymn will be sung and everyone may then return to their temporary accommodation (Dt. 12:17-18; 16:5-6). The seven days that follow this meal are the Days of Unleavened Bread during which no food with leaven is consumed, but unleavened bread must be eaten each day (Ex. 12:15; 13:6-7; 34:18; Lev. 23:6; 28:17; Dt. 16:3). God’s people gather for fellowship and discussion of His plan each of the seven days (Ex. 12:18-20; Dt. 16:3-4). The first day of the seven day period is a Holy Day during which an individual’s regular occupational work is not to be done (Ex. 12:15-16). There is a gathering together on the morning following the first weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread for the purpose of discussing the wave sheaf offering, which pictured Jesus Christ being accepted on behalf of all sinners (Lev. 23:11). It is from this point in time that the Day of Pentecost is counted (Lev. 23:15-21). The last day of this spring Festival period is also a Holy Day when no servile work is to be done (Ex. 12:16).
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