Yes, Jesus is our Passover Lamb. Because of His sacrifice on the cross, God will pass over His people, protecting them from the punishment due to our sins. Yes, Jesus sheds the blood of the covenant for us. Even though we have broken God’s perfect law of love time and time again, He is the One Who pays the death penalty we have earned.

But instead of simply focusing on the tremendous benefits Jesus provides for us, let’s also think about what our salvation cost Jesus. In verse 18 we are reminded that He gave up wine. We get irritated when a waiter takes too long to bring our food, but Jesus chose to give up all the pleasures of the world that we take for granted.

In the same way, we can be awfully picky about our worship, becoming dissatisfied when the preacher goes too long or the music selections aren’t our favorites. But in verses 15 and 16, Jesus reminds us that He gave up not just the Passover, but all the ways that God’s people gather to celebrate our relationship with one another and with Him.

And we get our feelings hurt when our friends let us down. But verse 21 reminds us that one of Jesus’ best friends betrayed Him. In fact, all His disciples would run off and leave Him that very night. And yet He laid down His life for them, and for self-centered sinners like us too.

So of course we should be grateful for the salvation Jesus has given all who trust in Him. But let’s also remember Jesus Himself, admiring His selflessness and giving Him the love and praise He so richly deserves.

Luke 22:14-23 (NASB)

14 And when the hour had come He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.
15 And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves;
18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 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.
21 “But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Me on the table.
22 “For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”
23 And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.