In my last post, Kefa learned About the Destruction of the Temple. We continue in our chronological journey of Kefa in this post, Kefa Prepares for the Pesach.
7 Then came the day of matzah, on which the Passover lamb had to be killed.
The day of matzah is not the day on which matzah is first eaten, but the day before Pesach begins, when chametz (“leaven”) must be removed from the house. On which the Passover lamb had to be killed in the Temple Court. The laws of Pesach then mandated slaughtering and eating a lamb to memorialize the lamb slain and consumed by each family the night of the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:3-14).
After the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE and it became impossible to slaughter a lamb there, the custom arose of placing a lamb shank bone on the Seder plate at each family table to recall the sacrifice. Today, some Sephardic traditions allow or even mandate a lamb entree at Pesach; but the Ashkenazic custom is to avoid eating lamb since it cannot be slaughtered at the Temple. [1]
8 Yeshua sent Kefa and Yochanan, instructing them, “Go and prepare our Seder, so we can eat.”
9 They asked him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”
Pesach was to be celebrated by families. Therefore, in celebrating Pesach with His talmidim, Yeshua looked at His talmidim as His family. I like that because, at this point, these men were not very spiritual. Judas would betray Him. Kefa would deny Him. Thomas would doubt Him. Yet Yeshua treated them like family. And if He did that with them, He’ll do it with us as well.
The effect of Yeshua’s words here is the same as when He sent two talmidim for the donkey on which He rode during the triumphal entry (see Luke 19:29-30). God had the details worked out in advance.
10 He told them, “As you’re going into the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters,
A man carrying a jar of water is an unusual sight, as this was ordinarily women’s work. Consequently, he would be easy to spot at the well. Again, God had the details worked out in advance.
11 and say to its owner, ‘The Rabbi says to you, “Where is the guest room, where I am to eat the Pesach meal with my talmidim?”‘
Where I am to eat the Pesach with my talmidim, a rabbi’s follower would consider it an honor to have his rabbi request the use of his home for him and his students to observe Pesach.
12 He will show you a large room upstairs already furnished; make the preparations there.” 13 They went and found things just as Yeshua had told them they would be, and they prepared for the Seder. ~ Luke 22:7-13 (CJB)
Already furnished implies that the room is outfitted with what was needed for the Pesach meal.
Everything happened just as He had told them. Thus, Yeshua demonstrated His divine, detailed knowledge of the future.
In my next post, Kefa Has His Feet Washed.
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[1] Jewish New Testament Commentary.
My Heart is for Israel 