"The Passover Day and the Last Supper: Questions and Clarifications"

The following is a discussion from the Naver Café, Korean Church Victims Association.

[Link: https://cafe.naver.com/hanpimo1]

[Question]
In the Gospel of John, it states that Jesus celebrated the Last Supper the day before Passover. However, in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, it is referred to as the Passover. Church history also supports that the Last Supper occurred the day before Passover. Why, then, is it described as Passover in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but not in John?

[Answer]

As you mentioned, the Gospel of John and church history accurately record that Jesus was crucified on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan at 3 p.m., which is the Passover. Therefore, the Last Supper occurred on the evening before Passover.

However, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke present the Last Supper as though it were the Passover meal. This confusion arises from Jesus’ statement, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer.” To understand this, we must first identify what Jesus meant by “Passover meal.”

At the Last Supper, Jesus referred to the bread and wine as His body and blood, which He described as the true Passover meal. As the true fulfillment of the Passover lamb, the bread and wine symbolizing His flesh and blood represent the true Passover meal.

This spiritual understanding is often missed, leading people to misinterpret the Last Supper as the Passover.

Evidence from Matthew, Mark, and Luke

The synoptic Gospels also confirm that Jesus died on the Passover.

• Matthew 26:1–2
  "When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 'As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.'"

Understanding the Jewish Calendar and Customs

The Jewish day begins at sunset and ends at the following sunset. Thus, the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was slaughtered, corresponds to the 14th day of Nisan.

• On the morning of the 14th day, the Passover lamb was selected and brought to the temple.
• At 3 p.m., the lamb was slaughtered.
• That evening (now the 15th day), the Passover meal was eaten.

Therefore, the Last Supper occurred on the evening of the 13th day, which, by Jewish reckoning, was the beginning of the 14th day. This was also the "Preparation Day" for the Passover.

Additional Insights on Jewish Customs

The Israel Culture Center describes Passover traditions as follows:

"Passover begins on the 15th of Nisan, commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt. Preparations for Passover start well in advance, with homes and workplaces being thoroughly cleaned to remove any leavened products. The day before Passover, rituals include burning prohibited foods."

This preparation day aligns with the "day before Passover," as mentioned in John 19:31:
"Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down."

Key Takeaways

1. The Last Supper and Preparation Day:

   • The Last Supper took place on the evening of the 13th day of Nisan, which marked the beginning of the 14th day by Jewish reckoning.
   • The following evening, on the 15th day, the official Passover meal was celebrated.

2. Why the Synoptic Gospels Differ:

   • The bread and wine at the Last Supper symbolized the true Passover meal—Jesus’ body and blood.
   • This spiritual fulfillment may have led the synoptic authors to present the Last Supper in a Passover context.

3. Cultural Context:

   • The preparation day for Passover involved rituals that began before the 15th of Nisan.

This nuanced understanding helps clarify the apparent discrepancies between the Gospel accounts and aligns them with Jewish traditions and historical context.