Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the pasch, was at hand.
ηγγιζεν δε η εορτη των αζυμων η λεγομενη πασχα
8 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The religious leaders aimed to put Jesus to death. During the season of Passover, they felt threatened by the crowds that were converging for the celebration, which led them to search for a method to execute their plans without putting themselves at risk.
The Passover celebration was also known as the Festival of Unleavened Bread because during Passover, people consumed unleavened bread alongside the lamb. Ultimately, since unleavened bread was the first to be tasted, the name Passover came to include it. The Festival of Unleavened Bread, in its true sense, followed the Passover and is elaborated upon in the sixty-third chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. It states, "On the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, and said unto Him, Where wilt Thou have us prepare the passover for Thee?" (Matthew 26:17).
The Passover is just two days away. On what day did the Lord convey this to His disciples? Six days prior to the Passover, Jesus was in Bethany, where Mary anointed His feet with costly perfume on the Sabbath (John 12:1, 2). The following day marked His triumphant entry into Jerusalem (John 12:12). On Monday, as He journeyed to Jerusalem, Jesus cursed a barren fig tree and then returned to Bethany for the evening (Matt. 21:18, Mk. 11:13, 18, 19). On Tuesday, in response to Peter’s observation about the withered tree, He spoke of the potency of faith and engaged with the scribes in Jerusalem (Mk. 11:20, 27).
Thus, on the Wednesday of Passion Week, the Lord revealed to His disciples the sufferings that He would endure during the Passover. He foretold that in two days the Passover would occur, and the Son of Man would be handed over to be crucified. What significance lies in this convergence of events? The Passover is the most sacred festival for the Hebrews, originally commemorating the salvation of Israel's firstborn from the angel of death that struck down Egypt's firstborn, as well as the deliverance of the entire nation from Pharaoh, who was overwhelmed by the Red Sea. While these events hold immense importance in Israel's history, the true significance of the Passover celebration is encapsulated in the meaning of the Passover lamb.
When Jesus informed His disciples of His impending crucifixion coinciding with the Passover, it was unclear if they grasped the profound connection between His impending sufferings and the Passover observance. However, after receiving illumination from the Holy Spirit, they later clarified this profound link to the Jewish people. The Apostle Paul proclaimed that Christ has become our Passover, urging us to observe this new Passover not by consuming unleavened bread as the Hebrews did, but by living in purity and humility of heart (1 Cor. 5:17, 18). The Apostle Peter affirmed that we are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, the unblemished Lamb (1 Pet. 1:19), thus rendering the paschal lamb of Egypt unnecessary for us.
In the account of Hebrews, Jesus Christ concluded His prophetic teachings regarding the final days of Jerusalem and the world with a foretelling of His suffering that would occur during the upcoming Passover, which was set for two days later. Since Christ delivered these prophetic messages on Tuesday evening, as noted in Luke 21:37-38, He shared this prophecy of His suffering with His disciples that same evening. The assembly of the Sanhedrin could not have taken place until the following morning, which corresponds to Wednesday. However, as Tuesday evening, according to the timekeeping of that period, had already transitioned into Wednesday, it is noted that ‘the chief priests were assembled,’ and so forth.
The celebration of Passover, instituted to honor the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, was approaching. As outlined in the law (Exodus 12:2-20), on the fourteenth day of the first month of spring, Nisan, every Jewish household, or two smaller families together, was commanded to roast a year-old lamb (or goat) and consume it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs on that same evening; this lamb was referred to as the Passover lamb. The following day marked the beginning of the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, named for the insistence that during these days, as well as on Passover itself, the Jews were to eat unleavened bread and were not even to possess leaven in their homes.
The Synoptic Gospels (Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7) inform us that Christ shared the Passover meal with His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion, which was Thursday. John’s account reveals that the members of the Sanhedrin, when bringing Jesus to Pilate early Friday morning, refrained from entering His presence in order to avoid ceremonial defilement, desiring instead to partake in the Passover meal (Jn. 18:28); therefore, they, alongside all the Jewish people, celebrated Passover that Friday evening, after the interment of Jesus. It follows that if Jesus deemed it necessary to fulfill the Old Testament Passover for the final time, He did so on the specified evening, the 14th of Nisan. It is important to remember that in Jewish tradition, a day (that is, a twenty-four-hour period) commences at sunset; thus, the 14th of Nisan began not on our Friday but on our Thursday evening following sunset, which the Jews recognized as the start of Friday. Hence, we can affirm that the Last Supper, according to the Jewish reckoning, occurred at the very beginning of Friday, while by our reckoning, it took place at the end of Thursday evening. Jesus was crucified on Friday, the 14th of Nisan, at nine o'clock in the morning according to our time or at three o'clock according to the Jewish schedule. That year, all Jews observed Passover, by our count, on Friday evening after Jesus' burial, and according to the Jewish calendar, it was the onset of Saturday, the 15th of Nisan. It is suggested that the public observance of Passover that year was delayed to the 15th of Nisan to prevent the first day of Unleavened Bread from coinciding with the Sabbath. The accuracy of this supposition is not crucial for our understanding; what matters is that Jesus and His Apostles observed the Passover on the 14th of Nisan, while all other Jewish people participated in it on the 15th of Nisan.
While the just rested, the unrighteous conspired in darkness. On the evening of Wednesday, the Sanhedrin convened at the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, engaging in intense discussions regarding the Galilean, whom they perceived as a threat. Their attempts to capture Him within the temple grounds, incite the populace against Him, or arouse the suspicion of Roman authorities met with failure, thwarted by the loyalty of His devoted followers and by His own insight, which unraveled their devious plans. It is likely that some suggested allowing Him freedom until His mission and teachings could be fully assessed. However, the dissenting faction gained the upper hand; the council made the decision to eliminate Him—whether openly or through deceitful means. Yet, a crucial question remained: how would they enact this plot? As they pondered this dilemma, news reached them that one of Jesus of Nazareth's closest disciples intended to deliver an important message.
"approached": within two days (Matthew 26:2 and Mark 14:1). The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also referred to as Passover, actually commenced the following day after Passover; however, since the Passover lamb was consumed with Unleavened Bread and all leavened items were to be removed from the evening prior to Passover, it is not entirely accurate to refer to the Feast of Unleavened Bread in a strict sense.
The occurrences of the final days once again reminded the adversaries of the Lord of the despised Prophet from Galilee. Not long before, they had resolved to eliminate Him and instructed that anyone aware of His location should alert them for further directions (John 11:53, 57). And so it was that when the moment arrived for the fulfillment of the divine decree concerning the redemption of humanity, and the appointed hour had come (7:6, 30), the Lamb of God, who bore the sins of the world (1:29, 36), willingly placed Himself into the hands of transgressors (Matt. 26:45). With great solemnity, He, as the spiritual King of the eternal kingdom, entered the city of Jerusalem.
Triumphantly, He approached the temple as its Lord, performing miracles, preaching to the crowds, and denouncing the sins of the scribes and Pharisees for the final time, while revealing the future of the city, the Jewish people, and all nations. The arrival of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, amid the throngs of worshippers who gathered for the feast from every direction, stirred His opponents into action. The chief priests, scribes, and elders, influenced by the hypocrisy and malice of their leaders, convened in the courtyard of Joseph Caiaphas, the high priest appointed by the Roman governor Valerius Gratus, replacing his father-in-law Annas. The cunning leader of the Sanhedrin had previously voiced his support for the sacrifice of Jesus for the greater good, and the council members had agreed with him at that time (John 11:47-53). At this new assembly, they anticipated an even more unfavorable verdict; they resolved to capture Jesus through deceit and put Him to death, but they insisted, “Not during the feast, otherwise there may be an uproar among the people.” As the holy Evangelist Luke noted (22:2), they feared the crowd might rise in defense of their only Benefactor, leading to potential riots, which were not uncommon among the Jews, and any disturbances quelled by the Roman authorities were often marred by violence. The moment of the last celebratory Passover was nearing; all circumstances, by the remarkable arrangement of Divine Providence, aligned so that our true Passover—Christ—was offered for us (1 Cor. 5:7). His adversaries intended to postpone their plans until after the festivities, yet they were not permitted this delay: the Lord, in determining His own suffering, chose to be crucified on Easter itself, for He is the true Easter (Bl. Theophylact). Thus, the very individuals who had previously calculated prudently to delay the commission of the God-killing deed soon abandoned their pretense of caution and, unbeknownst to them, moved toward the realization of God's eternal purposes.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 9 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS