The Children of Israel had been observing the passover since the day of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The record of the first passover is given in Exodus 12. Through the centuries, the choicest lambs had been brought for sacrifice at passover, symbolizing God’s salvation for His people at that time and looking forward to the coming of the Saviour.

Jesus met with His disciples to eat the passover meal. It was to be the last passover. In his book, “The King of the Jews,” Dr. John R. Rice wrote: “There would have been no reason for a passover lamb and the feast of unleavened bread except to picture the coming crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Therefore His disciples should have expected His Crucifixion, which had been so clearly foretold before, to occur at the time of the passover — in fact, at the very hour when the passover lamb was being slain, on the day of the preparation (John 19:14,31).

John the Baptist had announced, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Now the Lamb of whom all the Old Testament sacrifices had spoken, had come to the last passover. Not one more animal sacrifice would be required. His sacrifice would be sufficient for the sins of all: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath Laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

Christ is enough!