EXAM DAY THREE - MOVING INTO THE 'FINAL FOUR'

At Sundown Jesus follows the pattern of the Passover Seder using the four cups in His Last Supper. At the time of the third cup, the cup of Redemption, taken after supper.  Jesus institutes what we now refer to as the Lord's Supper.

Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup (redemption) is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.     LUKE 22:20

After dark Jesus left the city and went up to the Mount of Olives, where He is later betrayed and arrested, this all happened in the hours after sundown (so this is already day four) or the Day of Preparation for the (Passover) Sabbath.  The following day at sundown begins the Passover. As the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread it was also a Festival Sabbath, not to be confused with the weekly 7th-day sabbath) This will become more important as we look at the Sign of Jonah.

Jesus was questioned four times in four days, now He will be tried four times on the fourth day, once for each of the four days of examination. 

This is His Final Four!

1. The Sanhedrin - who find Him guilty of blasphemy
2. Pilot - who is troubled and gladly refers him to Herod 
3. Herod - who wants to see a miracle, but when Jesus doesn't perform tricks for him, sends Him back to Pilot 
4. Pilot - ultimately finds NO FAULT in Him, and seeks to release him, but eventually caves into the Priests and the Levites granting permission to crucify Him.

Pilot washes his hands saying, 

"I FIND NO FAULT IN HIM" 

and the Jewish leaders, lead the people in calling down a curse upon themselves and upon their children. 

"let his blood be upon us and upon our children"

After four days of examination, all the lambs were killed at the ninth hour of the day (3:00 PM) 

Three things were required to be saved from certain death by the Death Angel during the original Passover:

1. The blood must be applied to the doorposts of the house to be protected
2. The lamb must be eaten by those of the household who are saved by it.
3. you must remain within the house to be saved 

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

Here is what Jesus said, 

Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.  

Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.  For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.  

He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.  

This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”  53-58

Scripture says, 

and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:21-23

Have you had your heart sprinkled from an evil conscience? 
Have you had your body washed with pure water?
Have you been saved, by confessing Jesus as Lord of your life?
Have you been water baptized?
Have you been Spirit Baptized?


Tomorrow: the Day of Preparation being fully realized in Christ Jesus' death and resurrection.