Gethsemane is a unique place in Jerusalem, mainly because of its historical importance.
In Hebrew Gethsemane is Gat Shemanim (meaning: olive press) and it is where Jesus came to pray, because that olive press was a place of pressure, and it was a perfect representation of the pressure He was under, so much so that He was sweating blood when praying.
When the people of Israel first came out of Egypt and entered the Promised Land, God gave clear instructions about how they were to celebrate Passover for generations, sharing with their descendants what God has done for His people.
Finally, after 40 years of wandering through the wilderness, the people of Israel finally entered into their Promised Land, which was green and lush and abundantly blessed.
Many generations have come and gone since that first Passover, and to this day in the modern day state of Israel, every Israeli household celebrates Passover and its legacy, just like the first generation that was brought out of Egypt.
The custom was to bring a lamb to be sacrificed in the Temple in Jerusalem, then that lamb was taken into the household that sacrificed it, and it was eaten during the Passover Seder (Passover Meal).
It was the same from generation to generation.
Yeshua Himself celebrated Passover every year since He was born, however during His last Passover things changed.
The last Seder started as always, with the same traditions and ceremonial food, but then Jesus lifted His cup and said that the wine represented His blood, the blood of the covenant, telling His disciples that they were to partake of it. Then He took the unleavened bread (matzah) broke it and said it represented His broken body, and that they were to eat it, because it was given freely for them.
Yeshua united the Old Testament Passover with the New Testament Passover, marking its fulfillment. He fulfilled Passover in Himself.
In the Old Testament we see all the prophetic messages, symbols and signs — all pointing to Jesus. He wasn’t only the Passover that symbolized the exodus from Egypt, but He is our Passover, our exodus from the slavery of sin.
Just like the people of Israel were redeemed from Egypt, we were redeemed from a life of sin, and invited to embark on an exodus into the kingdom of God.
Jesus’ last Passover was a new beginning for us all. It marked a new chapter in the history of humanity. Because of His sacrifice, we now have eternal life.
As the twelve disciples were sitting around the Passover Seder table with Jesus, singing all the hymns they knew so well, uttering every traditional prayer as they did year in and year out, Yeshua changed everything. They were touched deeply, because they understood it was finally time for redemption, because Jesus Himself was their Passover.
Celebrating Passover means celebrating freedom and eternal life in Yeshua — our Messiah.
Blessed Passover in Him!
