Come, Follow Me
Our Passover—the Sacrament
There’s a common thread between the ancient Passover and our weekly sacrament.
Illustrations by Alyssa Tallent
Before the ancient Israelites could leave their bondage in Egypt, they were asked to obey specific instructions from the Lord so that the destroying angel would spare them, or pass over them (see Exodus 12). After they left Egypt, the Israelites observed a feast each year, called the Passover, to remember how the Lord delivered His covenant people.
During the last week of His mortal life, Jesus Christ was at a Passover meal. We now call that meal the Last Supper. The Savior used that occasion to introduce the ordinance of the sacrament, which we now participate in every week. (See Matthew 26:26–28; Luke 22:19–20; Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79.)
Here are two common threads between the first Passover, the Lord’s Last Supper, and today’s sacrament that can help us remember our deliverance through the Savior.
The Bread
Passover: For seven days, the Israelites ate unleavened bread (which is both quicker to make and less prone to mold and decay).
Last Supper: Jesus Christ blessed and broke the unleavened bread of the Passover, and He gave it to the disciples. He told them to eat it in remembrance of His body, which He knew would soon be broken and would die but would rise again.
Sacrament: We eat bread in remembrance of Jesus Christ’s body.
Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life. Through His Resurrection, we will all be resurrected with perfect, incorruptible, immortal bodies. He delivers us from death.
The Blood of the Lamb
Passover: The Passover lamb was an unblemished, year-old male lamb. It was killed, and its blood was collected in a bowl. Hyssop (an herb) was dipped in the bowl and used to spread the blood around the house’s outer doorframe. This was the outward sign identifying the Lord’s covenant people to be passed over by the destroying angel so they could be delivered from bondage in Egypt.
Last Supper: Jesus Christ used wine to represent His blood. He told His disciples to drink it in remembrance of His blood, which would be shed for them for the remission of sins and as part of a new covenant.
Sacrament: We drink water in remembrance of Jesus Christ’s blood.
Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God. His blood was shed as He suffered for our sins and infirmities. His blood—His sacrifice—cleanses us. He delivers us from sin.