The Passover was the most sacred feast of the Jewish religious year.  It commemorated the final plague on Egypt when the firstborn of the Egyptians died and the Israelites were spared because of the blood of a lamb that was sprinkled on their doorposts. The lamb was then roasted and eaten with unleavened bread.  God's command was that throughout the generations to come the feast would be celebrated.

During the Last Supper - A Passover celebration - Jesus took a loaf of bread and gave thanks to God.  As He broke it and gave it to His disciples, He said, " This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.  In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you', (Luke 22:19-21). He concluded the feast by singing a hymn (Matthew 26:30), and they went out into the night to the Mount of Olives.  It was there that, as predicted, Jesus was betrayed by Judas.  The following day Jesus was crucified.

The Lord's Supper is a soul-stirring experience because of the depth of meaning it contains.  It was during the age-old celebration of the Passover on the eve of His death that Jesus instituted a significant new fellowship meal that we observe to this day.  It is an integral part of Christian worship.  It causes us to remember our Lord's death and resurrection and to look for his glorious return in the future.