The ancient door hidden in the Last Supper

There’s a detail in the Easter story that most people walk straight past.

You probably know that the Last Supper was a Passover meal. But do you know what the original Passover was actually about?

Exodus chapter 12 tells the story. God tells every Israelite household to slaughter a lamb and smear its blood on the doorframe - the top and both sides. Then stay inside. Because the destroyer is coming. And when he sees the blood on the door, he will pass over that house. Everyone inside will be safe.

The thing standing between life and death was blood on a door.

Fast forward to the upper room. Jesus takes the bread and says, this is my body. He takes the cup and says, this is my blood - the new covenant. He’s saying something extraordinary: I am the lamb. I am the blood. I am the door.

And there’s one more thread John weaves in. Exodus 12 specifies that the Israelites should use hyssop to apply the blood to the doorframe. On Good Friday, when Jesus cries out that he’s thirsty, someone lifts a sponge to his lips - on a hyssop branch. The same plant. John almost certainly intends that connection. He’s saying: the first Passover pointed here all along.

So what is Maundy Thursday really saying to us?

The protection, the freedom, the new covenant - it all rests on the blood of the Lamb. Not on what you bring. Not on how prepared you are. Not on whether you feel worthy to sit at the table.

The door is marked. The destroyer passes over. You are safe.

Today’s five-minute devotional unpacks all of this, including a beautiful detail about the upper room that I think will stay with you. And it ends with a teaser for Good Friday - the most breathtaking door in the whole series.

Watch here:

This is part of a Holy Week series on doors. If you’ve been following along, I’d love to hear what’s been resonating with you.

Grace and peace. Rob

Read this week’s devotionals here - https://open.substack.com/pub/battledrilldevotional/p/a-different-kind-of-holy-week-starting?r=643q6o&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true