Theological significance
The Christian tradition, based on New Testament and later writings, links the Last Supper with Passover. According to Paul, as Jesus prepared himself and his disciples for his death during the Last Supper, he gave the Passover meal a new meaning. 1 Corinthians 5:7 states:
- “Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed”
This refers to the Passover requirement to have no yeast in the house and to Christ’s identification as the Paschal lamb.[4]
More importantly, Easter has become associated with Jesus’ crucifixion, and the loaf of bread and cup of wine served at the Last Supper is identified with and symbolizing his body soon to be sacrificed and his blood soon to be shed. (1 Corinthians 11:23–26)
One interpretation of the Gospel of John is that Jesus, as the Passover lamb, was crucified at roughly the same time as the Passover lambs were being slain in the temple, on the afternoon of Nisan 14.[5][6] This interpretation, however, is inconsistent with the chronology in the Synoptic Gospels. It assumes that “the preparation of the passover” in John 19:14 literally refers to Nisan 14 (Preparation Day for the Passover) and not necessarily to Yom Shishi (Friday, Preparation Day for the Sabbath)[7] and that “eat the passover” in John 18:28 refers to the eating of the Passover lamb, not to eating any of the sacrifices that were offered during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
However, Easter itself commemorates the resurrection of Jesus, and not his crucifixion.
-Wikipedia