Ep. 182 - The First Passover and the Final Sacrifice: Entering the Triduum
Mass Readings for Triduum 2026 (April 2-4, 2026)
With the drama of Holy Week looming, we’re diving deep into the intertwining mysteries of the Triduum—Easter, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday—exploring why you simply can’t separate the Resurrection from the Last Supper and the Cross. We’ll trace the roots of the Eucharist back to Exodus and the first Passover lambs, uncover the shocking depths behind Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet, and follow the fateful journey from the Agony in the Garden to the trial that broke every rule in the book. Along the way, we’ll connect the dots between the ancient rituals, Jesus’ haunting last words, and the Church’s identity as the new Eve. Join us as we pull back the veil on the greatest mysteries of our faith and rediscover what it truly means to be set free.
Tapping the Old and New Testaments to illuminate the mystery of the Triduum, this special Easter episode of Sunday Dive explores:
The real meaning behind the lamb's sacrifice at Passover—how Exodus describes its slaughter and consumption, and how every one-year-old, unblemished lamb foreshadows Christ’s ultimate role as the true Passover Lamb [00:05:56]
Why John's Gospel skips the institution of the Eucharist narrative and instead dives into the washing of the feet, and how this act is tied to priestly ordination through Old Testament prescriptions for the priests’ washing in Exodus [00:16:14]
Why Jesus does not appear to finish the Passover meal with his disciples before heading to the garden, and the theory that the final cup of the Seder is actually drunk from the cross—linking "I thirst" and "It is finished" to the fulfillment of the feast and the inauguration of his kingdom [00:29:03]
Concrete evidence for the illegal nature of Jesus’s trial according to Jewish law, including why court at night and without the full Sanhedrin constituted a sham, and why Pilate’s involvement was mandatory under Roman rule [00:34:13]
Staggering details about how first-century Passover lambs were cruciform when prepared for roasting in the Temple—so much so that their sacrifice was referred to as "the crucifixion of the lambs"—and how this sheds new light on the imagery of Christ on the cross [00:40:17]
The breathtaking Old Testament parallel that as Adam’s side is opened in sleep to bring forth Eve, the new Adam’s side is pierced so that blood and water birth the Church—culminating with the risen Christ naming Mary Magdalene in the garden and revealing her as a sign of our own destiny as the Bride of Christ [00:44:01]
References
“But the descendants of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong; so that the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, ‘Behold, the sons of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war befall us, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.’” (Exodus 1:7-10)
"For a person of status, particularly a patron host, to wash his guests feet as if a servant would have been unthinkable." (Keener 907)
"Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to minister to burn an offering by fire to the Lord. They shall wash with water lest they die." (Exodus 30:19-21)
“He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, ‘Lord, do you wash my feet?’ Jesus answered him, ‘What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.' (John 13:6-8)
"The Lord said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in the land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel." (Numbers 18:20)
"The word memorial is a liturgical term. It was the name of a grain sacrifice that was regularly offered to God in the temple to remind God of the covenant." (Bergsma 90)
"When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." (Mark 14:26)
Bibliography
Bergsma, John. Jesus and the Old Testament Roots of the Priesthood. Steubenville, Ohio: Emmaus Road Publishing, 2021.
Brown, Raymond E. The Gospel according to John (I–XII): Introduction, Translation, and Notes. Anchor Yale Bible. New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 2008.
Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of John: A Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2012.
Martin, Francis, and William M. Wright IV. The Gospel of John. Edited by Peter S. Williamson and Mary Healy. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2015.
Discussion Questions
How does the historical and Old Testament context of the first Passover from Exodus shape our understanding of the meaning of the Triduum and Easter?
Katie points out the significance of the Passover lamb and its connection to Christ’s sacrifice. What parallels can you draw between the paschal lamb in Exodus and Jesus in the Passion narrative?
Why do you think the Gospel of John does not include the institution narrative of the Eucharist? How does John's focus on the washing of feet contribute to the overall message of Holy Thursday?
What deeper meaning is found in the washing of the disciples’ feet, especially in relation to priestly ordination? How does this interpretation impact your understanding of the Last Supper?
Discuss the concept of Jesus not “finishing” the Passover meal at the Last Supper. What is the significance of him extending the Passover to the cross and proclaiming “It is finished”?
Katie draws a parallel between Jesus’ agony in the garden and Adam’s temptation in Eden. How does this connection deepen the redemptive meaning of Jesus’ Passion?
The episode highlights the illegal nature of Jesus’s trial before the Sanhedrin. What does this suggest about the motives of the authorities and the fulfillment of prophecy?
In the Passion narrative, Jesus’ phrases “I thirst” and “It is finished” are explored for their layered meanings. How do these words encapsulate the fulfillment of Old Testament Scripture and Jesus’ mission?
Reflect on the typology between Adam’s side being opened to form Eve and Jesus’ side being pierced on the cross. How does this imagery inform the Church’s understanding of itself as the Bride of Christ?
What does Katie mean by the Eucharist being a “perfect exchange of persons” and how might this shape your approach to receiving the Eucharist, especially during the Easter season?