Matthew 26:18
“He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’””
What does Matthew 26:18 mean?
Jesus is sending his disciples to arrange the meal that will become the Last Supper, speaking with quiet certainty about what's coming. His words "my time is at hand" carry deep meaning: he knows his arrest and crucifixion are only days away, yet he's focused on celebrating Passover, the Jewish festival commemorating God's deliverance of the enslaved Israelites. By choosing to keep this meal with his disciples in someone's home, Jesus is connecting his coming sacrifice to that ancient story of salvation, hinting that something new and redemptive is about to unfold. There's something both tender and solemn here: even as the shadow of the cross approaches, he gathers with those closest to him to share a sacred meal.