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Jesus and Passover To modern day Christians, Passover is the most familiar Biblical festival. What are a few of the things you know about that first Passover in Egypt? What are a few of the things you know about that Passover when Jesus was crucified?
The story of Moses, the plagues and the departure from Egypt is a familiar one. Even after nine plagues, Pharaoh, still refused to let the Hebrew slaves leave the country. And we are familiar with the 10th plague. God gave Moses instructions to tell the people to take a lamb into their homes on the 10th day of the first month, Nisan. The lamb must be without blemish (Ex. 12:5.)
If you look the word "keep" up in Strong's you will see it means to observe, watch, safeguard with diligence. (This is an important fact to remember!) The family was to love the lamb, feed it, nourish it, watch it and safeguard the Passover lamb. For four days, the lamb was treated royally. Then on the 14th of Nisan, the head of the family would slaughter the lamb. Hyssop branches were dipped in the blood and blood was placed on the doorposts and lintel of each house - not a swipe of blood but large quantities of blood was used. It is important to tell how the lamb was roasted. The lamb was cleaned, then set upright on the hind end. A wooden stake ran through the center of the body to hold it upright. The legs of the lamb were spread open. Then the entrails of the lamb were placed like a crown or laurel on the lamb (Ex. 12:9.) Then upright, legs apart on a wooden stake, with a crown on its head the lamb was roasted quickly and eaten in haste. (Ex. 12:11) And we know the people obeyed. The angel of death "passed over" those houses that were saved by the blood of the lamb. By now you are seeing a great number of comparisons between that first Passover and the Passover almost 2000 years ago when Jesus entered into the city of Jerusalem. In Matthew 21, we read that Jesus instructs His disciples to go and get a colt that had never been ridden. The disciples obeyed, got the colt, placed their robes on it and Jesus sat upon the unridden colt. While it is possible that this act was a sign of humility as the servant Messiah approached the city of David; we have to remember that in those times, riding on a colt of a donkey was a sign of nobility and wealth. Horses were symbols of war and those who owned many donkeys and colts were considered wealthy. And we know the act was a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 - "Rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Tziyon! Shout out loud, daughter of Yerushalayim! Look! Your king is coming to you. He is righteous, and He is victorious. Yet He is humble, He's riding on a donkey, yes, on a lowly donkey's colt." On the 10th day of Nisan, just as all the unblemished lambs were being taken into homes, to be cared for, protected and safe guarded, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11:8-10) The streets were filled with people entering the great city of Jerusalem for the pilgrimage festival of Passover (Deut 16:16) Praises were given the unblemished Lamb of God while one year old unblemished lambs were being taken into homes. Quite symmetrical? In Mark 11 we read about Jesus cleansing the Temple. Homes across Israel had already been cleared of the leavening for the Feast of Unleavened Bread - a symbol for cleaning out sin. (Lev. 23, Ex. 12, Numb. 28, Deut. 16.) Just as the Passover lamb was to be "watched" for four days, we see Jesus at the Temple for four days being watched and examined (Matt. 21:1, 9-12, 17-18, 23; 24:1, 3; 26:15) Remember that the Passover lamb had to be examined and found spotless. Jesus was examined by:
Remember that according to the Hebrew calendar the day runs from sunset to sunset (Gen. 1) As the sun set in the west, on the 13th and as dusk turned into night, Passover began: the 14th of Nisan. Jesus participated in the Passover seder. This is the meal taken after sunset on the 14th of Nisan. Let me take a moment to encourage you to attend a Passover Seder in your area. You can email Jews for Jesus to find a Passover demonstration in your area. You can also look in a newspaper or phone book for a Messianic Jewish synagogue in your area. There are also Messianic Passover services at http://www.haydid.org/articles.htm or http://shema.com/haggadah.htm You can also download a traditional Passover Haggadah at http://www.haydid.org/orthohag.htm . Unfortunately time doesn't permit us to go through the whole service here. Given the opportunity, I hope you will attend a seder and see the rich heritage of Scripture come to life. What we call today as "the Last Supper" was in fact a Passover seder. Jesus being a Torah observant Jew, did all that was commanded. Jesus also explained each part of the service (Luke 22:14-20, 1 Cor. 11:23-26.) After singing the traditional Psalms (Matt. 26:30), Jesus and the disciples went to the Mount of Olives. They proceeded to Gethsemane. This is one of the most moving passages in Scripture:
John the Baptist has said "Behold the Lamb of God" when Jesus began His ministry. (John 1:29). Now during Passover when the unblemished lambs had began to be slaughtered at the Temple, Jesus was arrested and taken before the High Priest for examination. He was without blemish. The Lamb of God, innocent and spotless, would be led to the slaughter. And who was supposed to die on the cross that day? Yes. And do you know what Barabbas means? Son of the Father. How must have Barabbas felt? Knowing someone else was taking his place on the cross? What did he think knowing he deserved death for his sins, but was set free? We know Jesus was stripped, a crown of thorns placed on His head and then He was nailed to an execution stake. Meanwhile, across the city, Passover lambs were slaughtered, put on a stake, their crown of entrails atop their head, roasted as a remembrance of God's deliverance. Just as blood had been spread on doorposts by hyssop branches, the Lamb of God was offered up a drink on hyssop branches. Just as blood dripped from the Passover lambs around the doorposts that first Passover, the blood from the Lamb of God dripped on the wooden stake. At 3 o'clock on the afternoon, the High Priest stood at the Temple with the last lamb. All the lambs that had been sacrificed before this had been for individuals and families and slain by the heads of the household. The final lamb stood as a sacrifice for the whole house of Israel. The High Priest took the sharp knife and slit the throat of the unblemished lamb. At precisely 3 o'clock the High Priest spread out his arms, looked across the assembly and said, "It is accomplished." Across from the Temple, at exactly 3 o'clock the Perfect Lamb of God lifted His eyes, looked at His beloved city, His mother, the soldiers and spectators and He spoke, "It is accomplished." The Passover Lamb had died as a remembrance of God's deliverance and mercy. God's choreography at work. Perfect symmetry. The Feast of Passover in the Book of John There are four recorded Passovers in the Gospel (basar) of John (Yochanan), even as Yeshua attended the Passover with His parents from year to year (Luke 2:41-42). 1. The first Passover Yeshua attended at Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) as an adult is recorded in John (Yochanan) 2:13-17. In these passages, He found the temple (Beit HaMikdash) defiled with money changers. He then declared that "My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer..." (Mark 11:17). The spiritual application (halacha) is this: The believers in Yeshua are G-d's temple and we are not to defile it with sin (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). Those who believe in the Messiah Yeshua are the house of G-d (Hebrews 3:6; 1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter [Kefa] 2:5). 2. The second Passover feast is recorded in John (Yochanan) 5:1-15. Although the particular feast is not specifically mentioned here, we know that it is either Passover (Pesach), Pentecost (Shavuot), or Tabernacles (Sukkot) because Yeshua went up (aliyah) to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) to observe it (Deuteronomy [Devarim] 16:16). By knowing what Yeshua did in these passages and what these feasts teach us, the evidence suggests it was Passover. This Passover reveals Yeshua as the Healer of men's bodies and souls; the Forgiver of sin; and the Healer of disease. In the Egyptian Passover, Israel was to feed upon the body of the lamb. As they did, they were saved from the destruction of Egypt and their bodies were healed (Exodus [Shemot] 12:13; Psalm [Tehillim] 105:26,36-37). Thus healing is associated with Passover, and at this Passover, Yeshua healed an impotent man. 3. The third Passover is found in John (Yochanan) 6:1-13. At Passover, the children of Israel ate the flesh of the lamb, sprinkled the blood on the door, and ate unleavened bread. Thus the bread and the lamb's body were eaten by all at Passover. In these passages, Yeshua is the Bread of Life, the unleavened bread, and the heavenly manna. 4. The fourth Passover is Yeshua's sacrificial death on the tree. He is the Lamb of G-d and the Unleavened Bread, dying despite having never sinned. Feast of Unleavened Bread 1. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was so much a part of Passover (Pesach) that the names of Passover and Unleavened Bread were used interchangeably or almost synonymously (Luke 22:1). 2. The feast was to be kept seven days (Exodus [Shemot] 12:15-19). The number seven is the biblical number for completion or fullness. The believer who keeps this feast is to keep it fully unto the L-rd and set himself aside completely to Him. The Feast of Unleavened Bread speaks of complete separation from all things that are leavened (sinful) and feeding upon Yeshua, who is the believer's bread (John [Yochanan] 6:32-36,38). 3. The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzah) is a high sabbath day. A high sabbath in Hebrew is called a shabbaton. During Passover, there is an extra sabbath besides the weekly sabbath. These sabbaths are called high sabbaths. The high sabbath of Unleavened Bread can be seen in John 19:31. 4. Unleavened bread is used for consecration and separation. It is also anointed with oil. The believers in the Messiah Yeshua are to be consecrated and separated to do the work G-d has called us to do and to live a life that is holy to Him. If we do this, the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) of G-d will rest upon our lives.
In the Bible, G-d referred to the leaven of different groups of people. These are listed as follows:
But this isn't the end of the story! Is it? You see, on the 1st day of the week after the Passover Sabbath, is a festival called First Fruits or Bikkurim in Hebrew. You can read about this in Lev. 23:9-14. This is one of the most overlooked festivals, in my opinion! On First Fruits the theme is certainly salvation: The following occurred on First Fruits:
And on First Fruits, after the Passover Lamb was sacrificed, Jesus the Messiah also celebrated Bikkurim by offering Himself as the First Fruits for all generations (Matt. 27:52-53)
Praise God for not only were our sins taken care of on Passover by the Lamb of God but on First Fruits we received eternal life by the First Born of God!
Have you kept the true meaning of Passover? Have you removed the leaven from your life? Are you still in slavery or have you passed through the Red Sea and experienced the Living Water? What better time than now? Ask the arisen Lamb of God to come into your life. Tell Him you recognize Him to be the First Fruits of God, the Messiah! Let His forgiveness and healing encompass you now.
NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM! Books used for this study are The Seven Festivals of the Messiah, by Eddie Chumney which is also online. The Messianic Passover Haggadah, bye Barry and Steffi Rubin The Complete Jewish Bible, by David Stern. The Jewish New Testament Commentary, by David Stern. If you would like to use or copy of this article or have any questions feel free to email me at RuthCCC@jesuscafe.org [] |
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