This is Passover week and it is good for us to remember the Glory of Passover
His name is (Yeshua) Jesus.
Pesach the Hebrew for Passover simply means "Lamb" In Exodus 12:2-11 God instructed each family to take an unblemished Lamb to their home. They were to examine the Lamb for four days see that it was perfect. On the forth day at sunset they had to kill the lamb and take some of its blood and place it on the two doorposts and Lintel of their house. On the evening of Passover the Angel of God killed the firstborn male in homes throughout the Land, in judgment against Pharaoh who steadfastly refused to obey Gods word delivered through Moses . When He came to the homes covered by the blood He passed over them and they were saved.
What a victory! As a result of this victory Pharoah (who is a type of Satan) had no option but to let the People go! So the celebration of Passover is a celebration of victory. And also a shadow of the victory that Jesus won over sin and Satan.
1 Corinthians 5:7
7 Remove this wicked person from among you so that you can stay pure.* Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. 8 So let us celebrate the festival, not by eating the old bread* of wickedness and evil, but by eating the new bread* of purity and truth.
A Jewish tradition leading up to Passover is that the home is cleaned to remove all old bread containing yeast. Paul was using this illustration with regard to Sin in the camp. and deliberately used Passover to signify that Jesus has fulfilled the feast and brought deliverance from Sin as our Passover lamb.
In Exodus 12:14 Israel was commanded to observe this festival forever. "You must remember this day forever. Each year you will celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord" The reason for this is that the deliverance of Passover is a shadow of the deliverance wrought by Yeshua
There are several things that clearly point to the messiah found in the feast of Passover
1) PROCESSION OF THE LAMB
When Israel had a Temple, in addition to the lamb for each household, a lamb was chosen to die for the sins of the entire nation. On the 10th of Nisan, it was lead in a huge procession from Bethany to the Temple. During the procession, the people waved Palm branches and sang Psalms, including "O Lord save us (Hosanna) … Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord"—Psalm 118:25-26 Jesus fulfils Jesus rode into the city to the Temple on the same day (Nisan 10) as the procession of the lamb chosen to die for the sins of the nation. By doing this, He was proclaiming Himself to be "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" –John 1:29. As Jesus passed, the people shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord"—Matthew 21:9 (NIV)
2) THE PASSOVER LAMB EXAMINED
The Passover lamb was examined for four days prior to Passover –Exodus 12:3, 6 Jesus Fulfils Jesus entered the temple and was examined for four days prior to Passover by the Sadducees and the Pharisees. –Matthew 22:15-33
3) LAMB SLAIN "BETWEEN THE EVENINGS"
According to God’s instructions, the Passover lamb had to be slain "between the evenings" –Exodus 12:6.
Jesus Fulfils
Jesus was slain at the same time the unblemished lamb was slain on Passover. Jesus gave up His spirit at the exact time the lambs were to be killed –the ninth hour. "Between the evenings" and "the ninth hour" are based on the manner by which the Temple priests calculated time. Both refer to the same time – three o’clock in the afternoon. See Matthew 27:46, 50. That Jesus died in just three hours is incredible.
Typically, death by crucifixion took three days. The Romans were experts at crucifixion. They wanted the crucified person to live in agony for days, while frightened friends, relatives and travelers stared in horror. Jesus, a strong young man should not have died so quickly. He died at three in the afternoon to keep a Divine Appointment!3
THE BROKEN MATZO
Early in the ceremony the father uncovers the three matzot which lie in front of him in a three-pocketed napkin. He takes out the middle matzo, breaks it in half, takes the larger half and wraps it in a napkin and hides it somewhere under his cushion. One of the children will try to steal it away and claim a price if successful. Otherwise it will lie there "buried" until the service is over. Then it will be taken out and broken into small pieces and distributed to the members of the family. Why is the middle matzo broken in the course of the Seder? Why is the larger half hidden away, buried under the cushion, taken out later and eaten by all in memory of the Passover lamb?
What is the meaning of the verses we recite from Psalm 118:22-23: "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. " Who is the "Stone" and who are the "Builders?"
The Answer is found in Yeshua
There is a connection in the Passover seder with the Last Supper of our Messiah. Almost 2000 years ago, Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Messiah, sat down with His disciples to celebrate the Passover Seder after accomplishing His teaching and healing ministries. On the table were probably the three matzot and red wine. When the time came to break the matzo and drink the wine, the Lord Yeshua gave the following explanation:
He took bread and gave thanks and broke it, and gave it unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:19-20).
The middle matzo represents the One whose body was broken and given for us. It was hidden and buried, and then resurrected. "I have come already and am coming again’"
He, the Messiah, is the Stone, the Rock of Israel. Him, many of our builders, or leaders, rejected, and He has become the headstone, the most important Jew in the history of our people. But one day our people will accept Him, "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob."
Jesus is the Glory of Passover ~Today we celebrate the glorious deliverance from a cruel taskmaster. Sin has been defeated by our wonderful Passover Lamb. He was broken and has given his body to all who will receive. Every time you celebrate Communion you are celebrating the Glory of Passover,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah sing of his mercy, sing of His grace
Hallelujah Hallelujah our Passover lamb has taken our place
Destroyed our enemy destroyed the stain
Ever living He is our eternal gain.
Hallelujah Hallelujah Yeshua his name
Hallelujah Hallelujah to save us he came
C Ian Johnson 2005
Ian Johnson
www.papelim.org.nz
