Passover

On Wednesday, April 8th we attended a Passover Seder with our congregation and family. It was a lot of fun. You may be wondering why a christian would attend a Passover Seder? Let me try and explain.

Passover has been celebrated by Jews for thousands of years. It is a retelling story of how God redeemed his people from Egypt. This celebration was given to the Jews while they were still in Egypt. The original celebration centered around the Passover lamb, which was sacrificed and then the lambs blood was put over the doorpost as a sign of faith, so that the Lord passed over the houses of the Jews during the last plague was poured out on the Egyptians-the killing of all the firstborn. (Exodus 12:13)The New Testament says that Yeshua (Jesus, Hebrew name) is our sacrificial Lamb. The Passover lamb was to be a male without any defect, "which is the same description given to Yeshua" The lamb was roasted and eaten, and none of the lambs legs were to be broken. We know from scripture that none of Yeshua's bones were not broken. It was customary during crucifixion to break the leg bones of the person after a few hours to speed up the death. The only way a person could breathe when on the tree (cross) was to push up with his legs, which is said to be very tiring. Breaking of the legs would cause asphyxiation and a quicker death. The soldier's broke the two thieves on the cross but, not Yeshua's, because he was already dead. Isn't the scriptures so amazing.

Passover sacrifice---We don't realize how much is lost in Yeshua's last Passover week, because, so many are unaware of the lamb that was being killed in the temple as the Passover sacrifice for the sins of the people of Israel. Did you know that Yeshua came into Jerusalem 4 days before the lamb was killed in the temple for a Passover sacrifice? The priest would also have a lamb in their care at the same time The priest would lead a lamb into the city while the crowds of people would wave palm branches and sing Psalms 118 " Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord" Jesus entered the city the same day on a donkey, his entry fulfilled prophecy. Isn't that exciting that Yeshua enter Jerusalem on the same day that the lamb was lead to the temple! The lamb would be tied up for public viewing so that it would be inspected for any blemishes. Yeshua was questioned and tested for 4 days in the temple by the Sadducee's, the Pharisees. They wanted to entrap Him with His own words. They couldn't because He was without blemishes. (1 Cor. 5:7)

Burial---As part of the festival, the sacrifice the Jews would take some of the grain-the first fruits- of their harvest. It was at this point that Yeshua was buried. Paul talks about Yeshua as the first fruits of those raised from the dead. (1 Cor.)
Resurrection---Christian symbolism in the Passover occurs early in the Seder. Three pieces of matzahs are put together (representing the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) . The middle matzah is broken, wrapped in a white cloth and hidden, representing the death and burial of Yeshua. The matzah itself is represents Yeshua, since it is striped and pierced. Following the Seder meal, the "buried" matzah is and "resurrected"

During the Passover Seder Yeshua took the unleavened bread(matzah) broke it, and said that it represents His body. Then He took the cup of wine, which would be the 3rd cup in the Seder. the cup of redemption. He said that it was the new covenant in His blood, "poured out for you. (Luke 22:20)

All of this is just touching some aspects of the Passover celebration. I don't know about you but, I see Yeshua in all the Passover symbolism. I will try and post a link later if you are interested in learning more. Its a beautiful story of the Messiah.