A CELEBRATION OF PASSOVER AND A RISEN MESSIAH

As a Christian follower of Jesus, there is no more special time of year to Recognize and Celebrate our Savior, Lord, and King, Jesus Christ ! For many years as a “Christian”, I never understood the significance of the Passover, nor did I celebrate its deep meaning for Jews and Christians alike. Passover was for Jewish people and a part of their religious experience. As a Christian, my focus was on Easter only. That outlook has changed for me, and I am so very thankful that God has allowed me to mature in my knowledge and understanding of the very important connection that Passover and Easter share. In simple terms, they both reflect the substitution of a “Lamb” in a sacrificial atonement for “Sin.” In Egypt, the Jewish people were instructed to use an unblemished lamb as a sacrifice and apply its’ blood to their doorposts to allow the passing over of the death angel that would kill all of the firstborn that resided in Egypt at that time. God was judging the sin of both the Egyptian people and the Jewish people as sinners, but His Mercy to His Chosen People who listened to His Instruction through Moses was miraculous indeed. As followers of Christ, the amazing Mercy Of God continues as we find Jesus arriving in Jerusalem to celebrate the very Passover that freed the Jewish people from God’s Judgement in Egypt. Jesus knew that just like that “first lamb”, He would be the Ultimate Sacrifice for ALL OF GOD’S PEOPLE….Jew and Gentile alike. Jesus became the “Passover” for all of Mankind. Our sin that brought death and separation from God The Father was all placed on the Cross Of Crucifixion, and the blood that Jesus shed has covered all who believe in Him, Freeing us from Death unto LIFE ETERNAL.

IN THE FIRST MONTH, ON THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH AT TWILIGHT, IS THE LORD’S PASSOVER Leviticus 23:5

THIS DAY FOR YOU SHALL BE A MEMORIAL DAY, AND YOU SHALL KEEP IT AS A FEAST TO THE LORD; TTHROUGHOUT YOUR GENERATIONS , AS A STATUTE FOREVER, YOU SHALL KEEP IT AS A FEAST. Exodus 12:14

WHO HAS BELIEVED WHAT HE HAS HEARD FROM US ? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED ? FOR HE GREW UP BEFORE HIM LIKE A YOUNG PLANT, AND LIKE A ROOT OUT OF DRY GROUND; HE HAD NO FORM OR MAJESTY THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT HIM, AND NO BEAUTY THAT WE SHOULD DESIRE HIM. HE WAS DESPISED AND REJECTED BY MEN, A MAN OF SORROWS AND AQUAINTED WITH GRIEF; AND AS ONE FROM WHOM MEN HIDE THEIR FACES HE WAS DESPISED AND WE ESTEEMED HIM NOT. SURELY HE HAS BORNE OUR GRIEFS AND CARRIED OUR SORROWS; YET WE ESTEEMED HIM STRICKEN, SMITTEN BY GOD, AND AFFLICTED. BUT HE WAS PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS; HE WAS CRUSHED FOR OUR INIQUITIES; UPON HIM WAS THE CHASTISEMENT THAT BROUGHT US PEACE, AND WITH HIS WOUNDS WE ARE HEALED…Isaiah 53:1-12

KNOWING THAT YOU WERE RANSOMED FROM THE FUTILE WAYS INHERITED FROM YOUR FOREFATHERS, NOT WITH PERISHABLE THINGS SUCH AS SILVER OR GOLD, BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, LIKE THAT OF A LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH OR SPOT. 1 Peter 1:18-19

This connection of the passover lamb in Egypt and the way it foreshadowed the coming of Jesus as the Messiah and Savior of all Mankind is what truly shows me the Mercy Of A Loving God, and cements my belief that JESUS CAME FOR ALL OF US, JEW AND GENTILE ALIKE ! I know that for Jewish people, this seems preposterous. They will point to many scriptures that show the Messiah to be something and someone else, and yet…..Isaiah 53 can’t be overlooked. Likewise, some Christians believe that because the Jewish people rejected Jesus, they have lost their favored status as God’s Chosen People. The Christian Church seems a better standard bearer now in this role. I choose to BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEARzt THAT JESUS IS THE PROMISED MESSIAH< AND THAT HE DIED FOR ME AND ALL OF MANKIND. HE DIED, WAS BURIED, AND THEN HAS RISEN TO SIT AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER ! If one spends time in the Old Testament from Torah, to the Prophets and Writings it is clear to me that God has treasured relationship with us, His Creation, from the very beginning. I believe that Jesus is the perfect Will of The Father to restore our relationship and deliver us THE HOLY SPIRIT as a constant presence and guide in our spirit, allowing us to abide in God’s Presence. Today, as in the times of both Moses and Jesus, sin seems to constantly challenge us and desires to separate us from God. May it never be so. God has a much more Powerful Plan For Us.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE US HIS ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. John 3:16

FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. Romans 6:23

AND THERE IS SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED. Acts 4:12

Are you a believer in Christ, and do you follow Him ? Has He changed your life ? Have you given thought to the incredible Mercy that God has shown to the Jewish People, and how through Jesus it has also been extended to ALL OF MANKIND ? YOU, AND ME ? I implore you to take some time this week and look at your life and your beliefs. Take a look at what and who you put your Faith and Trust in. Where do the desires of your heart lie ? Do you see a future with Christ as your Lord and King, or are YOU sitting on your own throne wondering just how long you will survive…and then, what ? Passover shows us God, His Grace, and His Mercy. Easter shows us a Risen Savior, Lord, and King. They are and always will be connected, and as God’s Children we should Celebrate them with Great Hope and Joy ! May you be blessed in this season of God’s Gift of True Grace and Forgiveness, and may you Walk In The Ways He Has Written On Your Hearts :). HE IS RISEN/JAA

FOR OUR SAKE HE MADE HIM TO BE SIN WHO KNEW NO SIN, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. 2 Corinthians 5:21