It is easy to romanticize history, probably because the
history that we teach our children in school is not really our true history.
The history we teach in schools is devoid of the violence and abominations of
the people of that era. Everything in the past was not a “happier time”; the
opposite is probably true. After World War 2, during the time of the cold war, the
United States of America went through a media campaign to differentiate the USA
from communist countries. Christian values were publicized and popularized to
show Americans how wonderful they were compared to atheists in communist
countries. What happened as a result is that we Christianized and romanticized
history. We imagine a history that may not be accurate. I bring this up because
I recently heard someone explain that they celebrate Passover, and since it was
to be a commemoration, I thought we should gain some insight on this feast. Was
Passover regularly observed? What should Passover look like today? What we have
done is Christianized and romanticized feasts, and in doing so we lose perspective
of the past and invent something that never existed. The Bible gives us some
historical information that we don’t talk about. Today, we have invented spring
feasts and turned them into some sort of festive observance filled with made up
traditions. Unfortunately there is more to the story.
God’s instruction to Moses started when the sons of Jacob
were still in Egypt. They were to do some very specific things to protect their
families and themselves. The rules changed later after they were out of Egypt.
Let’s examine this.
Ex 12:5-14 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of
the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:6 And ye
shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole
assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.7 And they
shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper
door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.8 And they shall eat the
flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter
herbs they shall eat it.9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but
roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.10 And
ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth
of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.11 And thus shall ye eat it;
with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand;
and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover.12 For I will pass
through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the
land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will
execute judgment: I am the Lord.13 And the blood shall be to you for a token
upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you,
and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of
Egypt.14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a
feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an
ordinance for ever. KJV
Part one of God’s instructions was for the children of
Israel who were in Egypt. The act of putting the blood of a lamb on their
doorposts was so that the destroyer would not destroy them. As we studied a
while back, that destroyer is the one known as Apollyon or Abaddon. Then there
is part two.
Ex 12:15-20 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread;
even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever
eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall
be cut off from Israel.16 And in the first day there shall be an holy
convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you;
no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat,
that only may be done of you.17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened
bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of
Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance
for ever.18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye
shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.19
Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth
that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation
of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.20 Ye shall eat
nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. KJV
Not only were they to eat the lamb standing, as if they
were going somewhere, they had to prepare the unleavened bread for the next
week. This was not to be a one night, standalone event, they were to continue
for one week, eating bread with no yeast. This is when God changed the first
month of the year from fall to spring; so technically God was now starting the
“new year” with a lamb feast and unleavened bread for one week. But there is more. Foreigners were not to
partake, and slaves had to be circumcised first.
Ex 12:43-49 And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is
the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:44 But every
man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then
shall he eat thereof.45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat
thereof.46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of
the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.47 All
the congregation of Israel shall keep it.48 And when a stranger shall sojourn
with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be
circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one
that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.49 One
law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among
you. KJV
Clearly there was provision for those who were not of Jacob’s
lineage, but primarily this was for the children of Israel to remember the day
and time they left Egypt. Further rules were given once there was a tabernacle.
The very first Passover did not include sacrifice offerings.
Lev 23:17-21 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two
wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be
baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord.18 And ye shall offer
with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young
bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the Lord, with
their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire,
of sweet savour unto the Lord.19 Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats
for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace
offerings.20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits
for a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to
the Lord for the priest.21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it
may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it
shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. KJV
This was a holy time of assembly and introspection as
they were making offerings to the Lord. They were to also bring their first
fruits as a meat offering to the priests. Unlike the fall feasts, this was not
a time of dancing and singing, but a time of reverence. Further provisions had
to be made as time went on.
Num 9:4-14 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel,
that they should keep the passover.5 And they kept the passover on the
fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according
to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.6 And there
were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could
not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron
on that day:7 And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a
man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the Lord
in his appointed season among the children of Israel?8 And Moses said unto
them, Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you.9
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,10 Speak unto the children of Israel,
saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a
dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the
Lord.11 The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and
eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.12 They shall leave none of it
unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of
the passover they shall keep it.13 But the man that is clean, and is not in a
journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut
off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the Lord in
his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.14 And if a stranger shall
sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the Lord; according to the
ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do:
ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born
in the land. KJV
If one was defiled, they could not keep the Passover on
the fourteenth day of the first month, but instead on the fourteenth day of the
second month. God gave them another month to be cleansed and then they would
observe Passover and the feast of unleavened bread in the second month. It
seems God was flexible on the date of observance if people were defiled or
traveling. But God was not flexible concerning individuals who didn’t want to
bring the offering or keep the Passover. That person was to be cut off or
removed from the people. Now God changes things and says there is one ordinance
for both strangers and native Israelis.
At the time of Cain and Abel, Abel’s offering was a blood
sacrifice and acceptable by God. Cain’s offering was not a blood sacrifice and
Cain’s was not accepted, blood had to be offered to cleanse from sin. That was
the first thing to do. Cain brought the first fruits before being cleansed by
the blood and purging the leaven. In other words, Cain did not believe the
blood offering to be valuable, and instead brought a first fruits offering. How
many times have we heard something silly regarding Cain’s offering? God told Cain not to be sad because if he did
what was right his offering would be accepted. Remember, the first thing God
did for Adam and Eve was to kill innocent animals to provide covering for their
nakedness. That was the first blood sacrifice. Therefore God was instructing
the children of Israel like he instructed Adam and his sons. Sin needed a
payment, innocent blood had to be used to make that payment. That is why there
was no leniency for an Israelite who didn’t want to observe the Passover. That
non observer had to bear his own sin.
Israel did not always keep the Passover. In fact it seems
that the Passover was not observed
more often than it was observed.
After Samuel, there seems to be a long period of time of non-observance until
Hezekiah keeps the Passover. For perspective, Samuel died before David became
king. Hezekiah was now going to re-institute Passover, but they kept it in the
second month as the priests were not sanctified.
2 Chron 30:1-5 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah,
and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the
house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the Lord God of
Israel.2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the
congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.3 For they
could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified
themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to
Jerusalem.4 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.5 So they
established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from
Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the
Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in
such sort as it was written. KJV
When we think about Passover today we assume that the
Passover was kept every year, exactly as God commanded, but we can see, as
Chronicles tells us, that they had not kept it for a long time. God did not
strike them down for not keeping it either. This was their only absolution for
sin, and yet they didn’t feel the need to keep the Passover. When the tribes
came at the request of Hezekiah it was quite a big deal. Not all of them came. They
were supposed to be keeping this ordinance forever but they didn’t.
2 Chron 30:16-21 And they stood in their place after
their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests
sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites.17 For
there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the
Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was
not clean, to sanctify them unto the Lord.18 For a multitude of the people,
even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed
themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But
Hezekiah prayed for them, saying: ..”The good Lord pardon every one that
prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not
cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the Lord hearkened
to Hezekiah, and healed the people. And the children of Israel that were
present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great
gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing
with loud instruments unto the Lord.” KJV
Because so many people were unclean, the Levites had to
sacrifice the animals for the Passover, and even still there were too many who
were unclean. The Lord was merciful and pardoned everyone. They did not keep
the first fruits, so we can recognize that that was not always part of the
Passover and unleavened bread week. It would be nice if from this time on
everyone kept the Passover, but they did not. Israel fell into many sins again.
Actually from the time Israel split, during Rehoboam’s and Jeroboam’s time,
Israel fell into idolatry. When Josiah came into power, he started to clean up
the southern kingdom. This was no small task. We rarely talk about the depths
of the sins that entered into Israel. Let’s explore.
1 Kings 14:21-24 And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned
in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord did choose out of
all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was
Naamah an Ammonitess.22 And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they
provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all
that their fathers had done.23 For they also built them high places, and
images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.24 And there
were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations
of the nations which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. KJV
The word sodomites
does not mean “people from Sodom”, but implies “male prostitutes in temples”.
Today, we don’t understand this particularly well as we don’t see prostitutes
in temples in most countries today. It was already a common practice by the
time of the exodus, and God commanded the children of Israel not to turn their sons
and daughters into prostitutes. This is a shame as the Israelites strayed so
far that their own children became prostitutes in temples to strange gods.
Deut 23:17 There shall be no whore of the daughters of
Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. KJV
What did Rehoboam do? They maintained male shrine
prostitutes, but not only in one place, but throughout the land. This temple
prostitution took place in surrounding nations, as well as among the
descendants of the Nephilim. We don’t understand how Israel got entangled with
this, but suffice to say not all the people were caught up in temple
prostitution. The Israelites were supposed to keep the Passover in remembrance
of their deliverance, yet there were many who didn’t care to remember the
bondage in Egypt or the forty years of wandering in the wilderness, and
therefore didn’t keep the Passover.
1 Kings 14:24 They even maintained male shrine prostitutes
throughout the land, and imitated every detestable practice that the nations
practiced whom the Lord had expelled in front of the Israelis. ISV
When Josiah was about 20 years old he started cleaning up
temple prostitution. Now we might think that this prostitution took place in
out of the way places, but it didn’t. By Josiah’s time Solomon’s Temple was
turned into a place of prostitution with booths for the male prostitutes. It is
hard to imagine; our Christianized and romanticized vision of Solomon’s Temple
does not include idolatry and prostitution within its walls.
2 Kings 23:7 He tore out the rooms of the male sacred
prostitutes that had been set up in The Temple of God; women also used these
rooms for weavings for Asherah. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary
Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
2 Kings 23:7 He also demolished the temples of the cultic
male prostitutes that had been operating in the Lord’s Temple, where the women
had been doing weaving for the Asherah. ISV
One would think that the Temple would have been sacred or
off limits to prostitution for strange gods. It seems God had every right to
send both the northern and southern kingdoms into captivity. Obviously, people
were not keeping the law and the kings didn’t care. Now I’m sure there were
some people who were doing what they could to continue in the ways of God, but
without being able to sacrifice in the temple for Passover, all they could do
was observe on their own, without being cleansed. They could not be freed from
their sins. We get the idea that God wasn’t as concerned about the people having
a week’s vacation, or the practice of eating lamb and flat bread, as he was concerned
about the people looking to Him. God was very willing to pardon the people in
Hezekiah’s time for not being cleansed and God didn’t make a big deal over the
fact that they were celebrating on the second month.
Josiah changed things. Josiah became king at eight years
old. In his eighth year, when he was sixteen, he started to seek the Lord. In
his twelfth year, when he was twenty, he started cleaning the idolatry out of
Judah. In his eighteenth year, when he was twenty six, he held a Passover.
2 Kings 23:21-27 And the king commanded all the people,
saying, Keep the passover unto the Lord your God, as it is written in the book
of this covenant.22 Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days
of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel,
nor of the kings of Judah;23 But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein
this passover was holden to the Lord in Jerusalem.24 Moreover the workers with
familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the
abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah
put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the
book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord.25 And like unto
him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart,
and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of
Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.26 Notwithstanding the Lord
turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was
kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had
provoked him withal.27 And the Lord said, I will remove Judah also out of my
sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I
have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there. KJV
It is funny how prideful the southern kingdom was in the
time of the first century. Their history was horrific, and not unlike the
northern kingdom. All of Israel, northern and southern, had idolatry and temple
prostitution, and neither observed the spring feasts. Today, we imagine that
our own history was happy and filled with goodness but the truth is quite grim.
Then we imagine that other nations were simply evil and horrifying, while we,
with puffed up pride, believe in our own righteousness. Josiah cleaned up
Jerusalem and Judah for six years then held Passover in the first month, which
must mean they had time to cleanse themselves. Although God waited until Josiah
died before he cast off Jerusalem, he cast off both kingdoms. Both kingdoms
rejected God’s provision of innocent blood to cleanse sin.
2 Chron 35:1-8 Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the
Lord in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the
first month.2 And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to
the service of the house of the Lord,3 And said unto the Levites that taught
all Israel, which were holy unto the Lord, Put the holy ark in the house which
Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden
upon your shoulders: serve now the Lord your God, and his people Israel,4 And
prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according
to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon
his son.5 And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the
families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of
the families of the Levites.6 So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves,
and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the Lord
by the hand of Moses.7 And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and
kids, all for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number
of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king's
substance.8 And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and
to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God,
gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred
small cattle, and three hundred oxen KJV
This was a seriously intense time of sacrificing. In
total, there were nearly 42,000 animals sacrificed, which means there was a lot
of blood flowing in Jerusalem. Since the
Temple of Solomon was being used for prostitution to foreign gods, the ark
seems to have been moved out of the temple. The ark was probably in someone’s
house among the Levites, and perhaps it was being moved around as it is
recorded that it should not be a burden upon their shoulders. That is how the
Levites were to transport the ark, by long rods which were carried on their
shoulders. They had to move it back to the Temple. In our Christianized version
of history, we seem to believe that the ark was always in the temple and that
the temple was always holy. Ezra provides us with some more detail.
1 Esd 1:1-8 And Josias held the feast of the passover in
Jerusalem unto his Lord, and offered the passover the fourteenth day of the
first month;2 Having set the priests according to their daily courses, being
arrayed in long garments, in the temple of the Lord.3 And he spake unto the
Levites, the holy ministers of Israel, that they should hallow themselves unto
the Lord, to set the holy ark of the Lord in the house that king Solomon the
son of David had built:4 And said, Ye shall no more bear the ark upon your
shoulders: now therefore serve the Lord your God, and minister unto his people
Israel, and prepare you after your families and kindreds,5 According as David
the king of Israel prescribed, and according to the magnificence of Solomon his
son: and standing in the temple according to the several dignity of the
families of you the Levites, who minister in the presence of your brethren the
children of Israel,6 Offer the passover in order, and make ready the sacrifices
for your brethren, and keep the passover according to the commandment of the Lord,
which was given unto Moses.7 And unto the people that was found there Josias
gave thirty thousand lambs and kids, and three thousand calves: these things
were given of the king's allowance, according as he promised, to the people, to
the priests, and to the Levites.8 And Helkias, Zacharias, and Syelus, the
governors of the temple, gave to the priests for the passover two thousand and
six hundred sheep, and three hundred calves. KJV
Not only were there 33,000 animals used for sacrifice,
but there were also 2,600 sheep and 300 calves for the priests. And then
another 5,000 sheep and 700 calves. That is 41,600 animals sacrificed for
Passover. Not only did they keep the Passover, but they also kept the feast of
unleavened bread. They did not seem to observe first fruits.
1 Esd 1:9-23 And Jeconias, and Samaias, and Nathanael his
brother, and Assabias, and Ochiel, and Joram, captains over thousands, gave to
the Levites for the passover five thousand sheep, and seven hundred calves.10
And when these things were done, the priests and Levites, having the unleavened
bread, stood in very comely order according to the kindreds,11 And according to
the several dignities of the fathers, before the people, to offer to the Lord,
as it is written in the book of Moses: and thus did they in the morning.12 And
they roasted the passover with fire, as appertaineth: as for the sacrifices,
they sod them in brass pots and pans with a good savour,13 And set them before
all the people: and afterward they prepared for themselves, and for the priests
their brethren, the sons of Aaron.14 For the priests offered the fat until
night: and the Levites prepared for themselves, and the priests their brethren,
the sons of Aaron.15 The holy singers also, the sons of Asaph, were in their
order, according to the appointment of David, to wit, Asaph, Zacharias, and
Jeduthun, who was of the king's retinue.16 Moreover the porters were at every
gate; it was not lawful for any to go from his ordinary service: for their
brethren the Levites prepared for them.17 Thus were the things that belonged to
the sacrifices of the Lord accomplished in that day, that they might hold the
passover,18 And offer sacrifices upon the altar of the Lord, according to the
commandment of king Josias.19 So the children of Israel which were present held
the passover at that time, and the feast of sweet bread seven days.20 And such
a passover was not kept in Israel since the time of the prophet Samuel.21 Yea,
all the kings of Israel held not such a passover as Josias, and the priests,
and the Levites, and the Jews, held with all Israel that were found dwelling at
Jerusalem.22 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josias was this passover
kept.23 And the works or Josias were upright before his Lord with an heart full
of godliness. KJV
Josiah’s reign started at or about 640 BC. The prophet
Ezekiel began prophesying at or about 593 BC. If we notice Ezekiel chapter 8,
God shows Ezekiel what kind of evil things they were doing in the temple. Then
in chapter 9 angels mark the people who lament over the evil being done in
Jerusalem. In Chapter 10 of Ezekiel, God’s glory leaves the temple. Now let’s
think this through. Rehoboam started his reign in 930 BC and that is when
idolatry and temple prostitution started in the land. Then 290 years later
Josiah cleaned up all the idolatry. Yet, at the time of Ezekiel God’s glory had
not left the temple. That tells us God’s glory was still in the temple for 337
years while all sorts of evil things were going on. That is quite a tolerance
for sin, isn’t it? God so loved his people, he kept his glory among them for
over 300 years while the majority practiced idolatry and male temple
prostitution right under God’s nose. Yikes, that is a very different picture of
the sinfulness of people and the tolerance of God than we have today. Today we
believe God to have been a heavy handed angry taskmaster, who punishes people
for mild infractions, such as not washing their hands. The Pharisees led us to
believe that God did not like Jesus and his disciples for such a terrible trespass of failure to hand
wash, which was against the law. Yet look what was going on right in the temple
for over 300 years.
There are lots of people who like to romanticize the
past, as if everything was simply wonderful and blessed back then, but somehow
it is not like that now. Instead not much has changed. In India, temple
prostitution is still practiced. Idolatry was the main issue God was trying to
get across to the Israelites regarding the laws. He didn’t want the sons of
Jacob to become like the surrounding nations. While we don’t have prostitution
in our churches, we still have many who refuse to accept the atonement for sin.
Today, it is by Jesus’ blood that we have atonement. We do not have to carry
the burden of sin upon us because Jesus took our sin upon himself. Jesus
fulfilled all the requirements of the Passover lamb. John the Baptist declared
Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”. Not just the sins
of the Israelites, but the whole world. John was an Essene, one of the people
who lived in the desert and hid many scrolls in caves in clay jars. These were found in our time and are known as
the Dead Sea scrolls. John was Jesus’ cousin, and he had a very deep knowledge
of the scriptures. The Essenes believed in Jesus after he came as well; they
understood Jesus’ blood taking away the sins of the world.
John 1:29-34 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto
him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.30
This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me:
for he was before me.31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest
to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.32 And John bare record,
saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon
him.33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same
said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on
him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.34 And I saw, and bare
record that this is the Son of God. KJV
John mentions the Spirit descending upon at Jesus’
baptism. He says that God, who sent him to baptize with water, told him to look
for the one whom the Spirit remained upon, as he is the one who will baptize with
the Holy Ghost. John kept announcing Jesus as the Lamb of God.
John 1:35-36 Again the next day after John stood, and two
of his disciples;36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the
Lamb of God! KJV
As we have discussed, today the Jew has no atonement for
sin. There is no temple. They could have atonement if they were to accept Jesus
as Lord. While Jesus was on earth he kept the Passover. He told them that he
wanted to eat the Passover with them before he suffered. He also said he would
not drink wine again until he drinks it in the kingdom of God.
Luke 22:13-20 And they went, and found as he had said
unto them: and they made ready the passover.14 And when the hour was come, he
sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.15 And he said unto them, With
desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:16 For I
say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the
kingdom of God.17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this,
and divide it among yourselves:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the
fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.19 And he took bread,
and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body
which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.20 Likewise also the cup
after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed
for you. KJV
Jesus goes on to say a few more things here. The leaders
now have to be the greatest servants. The upside down leadership we see today
in governments, corporations, and religious organizations is not what Jesus
wanted from his disciples. Just as he served them, they, and we, are to serve
others. Jesus says to them that they would sit at His table in the kingdom.
Luke 22:25-30 And he said unto them, The kings of the
Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon
them are called benefactors.26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest
among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth
serve.27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth?
is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.28 Ye are
they which have continued with me in my temptations.29 And I appoint unto you a
kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;30 That ye may eat and drink at my
table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. KJV
The gospels of Matthew and Mark reiterate this and they
all say something interesting. Jesus said that His blood is the new testament, it is the new covenant
for the remission of sins.
Matt 26:26-30 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread,
and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take,
eat; this is my body.27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to
them, saying, Drink ye all of it;28 For this is my blood of the new testament,
which is shed for many for the remission of sins.29 But I say unto you, I will
not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it
new with you in my Father's kingdom.30 And when they had sung an hymn, they
went out into the mount of Olives.KJV
Mark 14:22-26 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and
blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my
body.23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them:
and they all drank of it.24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new
testament, which is shed for many.25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no
more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the
kingdom of God.26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount
of Olives. KJV
Testament NT:1242
diatheke (dee-ath-ay'-kay); from NT:1303; properly, a disposition, i.e.
(specially) a contract (especially a devisory will): KJV - covenant,
testament.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
We can observe Passover if we wish, but it is simply a
shadow of something greater, the blood of Jesus is the new covenant. It is a
new contract that we have to cleanse us of our sins. We no longer have to carry
the burden of our sin. And we do not have to be cast off from the community for
not being cleansed. We don’t have to prepare to observe Passover on the first
or second month, because Jesus fulfilled it for us.
Let’s look at the whole picture of Israel. They were
given a covering in Egypt, the blood of an innocent lamb would keep the
destroyer away from their homes. Then they were given guidelines for unleavened
bread. This observance kept them clean from sin. At the beginning of the year
they were to cleanse themselves by keeping the Passover and the feast of
unleavened bread. The offering of first fruits was added but not kept by
Hezekiah or Josiah. The majority of the people did not adhere to God’s
direction. Instead they accumulated their sins upon themselves over the course of
many years. After 337 years, or thereabouts, God’s glory leaves the temple. Even though Hezekiah and Josiah observed
Passover and unleavened bread, both kingdoms regressed back into idolatry, and
eventually they all went into captivity as God said they would.
When Paul gives us direction, he tells us to purge out
the old leaven. Leaven is like sin, it multiplies in our lives when left alone.
We are to keep our part of the feast, since Jesus is the Passover lamb, we are
the unleavened bread. Let’s look at the Amplified and the Message.
1 Cor 5:7-8 Purge (clean out) the old leaven that you may
be fresh (new) dough, still uncontaminated [as you are], for Christ, our
Passover [Lamb], has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore, let us keep the feast, not
with old leaven, nor with leaven of vice and malice and wickedness, but with
the unleavened [bread] of purity (nobility, honor) and sincerity and
[unadulterated] truth. [Ex 12:19; 13:7; Deut 16:3.] AMP
1 Cor 5:7-8 So get rid of this "yeast." Our
true identity is flat and plain, not puffed up with the wrong kind of
ingredient. The Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has already been sacrificed for the
Passover meal, and we are the Unraised Bread part of the Feast. 8 So let's live
out our part in the Feast, not as raised bread swollen with the yeast of evil,
but as flat bread — simple, genuine, unpretentious. (from THE MESSAGE: The
Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights
reserved.)
Today, there is no temple for cleansing, so Passover
cannot be properly observed. There is no true observance of the Passover
because sacrifice has to first be made for cleansing; then the Passover,
unleavened bread, and first fruits can be observed. We can be glad the
destroyer passed over the Israelites, and that afterwards the Israelites left
Egypt and crossed the Red Sea. We can have a party to commemorate that. After
forty years of wandering in the wilderness, they entered the Promised Land, we
can have a party commemorating that. But the sons of Jacob repeatedly forgot
about commemorating Passover and unleavened bread, and used the temple for a
house of prostitution. So what if we instead commemorate the new testament
Jesus told us about; the new contract/covenant, the resurrection. As John said
God told him, the one who the Spirit stays on will be the one who baptizes with
the Holy Ghost. This is a new time, a new age. A new covenant was made and the
old way of Passover is not possible because there is no temple in Jerusalem.
Yet we, you and I, are the temple, 1Corinthians 3:16-17. Jesus’ resurrection
made it possible for us to become the temple of the Holy Spirit. This is why
Paul also tells us not to be pressured by others in whether we observe holy
days.
Col 2:16-17 So don't put up with anyone pressuring you in
details of diet, worship services, or holy days. 17 All those things are mere
shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ. (from THE
MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All
rights reserved.)
History is not as grand, or happy, or easy as we have
been led to believe. There is ugliness and wretchedness in humanity. Idolatry
and foolishness pervaded the history of the sons of Jacob. Should we pretend
that Israel’s history was filled with righteousness and holiness, and therefore
we should observe holy days that God instituted under the old covenant? Or should
we accept the new covenant, Jesus’ blood cleansing us of our sin. Should we
have some sort of disdain for our present time and our present days of evil,
and denounce anything that God did which was new in the first century? I would
say that times are better today, as there is no male prostitution in the temple
in Israel. That is a positive move forward. Thankfully, most countries have
moved beyond some of those past abuses, as well as other human rights
violations.
If we wish to celebrate the feast as Paul suggests, we
should celebrate our part as the unleavened bread, since Jesus is the Passover
Lamb who takes away the sins of the whole world. We all are included in the
remission of sins if we wish to accept it. Now having said all of this, there
will be a time in the future, when Jesus is ruling during the millennial
kingdom, that the Passover and unleavened bread will be observed again. In
Ezekiel chapter 40 Ezekiel starts to tell us about the new city of Jerusalem
during the time Jesus will reign on earth.
Ezek 45:21-22 In the first month, in the fourteenth day
of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread
shall be eaten. KJV
This is when a new temple will be in place, and satan
will be bound for 1000 years, which is after the church comes back with Jesus
to rescue Israel. Since we are not living in the millennial kingdom yet, our
only hope for cleansing is in Jesus’ blood.
