Thursday, March 18, 2010

Should Christians Celebrate Passover?

Dear readers,

As always, Peace and grace to you in Jesus name!

For the continuation of my PASSOVER season articles, I have posted two very good short articles my wife Brandy wrote for newspaper publication. Enjoy and please do post comments or questions. We always enjoy responding!

"These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. On the 14th day of the first month at twilight is the LORD's Passover." Leviticus 23:4

According to Leviticus 23, Passover begins on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan and last for 8 days. This set apart time is to remember how God miraculously brought the Israelites out from under the bondage of slavery in Egypt to freedom, and redeemed them from the plague of the death of the firstborn by placing the blood of the lamb over the lintels of the entrance of their homes.

When we come together to celebrate Passover, we read from a booklet called a "Haggadah" (showing or telling) and that is part of the "Seder" (order). A Seder is not only a time of remembrance of God's wonders, but a time of celebration and gratitude. The most wonderful part of this, is that for approximately 2,000 years, the basic Seder has remained essentially unchanged. However, there has been one striking change - the "missing link" if you will, is the absence of a Passover, sacrificial lamb. For those of you who know Jewish history and the Tanakh (the Old Testament) you will understand that without a Temple, no Biblically legal sacrifice can be made. The Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D.

For us as Christians, we will see that all things foreshadowed in the Passover story point to THE Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ. The Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world, (Revelation 13:8). So, should Christians celebrate Passover? My answer to that question is answered with two questions. The first one being, "Did Jesus celebrate Passover"? Take a close look at Mark 14: 12-26 and Luke 22: 7-23. I guess my second question is "What would Jesus do?"

Shalom in Y'shua,
Brandy Cook
Director, Comfort Israel

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