Posted on 04/11/2008 5:52:15 PM PDT by DouglasKC
Only 3 1/2 years after He began His ministry, Jesus of Nazareth was apprehended by the religious authorities at the time of the Passover feast (Matthew 26:2; Mark 14:1). After a brief trial-while mocking Him, spitting on Him and beating Him-they took Him before the Roman authorities and accused Him of "perverting the nation, . . . saying that He Himself is Christ, a King" (Luke 23:2; Matthew 26:59-68).
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor in Jerusalem, after analyzing the charges, declared to the chief priests and the others present: "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man . . .; no, neither did Herod . . . I will therefore chastise Him and release Him" (Luke 23:14-16).
But the people would have none of it. They cried out, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas [a murderer]" (verse 18).
Pilate found himself in a difficult position. Wanting to release a man he knew to be innocent, he urged Jesus' captors to reconsider. He was answered with angry shouts of "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" (verse 21).
Pilate tried to reason with the crowd. "Why, what evil has He done?" he asked. But the mob was insistent, demanding that Jesus be put to death. The priests and the crowd prevailed. The Roman governor freed a murderer and sentenced an innocent man to death (verses 19-25).
Jesus was mercilessly beaten and scourged by the Roman soldiers and subjected to a horrible death.
But why? Why did Jesus Christ have to die?
Many Christians have been taught that the Passover is an outdated "Jewish" observance done away with at Jesus' death and replaced by Easter, the commemoration of His resurrection.
But why did Jesus Christ keep the Passover? Is there a connection between the Passover and Christ's death? What does the Bible teach us about this most important observance kept by Jesus and the apostles?
In ancient Israel the first Passover was a time of deliverance, the rescuing of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The blood of the Passover lamb was smeared on the doorposts of the residences of those Israelites who put their trust in God, and He promised to deliver them from harm (Exodus 12:13, 23). The Israelites were spared while the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain.
God ordained the Passover as a commanded feast: "So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance" (verse 14).
Much later, during the time of Christ, the observance of the New Testament Passover was revealed as the first step toward salvation. It reminds Christians not only of how God delivered ancient Israel out of Egypt, but, more important, of our deliverance out of sin today. "We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin" (Romans 6:6, New Revised Standard Version, emphasis added throughout).
The Passover is the first of the annual festivals commanded by God (Leviticus 23:5). Jesus knew this and kept the Passover with His disciples (Luke 22), showing that this is not a command to be taken lightly.
During His final Passover with His disciples, Jesus Christ introduced new symbols, which commemorate Him as "our Passover, [who] was sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus said, after He had broken the unleavened bread and given it to His disciples, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19).
The Passover is an annual reminder that, through Christ's sacrifice, we have been set free from slavery to sin so we can serve God in righteousness (Romans 6:1-22).
But why was Jesus sacrificed for us?
All human beings are in slavery to corruption and death caused by sin (Romans 6:16; 8:21; Hebrews 2:14-15), "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). And the Bible says, "the soul who sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4, 20).
What frees us from this bondage to sin? The sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God! God the Father willingly gave up His firstborn Son, and Jesus willingly poured out His life's blood.
Why? Why couldn't God just forgive our sins without a sacri- fice? Why did Jesus Christ have to suffer and die for our sins (Philippians 2:8)?
The truth is that there is no other way to save humanity from the consequences of sin!
God will not compromise with His perfect law (Matthew 5:17-20; 19:17; Psalm 19:7). All of God's commands are summed up in the law of love: "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind," and "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:36-40).
As the apostle Paul wrote, "Love is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:10). God's law would, if observed, produce and maintain a peaceful, abundant and joyful society (Deuteronomy 4:5-8; 6:1-2; 28:1-14; Galatians 3:21). Tragically, no human (other than Jesus Christ) has kept God's law perfectly. All have broken it by sinning (1 John 3:4).
The Bible likens sin to leaven: If sin is not removed, it grows and spreads (1 Corinthians 5:6). The whole world suffers the curse of sin. Wars, famine, disease, oppression, crime, poverty, family problems, emotional disturbances and every type of evil result from sin, the breaking of God's law (Leviticus 26:14-39; Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
The ultimate result of sin is death. "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), just as God in His love warned the first man, Adam (Genesis 2:17).
God's way of redeeming humanity-all of us-from the death penalty without compromising His perfect law is for the penalty to be paid in our place by the Son of God.
Why? Because "truly, no ransom avails for one's life, there is no price one can give to God for it. For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice that one should live on forever and never see the grave" (Psalm 49:7-9, NRSV). And that applies to us all, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:10, 12, 23).
Our partaking of-participating in-Christ's sacrifice makes possible our reconciliation to God, setting us on the road to eternal life. "... God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us . . . When we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, . . . through whom we have now received the reconciliation" (Romans 5:8, 10-11).
Our sins separated us from God, because through sin we lived hostile to God and His ways (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 3:10-12; 8:7). As sinners we had the death penalty hanging over us. We fell under that penalty for breaking God's law (Romans 3:9, 19-20).
But, because Jesus Christ's sacrifice paid the death penalty for our sins, God "passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate . . . His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (verses 24-26).
Except for Jesus Christ, no man or woman has ever lived without sinning. But notice these encouraging words in the Bible: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
We read that the wages of sin is death, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23, King James Version).
Does Jesus Christ's death, then, save us? Let's see what the Word of God-the Bible-says.
If Jesus paid the penalty for our sin by His crucifixion, what must we do to receive God's gift of eternal life? Notice Acts 2:38: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [forgiveness] of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Though "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8), His sacrifice does not redeem us from the death penalty until we have repented of breaking God's law, turned from sin and accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Master. Then what happens?
Notice Romans 8:1: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the [lusts of the] flesh, but according to the Spirit."
We no longer seek to go our own way, but are led by the Spirit of God (verses 2-16; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16), building our relationship with God and Christ through prayer and study of God's Word (Ephesians 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:15).
When we embark on this new way of life, following Christ's example as shown in the Bible, we are then saved by His life in us (Romans 5:10; Galatians 2:20). Gradually God begins to write His law of love (Romans 13:8-10) in our hearts and minds (Hebrews 10:16). We become transformed by taking on the thoughts of God (Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:5).
With the help of God's Spirit we can obey God's law, submit to Him and overcome sin. Sin is no longer in control over us. We become servants of God rather than the servants of sin (Romans 6:12-16). Keeping the Passover brings these great truths into sharp focus.
Jesus Christ observed the Passover. The Bible makes this clear in many passages (Matthew 26:2, 17-19; Luke 2:41-42; 22:1, 7-20; John 2:13, 23; 13:1-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29). His words and actions at His last Passover provide us profound lessons about our relationships with Him and our fellow human beings.
"Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed" (Luke 22:7). According to God's instructions, a new day begins with the evening (Genesis 1:5), not at midnight.
Jesus Christ and His disciples assembled that evening in a large upper room. "And supper being ended . . . [Jesus] rose from supper and laid aside His garments, and took a towel . . . and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel ..." (John 13:2, 4-5).
Assuming the role of a servant, Jesus washed His disciples' feet and said to them: "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you . . . If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (John 13:14-15, 17).
Jesus carried out this humble act of service to show His disciples that His true followers must be led by a giving, serving attitude. He tells us all by implication to follow His example (see "A Lesson for All Time," p. E4).
On that same evening Jesus "took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is [or 'means,' James Moffatt Translation; i.e., 'represents'] My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me'" (Luke 22:19).
He also "took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is [represents] My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins'" (Matthew 26:27-28).
The Bible makes it clear that all who will follow Christ should observe this New Testament Passover in remembrance of His love and sacrifice for our sins and as a reminder of our commitment to Him for what God has done in our lives (1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Luke 22:19; 14:21-24).
We are to avoid observing the Passover in an "unworthy" manner, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:26-27).
Many readers of this scripture have not comprehended the significance of Paul's warning. Some, incorrectly feeling they were not worthy of Christ's sacrifice, have elected not to take the Passover. Others have taken the Passover in attitudes ranging from casual to ritualistic to superstitious. Nothing is magical about the unleavened bread and the wine Jesus used; they were simply symbols to remind us of His sacrifice for our sin.
We are to take the Passover in a worthy manner, but what exactly does that mean?
Paul warned, "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup" (1 Corinthians 11:28).
In a later letter, Paul wrote: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Corinthians 13:5, KJV).
We are to examine our own hearts before we take the Passover symbols of bread and wine. We are to ask ourselves some searching questions about our intentions toward God and our fellow human beings. Do we show humility and service to others? Do we honor God in our everyday lives?
Just what should your attitude be toward the world, toward God and His laws and toward others? "Do not love the world or the things of the world," the apostle John wrote. "If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:15-17).
As long as we live in "this present evil world" (Galatians 1:4, KJV), which is under Satan's influence (Ephesians 2:1-3), we will be tempted to break God's law. We are tempted through our own desires (James 1:14) to cheat, lie, boast, swear, gossip, hate, commit adultery and put other things before God (Matthew 5:27-28; Galatians 5:19-21).
Each of us, even though called, repentant and forgiven, will fall down and sin. But, as long as we are genuinely repentant, striving to overcome sin, "we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).
And, "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). God forgives and accepts us, applying Jesus' sacrifice, as long as we allow God to lead us (Ephesians 2:8).
No one is worthy of Christ's sacrifice on his own merit. But that is not what Paul is discussing. Not taking the Passover is choosing to disregard Christ's instructions and example. Taking the Passover in an unworthy manner is choosing to take it with little or no respect for Christ's sacrifice, showing indifference to the importance of His death as payment for our sins.
"For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:29-32).
If we take the Passover while reverently respecting and appreciating the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we not only won't be condemned, but we will be on our way to salvation.
Observing the Passover in its New Testament context, and obeying God's Word in respect to His Holy Days, gives understanding of God's great plan for humanity. We are to strive to obey God in all things (Matthew 4:4), a truth that is summed up in the two great commandments-love toward God and love toward our neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). GN
“What I meant by bastardization was the practice of partaking of the symbols on days other the yearly passover observance and tossing aside the observance of Passover.
Besides, he did call it “Passover”:
Luk 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:”
Bit of stretch with the scripture there. “This passover” obviously refers to the event at hand, not as a Christian observance. The Passover was the old, His NEW testament is what is now in place.
I’m always rather suspicious of those that try to paste Jewish observances into the Christian church. Paul had a term for those types.
As I said to the the other poster, I’m done.
[1 Corinthians 5:7-8] Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
I wonder what "Feast" Paul was thinking about here?
[Acts 20:6] And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. Luke....here is saying, quite succinctly.....that he and Paul are still marking time by Passover. In verse 16 he explains that Paul is attempting to get to Jerusalem for observance of another "Jewish" holiday (Shavuot)!
This is quite a few years after the resurrection. Why would the Apostles still be referring to "Jewish" holidays if they were indeed....not still observing them?
Sorry, but as Christians, followers of Christ, we are to imitate his life, not follow a traditional interpretation. As Paul said:
1Co 11:1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
I just cannot find that imaginary dividing line from what is suppose to be ‘old’ and where the ‘new’ begins.
I have a hard time thinking that anything and everything Jesus did was "old" and therefore we don't have to follow his example.
Well especially what the majority of Christians now practice regarding remembrance of the Passover is quite leavened with a whole lot of old rituals. Rituals that even predate that first Passover out of Egypt.
Yup! That...in itself....is amazing. Why they call their rites and observances something new is very strange. Like you said....most of mainstream Christianity observes things that were held in esteem by pagan sun worshipers long before the Exodus......and they call it new????? Did anyone say "Sunday"?
Well it is just plain human nature to want to draw a crowd and if it requires allowing diversity of beliefs to have the crowd that is what the majority has always done. It sure is interesting how many times Israel turn her back upon the Heavenly Father, and we are told there is nothing new under the sun, what has been will be again.
Thanks DKC!
Isn't it interesting, then that almost the entire world (excluding English and German speakers) refer to the feast of the Resurrection as "Pascha" (Passover), not Easter!
This holds for all Eastern Christians who will celebrate Pascha on Sunday, April 27, this year but it also applies to Western Christians who speak other languages. For example, Portuguese speakers refer to the day as "Pasqua".
What's interesting about that is how true it still is today. Mainstream churches still today want to attract people and the dollars they bring. So as a result sin isn't really taught anymore. Don't want to offend anyone, so talk around those really difficult issues, or better yet, embrace deviant lifestyles and teach that God doesn't care how we live our lives as long as we have "love".
What's also remarkable about this is that it's not a way to mark a specific time of year. For example, if we marked time by saying "around Christmas time" then everyone would automatically know that it's somewhere around December 25th not matter what year or time. If we were to say, it's around unleavened bread, then we would HAVE to know when unleavened bread occurs for that specific year. You could be referring to anytime between late March and late April depending on the year. So in referring to the days of unleavened bread, it was assumed by the author that people would know the time frame because they all KNEW when God's holy days were observed.
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Passover is a Jewish feast. I am not Jewish, therefore I do not observe it. I do however participate in the memorial know as communion or the Lord’s Supper. THAT is the Christian thing to do.
8 posted on April 11, 2008 7:11:59 PM MDT by swmobuffalo
Easter is a Pagan feast promulgated as "Christianity" by the Pagan Emperor Constantine:
Constantine convened the Nicene Council in 325 AD and issued this edict:
ON THE KEEPING OF EASTER.
From the Letter of the Emperor to all those not present at the Council.
(Found in Eusebius, Vita Const., Lib. iii., 18-20.)
When the question relative to the sacred festival of Easter arose, it was
universally thought that it would be convenient that all should keep the
feast on one day; for what could be more beautiful and more desirable,
than to see this festival, through which we receive the hope of
immortality, celebrated by all with one accord, and in the same
manner? It was declared to be particularly unworthy for this, the
holiest of all festivals, to follow the custom [the calculation] of the
Jews, who had soiled their hands with the most fearful of crimes, and
whose minds were blinded. In rejecting their custom,(1) we may
transmit to our descendants the legitimate mode of celebrating Easter,
which we have observed from the time of the Saviour's Passion to the
present day[according to the day of the week]. We ought not,
therefore, to have anything in common with the Jews, for the Saviour
has shown us another way; our worship follows a more legitimate and
more convenient course(the order of the days of the week); and
consequently, in unanimously adopting this mode, we desire, dearest
brethren, to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the
Jews, for it is truly shameful for us to hear them boast that without
their direction we could not keep this feast. How can they be in the
right, they who, after the death of the Saviour, have no longer been led
by reason but by wild violence, as their delusion may urge them? They
do not possess the truth in this Easter question; for, in their blindness
and repugnance to all improvements, they frequently celebrate two
passovers in the same year. We could not imitate those who are openly
in error. How, then, could we follow these Jews, who are most
certainly blinded by error? for to celebrate the passover twice in one
year is totally inadmissible. But even if this were not so, it would still
be your duty not to tarnish your soul by communications with such
wicked people[the Jews]. Besides, consider well, that in such an
important matter, and on a subject of such great solemnity, there ought
not to be any division. Our Saviour has left us only one festal day of
our redemption, that is to say, of his holy passion, and he desired[to
establish] only one Catholic Church. Think, then, how unseemly it is,
that on the same day some should be fasting whilst others are seated
at a banquet; and that after Easter, some should be rejoicing at feasts,
whilst others are still observing a strict fast. For this reason, a Divine
Providence wills that this custom should be rectified and regulated in a
uniform way; and everyone, I hope, will agree upon this point. As, on
the one hand, it is our duty not to have anything in common with the
murderers of our Lord; and as, on the other, the custom now followed
by the Churches of the West, of the South, and of
the North, and by some of those of the East, is the most acceptable, it
has appeared good to all; and I have been guarantee for your consent,
that you would accept it with joy, as it is followed at Rome, in Africa,
in all Italy, Egypt, Spain, Gaul, Britain, Libya, in all Achaia, and in the
dioceses of Asia, of Pontus, and Cilicia. You should consider not only
that the number of churches in these provinces make a majority, but
also that it is right to demand what our reason approves, and that we
should have nothing in common with the Jews. To sum up in few
words: By the unanimous judgment of all, it has been decided that the
most holy festival of Easter should be everywhere celebrated on one
and the same day, and it is not seemly that in so holy a thing there
should be any division. As this is the state of the case, accept joyfully
the divine favour, and this truly divine command; for all which takes
place in assemblies of the bishops ought to be regarded as proceeding
from the will of God. Make known to your brethren what has been
decreed, keep this most holy day according to the prescribed mode; we
can thus celebrate this holy Easter day at the same time, if it is granted
me, as I desire, to unite myself with you; we can rejoice together,
seeing that the divine power has made use of our instrumentality for
destroying the evil designs of the devil, and thus causing faith, peace,
and unity to flourish amongst us. May God graciously protect you, my
beloved brethren.
from DOCUMENTS FROM THE FIRST COUNCIL OF NICEA [THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL] A.D. 325
b'SHEM Yah'shua
One significant aspect of Passover prior to the Resurrection as opposed to after the Resurrection is that sinners were “passed over” prior to His perfect sacrifice. When He made that sacrifice, He made it once and for all, not to be repeated eternally, but one performance of that sacrifice, thereby changing the state present to believers after the Resurrection.
This has been a point of contention between Protestants and Roman Catholics for centuries, though, in that the tradition of transubstantiation attempts to repeat Christ’s sacrifice at every Mass, instead of relying upon the one Perfect sacrifice made on the Cross for righteousness before God.
Passover this year begins at sunset on April 19, 2008shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai
and continues until sunset Sunday April 20.
Why should Christians keep the passover of the rabbis? That is all that remains since AD70 when the old covenant (including the biblical passover) ended.
If that is the case....why would third and fourth generation Christians....well into the second century be celebrating Passover? After all.....they were disciples and descendants of disciples of the last living Apostle....John.
Maybe.....John didn't get the word??????
I think we would both agree that the early disciples were not keeping a biblical passover because they were not strictly following the code set forth in the old covenant.
I'm sure that some of these disciples were doing so for purely traditions sake, but the practices died out within a few generations.
But it also true that most of the groups that continued to push these old covenant practices, like the Ebionties, were heretical in much of their theology.
The fact remains that biblical passover ended when the temple was destroyed and the Levitical priesthood came to a close, and we see nothing in the NT to suggest that the Church expected to continue keeping it as a religious ceremony.
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