What is Passover? Here is a brief explanation from Mary Fairchild about Passover:
Joseph, son of Jacob, after being sold into slavery in Egypt, was kept by God and greatly blessed. Eventually he was put into a high position—second-in-command to Pharaoh. In time, Joseph moved his entire family to Egypt and protected them there. 400 years later, the Israelites had grown into a people numbering 2 million. There were so many Jews in Egypt that the new Pharaoh was afraid of their power. To maintain control, he turned them into slaves, oppressing them with harsh labor and ruthless treatment.
Yet, through a man named Moses (great, great grandson of Jacob), God came to rescue his people.
At the time Moses was born, Pharaoh had ordered the death of all Hebrew males, but God spared Moses when his mother hid him in a basket along the banks of the Nile. Pharaoh's daughter found the baby and decided to raise him as her own. Later Moses fled to Midian after killing an Egyptian for cruelly beating one of his own people. There God appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush and said, "I have seen the misery of my people. I have heard their cries, I care about their suffering, and I have come to rescue them. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people out of Egypt." (Exodus 3:7-10, paraphrased)
After making some excuses, Moses finally obeyed God and confronted Pharaoh. But when Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go, God sent a series of plagues to persuade him. With the final plague God promised to strike dead every first-born son in Egypt at midnight on the 15th day of the month of Nissan. But to Moses, the Lord provided instructions so his people would be spared. Each Hebrew family was to take a Passover lamb, slaughter it, and place some of the blood on the door frames of their homes. When the destroyer passed over Egypt, he would not enter the homes covered by the blood of the Passover lamb.These and other instructions became part of a lasting ordinance from God for the observance of the Passover Feast, so that the generations to come would always remember God's great deliverance.
At midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, and that very night Pharaoh called Moses and said, "Up! Leave my people. Go." They left in haste and God led them toward the Red Sea. After a few days Pharaoh changed his mind, and decided to send his army in pursuit. When the Egyptian army reached them at the banks of the Red Sea, the Hebrew people were afraid and cried out to God.
Moses answered, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today."Moses stretched out his hand and the sea parted, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground, with a wall of water on either side. And when the Egyptian army followed, it was thrown into confusion. Moses then stretched out his hand over the sea again and the entire army was swept away, leaving no survivors.
The oldest of the 7 feasts, it was given to Moses on Mount Sinai and has been celebrated every year in the same manner for more than 3,500 years. Jesus celebrated the Passover the evening before his death.
Passover is the feast of Salvation.
For the Hebrews, they were delivered from bondage, the blood of the Lamb delivered them from slavery. For the Christian today, the blood of the Lamb delivers us from sin.
- Passover always falls on a full moon.
- It is no coincidence that our Lord was sacrificed on the Passover.
- John 1:29: “Behold,the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
- Christian communion comes from the Passover.
- Passover is the first relationship between God and the Jewish Nation, prior to Passover, God dealt with individuals.
The story of Passover is to be told from generation to generation, a joyous celebration of deliverance. Passover is a family table celebration using special foods placed on the Passover Seder (supper) plate. Each having a specific meaning associated with the Exodus and pointing to the Messiah of the New Testament. The special foods of Passover are:
- The Lamb Shank Bone
- Matzah (unleavened bread)
- Maro (bitter herbs)
- Karpas and Salt Water
- Roasted egg ~ NOT REFERRING TO THE EASTER BUNNY!
- Charoset
- 4 Cups of Wine
Over the next few weeks leading up to Passover, I will go in depth as to how each of the elements of the Passover Seder detail the historical meaning of the Old Testament and point to the New Testament Messiah Jesus Christ.
You may also enjoy the following video from Zola Levitt Ministries providing a visual of the Passover Seder by Myles Weis (current host of ZLM) and a brief talk from Zola Levitt himself during a 1999 broadcast on the Passover topic.
Shalom!
Kelly
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