Pesach (Passover)

(Today, which is the 14th day of the first month on the Scriptural calendar, is Pesach. I originally wrote and posted this to my previous blog on 04/04/2007.)

Readings:

Shemot (Exodus) 12:21-51
Bemidbar (Numbers) 28:16-25
Yehoshua (Joshua) 3:5-7; 5:2-6:1; 6:27
Luke 22:7-20
Yochanan (John) 1:29-31; 10:14-18
1 Corinthians 15:20-28

The instructions to keep Pesach (Passover) are to be guarded forever:

Exo 12:24 "And you shall guard this word as a law for you and your sons, forever.
Exo 12:42 It is a night to be observed unto YHWH for bringing them out of the land of Mitsrayim. This night is unto YHWH, to be observed by all the children of Yisra'el throughout their generations.

Pesach is to be observed by all the children of Yisra'el throughout their generations, forever.

Who are the children of Yisra'el?

In the morning, after the plague of the death of the firstborn, it was a "mixed multitude" that was brought out of Mitsrayim:

Exo 12:38 And a mixed multitude went up with them too, also flocks and herds, very much livestock.

It was not only the natural descendants of Jacob who were delivered from slavery in Mitsrayim. It was a "mixed multitude" who went on to become the nation of Israel.

Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, have been grafted in among them, and came to share the root and fatness of the olive tree,
Rom 11:18 do not boast against the branches. And if you boast, remember: you do not bear the root, but the root bears you!

The nation of Yisra'el has always had natural branches as well as wild branches who have been grafted in.

Mat 15:24 And He answering, said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Yisra'el."

Joh 10:16 "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold - I have to bring them as well, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock, one shepherd.

Those who hear and obey His voice are the children of Yisra'el.

Exo 12:49 "There is one Torah for the native-born and for the stranger who sojourns among you."

There is one flock, one shepherd and one Torah for all of the children of Yisra'el, whether naturally born or adopted.

The Pesach Seder (Passover meal) is a memorial of our deliverance from slavery--from the physical slavery of Yisrael in Mitsrayim and from spiritual slavery to sin.

The lamb reminds us of the Lamb who was slain, whose blood saves us from the law of sin and death.

Joh 1:29 On the next day Yohanan saw Yeshua coming toward him, and said, "See, the Lamb of Elohim who takes away the sin of the world!

The bitter herbs remind us of the bitterness of slavery and the contrasting sweetness of freedom.

Exo 12:8 'And they shall eat the flesh on that night, roasted in fire - with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

We eat unleavened bread and drink the fruit of the vine in remembrance of the flesh and blood of Yeshua Messiah, who laid down His life for us.

Luk 22:17 And taking the cup, giving thanks, He said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves,
Luk 22:18 for I say to you, I shall certainly not drink of the fruit of the vine until the reign of Elohim comes."
Luk 22:19 And taking bread, giving thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of Me."
Luk 22:20 Likewise the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the renewed covenant in My blood which is shed for you.