The Passover Lamb
Last night at sundown began Passover. Leading up to Passover, homes and restaurants are scrubbed and cleaned and all forms of hametz are removed from the premises. Hametz, which is yeasts is considered a symbol of sin during this time and anything with leavening isn’t permitted to be in the home or eaten during Passover, which is a week long feast to be observed within the Jewish community.
Last night, two thousand years ago, the Messiah had the Passover Seder with his disciples. He broke matzah (unleavened bread) and took of the four cups of wine. The first cup, the Kiddush, cup of blessing. The second cup, the Maggid, telling the Passover story and asking the fours questions (Each of the four questions begins with, Why is this night different from all other nights? That in all other nights we do not dip vegetables even once, on this night, we dip twice?; That on all other nights we eat both chametz and matzah, on this night, we eat only matzah?; That on all other nights we eat many vegetables, on this night, maror?; That in all other nights some eat and drink sitting with others reclining, but on this night, we are all reclining?). The third cup is the blessing after the meal called the Birkat Hamazon. The fourth cup, the Hallel. Each cup tells the story of the Exodus from Egypt and represents the four expressions of deliverance, "I will bring out," "I will deliver," "I will redeem," and "I will take." The Vilna Gaon relates the Four Cups to four worlds: this world, the Messianic age, the world at the revival of the dead, and the world to come.
Passover is all about the Messiah and all that He came to do for us… He came to bring us out of captivity. He came to deliver us, from the enemy and bring us to a place where we can have communion with God. He came to redeem us from all sin and shame. He then will take us home where we will reign with Him forever.
During Passover a lamb is brought to the priests by each individual/household to be sacrificed for the sins of the individual. The lamb is placed under scrutiny as it is inspected for any spot, blemish or wrinkle that would render it unfit for sacrifice. The Messiah went through this same process after he was taken into custody. He was put on trial and was found not guilty, however, He was still sacrificed being found without spot, blemish or wrinkle. Just as the matzah that was broken during the Passover meal has stripes and holes, so was the Messiah pierced and bruised for our iniquities. Just as a sacrificial lamb must be eaten before sundown, the Messiah gave up His spirit before sundown.
There is so much more to be said and told, however, I recommend you attending a Passover Seder, if you have not already done so. You will see the Messiah in the whole of this festival.
Yeshua is the Lamb of God. He bore all of our sin so that we might live. He delivered us from our iniquities (lawlessness), so that we may live in peace and harmony, so that we might love our neighbors. We must love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.
May this season bring you blessing and may you find the Messiah today! He is knocking at the door of your heart. Open that door and let Him in.
