Remembering Passover
We are grateful for all the traditional Seders that are being held as believers from the nations are being restored to the biblical Jewish roots of our faith. I encourage you to participate in them as the Lord leads. Gather your family and friends together for a meal and “remember this day”—the Passover and the “last supper.” Passover began at sundown yesterday, April 18.
You may choose to use a Haggadah (traditional Jewish way of remembering the evening). Or you may choose simply to read the Passover story from Exodus 12 and the account of the Passover evening meal with Yeshua and His disciples on the night of His betrayal (see Matt. 26:17-30) and to celebrate your own deliverance from slavery through the blood of Yeshua.
Scripture speaks of “bitter herbs and bread made without yeast” (Ex. 12:8) as a part of the meal. The important thing is to remember. And let the Holy Spirit guide your evening.
At some point during the evening, go outside and look for the full moon. Passover comes always on the 14th of the biblical month of Nisan (also called Abib), always a full moon. Israel needed no lighted torches on the night of their deliverance—nor did the Roman soldiers on the night of Jesus’ betrayal.
Remember the night of Israel’s deliverance and remember the night of Jesus’ betrayal when He sat with His close friends for the last time.
“This is my body which is for you,” He said as He took the bread (1 Cor. 11:24).
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me,” He said as He took the wine (v. 25).
“I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in the Father’s kingdom,” He told His disciples (Matt. 26:29).
At some point in the evening you may also want to read aloud the following selection from one of our Speaking Life e-mails several years ago:
On this day, 3,500 years ago, lambs were slaughtered throughout Goshen in Egypt,
Hyssop brushes stroked Jewish doorposts with lamb’s blood.
The children of Israel met quietly,
Sequestered behind their bloodstained doors,
Waiting to be delivered from 400 years of slavery.
On this night, 3,500 years ago, the Lord went through the land looking for blood on doorposts.
There was a great deliverance, a pass-over.
Firstborn sons were slain in houses where there was no blood.
Wailing and mourning was heard when judgment came in Egypt.
On this night, 3,500 years ago, freedom was proclaimed in Israel.
Firstborn sons of believing Israel were spared through the blood of the lamb.
The lamb’s blood painted on doorposts brought freedom.
The wealth of Egypt became the wealth of Israel.
Shouts of joy were heard as Moses led Israel out of Egypt.
On this night, 3,500 years ago, the exodus from Egypt came suddenly.
For 3,500 years faithful servants of God have remembered this night.
On this day, 2,000 years ago, another Lamb was slain,
Human hearts were stroked with Lamb’s blood and freed from centuries of slavery.
On this day, 2,000 years ago, the Lord began to look for Lamb’s blood on the doorposts of hearts.
There was a great deliverance—a passing over.
On this day, 2,000 years ago, wealth was restored to the sons of Adam,
Another Moses led another Israel out of another Egypt.
On this day, 2,000 years ago, Lamb’s blood on the doorposts of hearts brought freedom.
Today, Lamb’s blood is still found on human hearts.
Deliverance is found behind a blood-stained door.
If the doorpost of your heart is stained with Lamb’s blood, have a glorious Passover.
If not, grab quickly the hyssop and look for the Lamb’s blood.
The exodus will come suddenly!
The Lamb who was slain has risen and will return as King of kings and Lord of lords!
