Passover March 25th Sunset

Ok so as mentioned in an earlier blog the Passover starts this evening March 25th at sunset and goes until tomorrow sunset at which time the 7 day Feast of Unleavened Bread will immediately follow. I really hope we are all honouring these Holy Days together this year.

Just a little note :Full moon is always associated with Passover

Passover is the first necessary step in a relationship with God when talking about the gift of  our salvation. We must first be forgiven our sins in order to actually open the doorway to a relationship with God. Receiving Passover allows us to begin the process of salvation that will produce in us what God wants for us and who we are to be.

We are to recall and respect the Exodus or the escape of the Israelites from Egypt, as a release of bondage from Satan; and to realize that it is through his gift of redemption from our sins and Gods love that we are saved. But the focus of the Passover meaning has been more greatly confirmed for followers since Jesus came as our Saviour.  In Old Testament Exodus 12:1-5 The lamb without blemish was symbolic of Jesus Christ who was without sin New Testament 1Peter 1:18-19.
The use of unleavened bread serves as a reminder to remove sin from our lives but Passover and the Feast of Unleavened bread also become now about our Saviour being resurrected during this festival.

Christ honoured the Passover night with his disciples after he had the last supper with him by eating a piece of unleavened bread and drinking a small cup of grape juice.. 1Corinthians 11:23-26. "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said 'Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.' After the same manner also he took the cup when he had supped, saying, 'This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me for as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lords death till he comes."
In John 14:19 He told his disciples that the would be betrayed but that he would live again.
Although most Christian denominations teach that the Holy days have been done away with,  the New Testament makes it very clear with Pauls' instructions in Corinthians that the church was to continue to recognize the annual Sabbaths as well if Jesus honouring the holy day wasn't enough to convince you ;)

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" Jesus is our Passover and by his blood we can be saved from the penalty of our sins. Once we begin this process of being pulled from our own selfish nature we can see the power Satan holds over man which has kept us in darkness and deception.

Following the Hebrew tradition, Passover is of course from sundown to sundown, but Jesus would have died mid afternoon Passover day before sundown. Following historical custom that the killing of the sacrifice would take place in the afternoon but the feasts would not take place until after sundown. Sacrificial killings are referred to as the Passover offerings.

Careful reading of the gospels shows the High day they are referring to at the time of Jesus's crucifixion is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread which is mentioned in Leviticus 23:2, 6,7
John 19:14 "And it was the preparation of Passover and about the sixth hour."
Luke 22:1,3 "Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread draw nigh called the Passover." As we know he was in the tomb for 3 days and 3 nights Matt 12:40 and the Feast of Unleavened Bread lasts 7 days then it is clear that Jesus was resurrected during this Holy Festival.

Once it is made clear that Jesus was raised from the dead during this Holy Festival, the understanding of the observance becomes much more clear.
This Feast of Unleavened Bread is described in Leviticus 23:2, 6,7. It starts with a Sabbath to do no servile work. For 7 days we will eat no leavened bread or have any leaven in our homes. This includes pastries and most baking products. Leaven represents sin. It is an expression of pride against Gods laws. Contrary to Gods wants on a daily basis most live as we please, with no thought for God. This week expresses our desire to obey God and listen to his ways of life. The Festival teaches us that after the forgiveness of sin through Christ, that we are to begin a spiritual journey out of sin and bondage that constrains our lives.  We are not to continue living as we have before asking for forgiveness. It is a common misconception taught amongst too many denominations. To admit you believe may be all that is required for salvation but once you understand the full scale of what Jesus did for us, so we could be saved, it becomes a mission to change and to follow his teachings.

Becoming unleavened in our lives helps us to win the human battle of being free and living a life without sin.1Corinthians 5:7 "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" It is a daily struggle but its also a Giant triumph every time you overcome temptation. Every time you follow Gods way and turn from Satan's ways it is a victory.. ..And God smiles as one more of his children understand his message :)




NOTE :  Judaism currently holds Passover one day late so they wont start the Passover this evening at sunset but rather tomorrow at sunset.

**When looking at Matthew 12 with the idea of  a Friday crucifixion it is impossible to have a Sunday resurrection as seen in John 20:11-18. Mary appears at the tomb Sunday morning to see the stone had been moved and that Jesus's body was missing.