A  STUDY  OF  OUR  LORD'S  PASSOVER
   

Why study the Passover?  The Passover is the first of seven annual “Appointed Times,” or feasts of the Lord described in Lev23:4,5.  They are commonly called “Feasts” of the Lord, because we are to eat of their teachings  – 
as we are to eat of Jesus and His teachings. 
Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance into these deep things of God (1 Corinth 2:9, 10).

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23).
“The soul who sins will die,” (Ezekiel 18:4).
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” (John 1:29).

           −    God passes over condemnation of law for those applying His blood    
                 (Ex12:12,13).
           –    God's people were told to sacrifice a lamb and eat the flesh with the
                 blood. Then apply some of the blood over the door of their house (Ex
                 12:7,12).
           –    Jesus is our Passover sacrifice (1 Corinthians 5:7,8).
           –    We are to apply Jesus’ blood to our heart (1Pet1:3, Rev12:10, 11).

Passover is the first step on the spiritual journey revealed by the seven appointed times.  Grace is offered if we apply the Passover blood (Exodus Ch 12).

    The Passover is the only time the Lord's followers were told to eat the flesh and drink the blood of a sacrifice. Eating of the Passover Lamb is to help us remember that the Lord is the One who provides deliverance from bondage we can not escape, the bondage to sin and its death penalty. 

We must apply the blood of the Lamb to our temporary house (our “fleshly” bodies - 2Cor5:1-10), as a defense from the wrath of God against sin. Without the blood applied in the Exodus from Egypt, even God’s people would have incurred His wrath.

     Jesus said, unless we eat His flesh and drink His blood we have no life in ourselves (John 6:53).  We need to eat of His life and drink of His sacrifice.

The popular “Roman's Road” is a short cut we must beware of – it doesn't tell us everything we will encounter on OUR JOURNEY. Short cuts can get you in trouble!
The Lord gave His people appointed times to map out an official “ISRAELITE ROAD” for us to follow on our way to the Promised Land.
We learn the Lord's ways by observing His people and growing through all
that He wants us to learn.

The Passover is a symbol of Jesus’ death as a substitute for us and His bloodshed for us.

CELEBRATE the Lord’s Passover Feast.  In the New Testament Paul tells us we should “Celebrate the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth,” as he writes in 1Cor5:8.  Jesus initiated what is called the LORD'S SUPPER on Passover night (Luke22:14-20, 1 Corinth 11:23-26). 

There are several  LINKAGE TEXTS connecting the New Testament meaning to Old Testament example. Two are 1 Cor10:11 and Rom 15:4.

    You can EAT the Lord’s Passover.  Jesus instituted The Lord’s Supper at the Passover when He died for us.  Buy some grape juice/wine and unleavened bread (not puffed up, such as Triskets or Matzo Crackers). Check the calendar and take a short time after sunset on the evening before Passover to Eat of them after reading these referenced scriptures. See the 2015 date at end of study.

THINK SPIRITUALLY.    On your journey of repentance, thank the Lord for Passing Over your temporary fleshly “house”, as we turn from sin and daily apply His Blood over our 'home' door.

The Apostle Paul expanded this idea of a temporary house;

     2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – outer body decaying vs. inner man being renewed
     2 Corinthians 5:1-10 – our fleshly tent in “the world” vs. spiritual house
                     “with the Lord” living in us.  This theme throughout Paul's letters is
                      expanded in the next festival study about Unleavened Bread.

      Jesus is pictured as our substitute - our Passover Lamb (Exodus 12, John 1:29) - and offers His Righteousness to us as a gift (like the animal skin in the Garden of Eden – Genesis 2:16-3:21).   

Like Adam and Eve, we choose to feed on Jesus, or someone else's teachings.
   
    We are called to be priests of our Lord in the New Testament.  We replace the temple of the Old Testament (1Pet 2:5).  We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.  A people for God’s own possession (Gen 17:7 promise).

    Saint Peter continues, we are to “Obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood.”  
NOTE this parallel to the anointing of the priest with the blood of ordination in Leviticus 8:22 and 1 Peter 1:2.

    The focus of this Feast is on eating the flesh and blood of the Passover Lamb.  This bible truth is used by Jesus to identify Himself and to teach the importance of eating Him (the Word of God) and His blood sacrifice.  We eat and identify Him as our Atoning sacrifice for our sin.

    Experiencing this Feast and the other 7 feasts are to guide us in becoming a new creation of fruits of the Holy Spirit. These thoughts are summarized in the beautiful passage the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:16,17.  Take a moment and read this short passage.

This Feast from scripture pictures Jesus Christ. Why doesn’t the world appreciate the Lord’s appointed times?

 Is there anything taught in this feast that Satan wouldn’t like?

Three reasons the “Lord’s  appointed times” are forgotten;

1    -  The phrase “Feasts of the Lord” (Lev 23:1)  deteriorated to “feasts of the  Jews”     (Jn5:1, 6:4).  This could be exclusivity (denominational-ism) from early Jewish bible writers.
2    -  Acts 12:4 in KJV should read “Passover,” not Easter (Strong's Greek word #3957).  The Apostle Paul did not observe Easter.
3    -  Customs introduced by man such as Lent and Easter change the intended picture of Holy Scripture.

As the time of the Lord's coming gets closer – don't be side tracked by celebrations of Easter bunnies and eggs.  Most research shows Easter is a celebration of a pagan goddess of fertility – hence it’s timing as a spring time reproduction celebration.
We must watch ourselves that we do not turn aside on our journey as we seek to rest in our Lord. 

Paul warns us, “We cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21-).  The next study, the Feast of Unleavened Bread explains how we must choose to eat and drink of Jesus Christ, not observe any other traditions such as Lent – man’s teachings. 

God's people were freed from bondage at the Passover.  The Passover represents the giving of Grace.  Grace is required throughout our journey -   as long as we try to follow the Lord and return to His ways with a willing and grateful heart. Psalm 53:17, Micah 6:8.

In 2015 the 14th day of the first month in the Lord’s calendar will occur on April 2nd. The Passover was eaten on the evening before, that is, the end of April 1st, after sundown.

I pray that the Lord will bless you for studying His appointed time of Passover.



Go to homepage of   HARMONY BIBLE STUDIES