Passover helps- Chosen People Ministries (Dispensational)

[alon]

The following is condensed from a recent Chosen People Ministries bulletin. Much of it is by Dr. Mitch Glasser. Note that they are Jewish people who have accepted Yeshua, however they are not Messianic. They are Dispensational Christians. I have worked with them in the past and they are a good organization in many ways. I worked with them a few years ago to put on a seder at the AoG church where my wife attends, and they did a really good job! I’ll reference their website in the article, but if you do go there just be aware that you will get a lot of Dispensationalism if you stray too far from the recommended path.

Easter this year was Sunday, March 27; and here we are about to celebrate Passover on the 21st-22nd of April- almost a month later! The reason is that at the Council of Nicea in 325 CE the early church decided to adopt the solar based Gregorian calendar, ignoring God’s lunar based calendar which is still used by Judaism even today. Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring. This falls somewhere between Mar 22 and Apr 25.

Passover is based on the Jewish calendar; a lunar calendar with 12 months, each 28 days long. Every 2-3 yrs there will be an extra month called Adar II which compensates much like the Gregorian Leap Year. This is one of those years on the Hebrew calendar. Since Passover occurs on 14 Nissan, which is the month after Adar II, we’ve had an extra month this year between Easter and Passover.

The Chasm Between Yeshua and the Jewish People

Jewish people generally feel alienated from the Gospel, especially during this holiday season. We often define ourselves religiously by the holidays we keep. Jewish people celebrate Passover, and Christians Easter. And even Jews who are not religious tend to celebrate Passover. Being Jewish to most Jews is not a matter of belief, but rather of community identity. And a Jewish person can maintain that identity as long as certain lines are not crossed. If you do transgress one of these unseen lines, you cross over and out of the Jewish community. Belief in Yeshua is perhaps the boldest of those lines; and once you cross over there is no return save the renunciation of your beliefs.

Jewish people tend to be far more resistant to the Gospel because of fear of community sanctions than over any theological disputes. They feel far removed from Yeshua anyhow, viewing Him as the God of the Gentiles; and they have a deep fear of being cast out of the Jewish community.

Yeshua is Jewish, and the Renewed Covenant was written by Jews, just as the TNK was. All the early followers were also Jewish [and proselytes to Messianic Judaism]; they never rejected their Jewishness nor did they choose to leave the Jewish community. The Passover seder illustrates Yeshua in His Jewish context, and Yeshua clearly linked Himself to the Passover meal as well.

Chosen People Ministries does a presentation called “Messiah in the Passover” at many churches. You can see if they have room in one near you by calling their Church Ministries office at: 888 405 5874. Or go to their website at: www.chosenpeople.com/Passover

They also have a booklet and videos showing how to do a seder in your home.

Yeshua chose Passover as the time to announce the inauguration of the New Covenant [Renewed Covenant] between God and man. The focus of the Pssover is the redemption of the Jewish people from Egypt. Yeshua gives deeper meaning here by demonstrating that new life, forgiveness of sin and eternity in heaven [in the olam haba] are assured to those who have faith in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.


Jhn 1:29 (KJV) The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

[alon]

Here is another article condensd from the same newsletter; author not given.

Passover is the story of redemption, showing how God redeemed our Jewish people and those Egyptians who chose to identify with their God from bondage and slavery in Egypt. Passover begins with a seder, a Hebrew word meaning "order" or "service" and refers to the ancient ceremonial meal that begins the Passover festival. Each aspect of this meal can be used to proclaim the good news of Yeshua HaMoshiach with those who have never put their trust in Him, the PassoverLamb, their Messiah and Savior.

Sharing the Good News ...

Through the Mazah

Matzah, or unleavened bread is one of the most important elements of the seder. At the beginning of the seder, the leader will hold up the mazah and explain that the Jews had to bake their bread in hast, having no time to wait for the dough to rise. Threfore od commanded they refrain from eating yeast for seven days as a rememberance of their deliverance. 

Exodus 12:17-20 (ESV) 17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. 18 In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.”

Leaven is often a biblical symbol for sin.

1 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV) Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

Removal of leaven from the home before Passover symbolizes our need to examine our hearts in repentence preparatory to receive Messiah's redemptive blessings. The mazah appears bruised, pierced and broken, and symbolizes the sinless body of Yeshua offered up for our sins.

Luke 22:19 (ESV) And he took bread, and when he had given 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.”

Through Bitter Herbs and Parsley

Karpas (parsley) dipped in salt water and the bitter herbs are also important in the seder. The salt water represents the tears shed in Egypt as well as the salt of the Red Sea. Parsley represents the hyssop used to put the lambs-blood on the doorposts and the spring season in which Passover occurs. The bitter herbs (usually Horseradish) is a reminder of being enslaved and the harsh conditions in Egypt; it's a reminder not to look back there. Today we also remember that yeshua, through His sacrifice delivers us from sin and death.

Through the Shank Bone

The unbroken shank bone of a lamb recalls the lambs sacrificed on Passover. The Israelites were told to place the blood of their lamb on the doorposts and lintels of their homes. Then the Angel of Death would pass them over.

Exodus 12:13 (ESV) The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

Thye centrality of the Lamb give us the clearest picture of the Gospel in the TNK. This concept was understood by the prophet Isaiah in Is 53 as the sacrifice of the Messiah for the sins of Israel and of the nations.  Thus when we celebrate the Passover today we are remembering the sacrifice of Yeshua who gave His life for our redemption.

1 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV) Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

In the same way the people of Israel needed the blood of the lamb in order to experience redemption from Egypt, we today need the blood of the Lamb of God in order to be delivered from eternal judgment.

Through the Cup of Redemption

A traditional Passover seder revolves around four cups of wine [or grape juice] consumed at different times. These correspond to God's four "I will' statements in Exodus 6:6-7:

1.) the Cup of Blessing- Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians,

2.) the Cup of Judgment- I will deliver you from slavery to them,

3.) the Cup of Redemption- I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 

4.) the Cup of Elijah- I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

The cup used by Yeshua as a symbol of the New [Renewed] Covenant was the Cup of Redemption, which ultimately found its way into the Christian communion service:

Luke 22:20 (ESV) And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

This serves as a reminder of the central theme of the Passover: that God accomplishes our redemption through the Blood of the Lamb, yeshua HaMoshiach.

Summary

The Passover seder makes the Good News clear. It becomes obvious through God's commanded elements and man's additions to the service that Yeshua is the Messiah of Israel. His death, burial and resurrection ar observed from the very beginning with the dipping of the parsley to the last cup at the table (the one left for Elijah, which we will drink with Yeshua at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb). It is a picture of the salvation message for jew and gentile alike.

Romans 10:1 (ESV)  Brothers, [Brothers and sisters] my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.