Posted on 03/25/2005 12:29:50 PM PST by DouglasKC
The last activity Jesus Christ shared with His disciples, only hours before He was crucified, was the biblically commanded Passover celebration. He had observed this festival annually since His birth (Luke 2:41).
Accompanied by His 12 apostles for their final Passover meal together, "He said to them, 'With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer'" (Luke 22:15, emphasis added throughout). His intense longing to observe this Passover service reveals His deep devotion to celebrating it.
Not only does Jesus—merely hours before His crucifixion—still regard keeping the Passover as important, but also, as He explained to His disciples that evening, He fully intends to observe it with them again when "it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (verse 16).
Why did Jesus set such a committed example of observing this festival if He intended soon afterward—as is commonly believed today—to abolish this festival? Does that really make any sense?
Most people claiming to follow Christ's example today know little or nothing about the Passover or the other biblically commanded festivals. Nor do they understand why He considered them important. And most of them certainly have never thought of these days as meaningful to them personally. But should they?
After instituting important symbols in that last Passover observance before His crucifixion, Jesus told those gathered with Him: "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you ... If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (John 13:15-17).
This is direct instruction to them to continue observing "these things"—that is, the elements of the Passover service—in exactly the same manner as He had done with them. Years later it becomes even clearer that Christ's instruction is applicable to all Christians. The apostle Paul plainly tells even the non-Jewish Christians in the Greek city of Corinth to follow the example Jesus Christ set on that Passover evening.
"For I received from the Lord," wrote Paul, "that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'
"In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' For as often [meaning year after year according to God's command] as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes" (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Yes, Christ's apostles believed and taught that we must follow the example He set and live as He lived. As the apostle John wrote, "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked" (1 John 2:6).
The religious days observed by Jesus and His countrymen during His physical lifetime included the weekly Sabbath day as well as a series of annual festivals, all commanded directly by God (see Leviticus 23). These days are biblically consecrated as holy convocations in the Scriptures (verse 2).
Since the festivals first appear in the Old Testament, let's briefly consider Jesus' attitude toward those ancient Scriptures. How highly did He regard them? Even more importantly, how does He want us to regard them today?
The Hebrew Scriptures made up the only "Bible" available to Jesus and the early Church. The New Testament was written years after His crucifixion. To Jesus the "Word of God" and the Old Testament Scriptures were one and the same.
Jesus' loyalty to these Scriptures is plain. He explains, "The Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35). He tells us that "it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail" (Luke 16:17). And He points out, "It is written [in Deuteronomy 8:3], 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4).
He also forcefully exclaims that anyone who "breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least [by those] in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:19).
Jesus expects those who would follow His example both to practice and teach the clear commands of God written in the Old Testament Scriptures. Of course, He expects this obedience to be fully compliant with His example and teachings recorded in the New Testament. But there is no conflict between the two. One is not pitted against the other.
Consider, for example, the principle that the sacrificial shedding of blood is necessary before sins can be forgiven. That is just as valid in the teaching of the New Testament as it was in the Old. The difference is that under the Old Testament administrative system animals were sacrificed to represent the better sacrifice that would be made in the future—the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:12).
Yet the law requiring this spilling of blood for the forgiveness of sin was not abolished (Hebrews 9:22-26). Only by being justified through Christ's shed blood can we be saved (Romans 5:9).
This brings us back to why Jesus was so committed to keeping the Passover with His apostles just before He was crucified. For centuries the keeping of the Passover had represented the fact that Jesus, as mankind's Redeemer, would be sacrificed by the shedding of His blood for the remission of sins.
Jesus was crucified on Passover day, on the 14th day of the first month in the sacred calendar followed by the Jews. Anciently it was observed by the slaying of an unblemished lamb or kid goat (Exodus 12:5-11). But its real focus was on a different sacrifice. We find this explained in the New Testament when "John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29).
As the apostle Paul also explains: "For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). Here Paul is instructing Christians to keep both the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread as Christian observances (compare Leviticus 23:5-6).
Therefore, we now have direct New Testament evidence that at least two of the seven annual festivals—the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread—are also Christian festivals. Logically then the other five would be also. But before we consider any other festivals, let's understand what the overall significance of all of these sacred occasions is to Christians today.
All of the sacred biblical festivals are closely linked to the harvest seasons of the Holy Land. And Jesus often compared what God was doing through Him to a harvest.
For example, He said: "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white [ripe] for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together'" (John 4:34-36).
Here Jesus links the idea of a harvest to His work of bringing humanity into a relationship with God the Father that leads to eternal life. On another occasion "He said to His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest'" (Matthew 9:37).
God's annual festivals depict the work of Jesus Christ in "harvesting" human beings into the Kingdom of God. They are God-given annual reminders of Christ's role in securing redemption and salvation for all humanity.
God began revealing parts of His plan of salvation when He evicted Adam and Eve from the garden in Eden. Because they had succumbed to the serpent's influence and sinned, God spoke to the serpent, saying, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you [the serpent] shall bruise His [Christ's] heel" (Genesis 3:15).
Here God revealed that, at a future time, a very special descendant of Eve would crush the head of "that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan" (Revelation 12:9)—bringing Satan's control over mankind to an end.
God began revealing more details of His plan through Moses—by instituting His annual festivals at the same time He selected the ancient Israelites to be His servants. Some of these festivals even had an immediate meaning and application within the history of ancient Israel.
But the long-term, primary reason that God established them was to depict the relationship of all human beings to the mission of the Messiah. As mentioned earlier, Paul pointed out: "For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast ..." (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). The relationship of the Passover festival to the death of Christ, and our redemption through that death, has always been its primary purpose.
In addition to Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Pentecost likewise is clearly a Christian festival. According to Jewish tradition, the Israelites received the Ten Commandments at the time of the festival of Pentecost. It was then that God made a covenant with them and they became the "congregation of God."
Yet a far more important relationship would be established on a later Day of Pentecost—through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:4-5 tells us: "And being assembled together with them [Jesus' disciples], He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, 'which,' He said, 'you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.'"
Then, "when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire ... And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit . . ." (Acts 2:1-4).
Since Paul tells us, "If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:9), there can be no doubt that this festival sets an important milestone for all Christians for all time. It is a Christian festival. And Paul observed it as such (Acts 20:16; 1 Corinthians 16:8).
The other four biblical festivals listed in Leviticus 23 occur around the time of the fall harvest season (in the northern hemisphere).
All depict the main events to occur at or following Christ's return. For example, the Feast of Trumpets points to His second coming. Seven trumpet blasts are to announce the seven major events leading up to and including Christ's return (Revelation 8-11). At that time, "He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect ..." (Matthew 24:31; compare 1 Corinthians 15:52).
How much more "Christian" could these festivals be? Their focus is primarily on all that Jesus Christ has done, is doing and will do to ensure our salvation.
When Christ returns, not only will He keep the Passover, along with His resurrected apostles, but He also will require all nations to join Him in keeping the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16).
Therefore, should not all Christians today acknowledge the example Christ has set for them? Then all can join the apostle Paul in declaring, as recorded in Acts 18:21: "I must by all means keep this coming feast" (compare Acts 20:16).
Nice catch. I love that scripture and the image it presents. This is a prophecy of the kingdom of God after Christ returns to earth. God does not change. His feast days are past, present and future.
http://www.settel.org/
Tomorrow I have been invited to a Purim potluck and play at Congregation Yeshuat Tsion here in Denver.
http://www.yeshuattsion.org/
B'shem Y'shua
chuck
Glad to hear you had a good day. Our sermon focused on how all of us are to blame for the death of Christ...an appropriate message as the Passover season approaches.
Our sins are forgiven by Christ's sacrifice. That is represented by Passover.
God's Holy Days represent God's plan of salvation for mankind.
God does not want us to continue in sin after our sins are forgiven.
Rom. 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
God's 2nd step in His plan of salvation is represented by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Unleavened bread is flat, not puffed up. It is a humble bread that pictures sinlessness.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread represents our putting sins out of our life so that we may have a closer walk with God.
That is why Paul talked about the Feast of Unleavened Bread in relationship with taking measures against the fornicator.
While He walked on earth, I think that would be the Jewish ones, the ones before the Messiah was the passover sacrifice, before our Saviour's death and resurrection.
Is this where you wish to freeze His Church, and its religious observance? To the point before His sacrifice, before the Lamb of God? Freeze history here and there is no passion, sacrifice and resurrection of Christ and no future of the His Body.
Better to ask "What Religious Days Does the Body of Christ Observe?"
Well, for a start, Jesus should have washed his hands before eating.
If God's holy days were observed without the truth or understanding that the messiah has come and will return then I might agree with you.
The holy days actually shadow and portend significant events for Judaism and Christianity.
For example, Passover represents the death of Christ on the cross:
1Co 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:
The Days of Unleavened Bread represents the life of a person after accepting Christ. The physical act of removing leavening represents and reminds us of the spiritual attitude of removing sin from our lives. Examining ourselves for sin (leavening) and removing it from our lives.
Another example: The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) represents the 2nd coming of Christ, at the last trump:
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded (his trumpet); and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
I hope that helps. For further reference, see God's Holy Day Plan.
This year in Jerusalem at noon of the day that will become the Feast of Trumpets there will be a Solar Eclipse !
Thank you L-rd !
B'shem Y'shua
chuck
The holy days actually shadow and portend significant events…
No, they mark events that have already happened.
The jewish holy days commemorate major historical events in the history of the jews. Passover commemorates - Passover. The Exodus from Egypt.
This is what the jews of Jesus's time on earth observed. And what they observe now. That one. Ask any jew.
What is the jewish religious day celebrating the resurrection of the Messiah? None.
There was no celebration of this at the time of Jesus's human incarnation. Which is why celebrating only those events would either make us jews or freeze our religion and church before the time of the risen Christ. Our religious observances are different than the jews of Jesus's time. Because our history is different.
So, unlike the jews of Jesus's time or today, we celebrate the Passover Sacrifice of Christ, a different passover than jews celebrate. Christians celebrate the resurrection of the Messiah, Christ. Last night and today we celebrate it.
I wish you would join us, in the history and wonder or this Christian religious celebration.
So you see no signifcane in the fact that Paul calls Jesus Christ our Passover? You also don't see any connection between the Passover lamb and Jesus Christ? Those with the blood of the lamb were spared death in Egypt and those with the blood of the lamb now are spared death?
You don't see any significange in the fact that God poured out his holy spirit on Pentecost...a "Jewish" festival?
This is what the jews of Jesus's time on earth observed. And what they observe now. That one. Ask any jew. What is the jewish religious day celebrating the resurrection of the Messiah? None.
That would be because Jews don't believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. In addition, the Jewish religion doesn't own God's holy days.
So, unlike the jews of Jesus's time or today, we celebrate the Passover Sacrifice of Christ, a different passover than jews celebrate. Christians celebrate the resurrection of the Messiah, Christ. Last night and today we celebrate it.
That's all well and good, but it's not what Jesus Christ did.
Luk 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
Jesus Christ thought that the Passover was so important that it was one of the things he wished to celebrate before his passion.
I wish you would join us, in the history and wonder or this Christian religious celebration.
If that history did not make the word of God of no effect then I wouldn't have a problem observing it. But for now I'm going to do what God said to do and what Jesus Christ did.
Mar 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39e032ca390d.htm
B'shem Y'shua
chuck
If I grant you that Passover "portends" the sacrifice of Christ, if you celebrate it in this manner you are denying it has already happened. Jews don't celebrate the portending of the Exodus from Egypt. Christians don't celebrate the portending of the risen Christ.
And, of course Christianity grew from judaism. You are missing the "grew" part.Your passover celebration, if you follow the jewish one, does not celebrate the risen Christ - only the portending.
I'm going to do what God said to do and what Jesus Christ did.
Then you would drink your last wine on a cross and say, "It is finished." This is a facetious argument. Jesus's death and resurrection is what we celebrate. Of course, Jesus did not participate in a religious celebration during his life that celebrates events after His life.
Once again your church freezes history before the most important event in Christianity. Your church is but a new one - not an old one.
You mean I have to start buying Matzoh? :)
Agreed.
If I grant you that Passover "portends" the sacrifice of Christ, if you celebrate it in this manner you are denying it has already happened. Jews don't celebrate the portending of the Exodus from Egypt. Christians don't celebrate the portending of the risen Christ.
Passover not only portended the sacrifice of Christ, but he commanded us to observe it as a remembrance of his sacrifice:
Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
He instituted the symbols of the wine and bread ON Passover. Then you would drink your last wine on a cross and say, "It is finished." This is a facetious argument. Jesus's death and resurrection is what we celebrate. Of course, Jesus did not participate in a religious celebration during his life that celebrates events after His life.
Because Jesus Christ had already created all of the holy days that mankind would ever need. Passover portended and remembers his death, trumpets portends his 2nd coming, tabernacles portends his earthly rule in the millenium. God didn't need man to invent any days to remember him...he already did it. God had plenty of opportunities to tell us that we should have new holy days, but he didn't.
Because Jesus was the lamb of God, the Messiah, He became the Passover Sacrifice. It is our day to worship Him, becasue he came, He Saved us from our sins, if we worship hi Him and nother.
All Christians know the way to God the Father is through Jesus and Jesus alone.
God the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit that bonds us to Him.
Ops4 God BLess America!
The church I belong to is the body of Christ. It is not an organization, but the spiritual body of believers who follow the teachings of Christ and believe on him for salvation. This is the same church established in Acts 2 and that is the church of which I am a member.
I do attend worship services with the United Church of God. United was formed by approximately 20,000 former members of the Worldwide Church of God. Corporately, United can be considered new since it was incorporated in 1995.
But I'll celebrate at the end of April.
B'shem Y'shua
chuck
As long as you celebrate in Yeshua's Glory over all that is evil and death itself.
God Bless you brother of the Word that became Messiah.
Ops4 God BLess America and Israel!
You're posting was very interestign, and gives me worthwhile leads. However, I must note:
You're exerpt is from someone who uses the word, "Romish." The use of a non-standard perjorative doesn't speak well of someone's frame of references when they make unfounded assertions ("we have reason to believe...") Of the groups they identify, there is much better reason to quabble than what would be merely ad-hominem:
I think you'll certainly agree that the Cathari aren't Christian, given the denial of the divinity of Christ.
Of the Passiginian, they are plainly Judaizers, whether or not they circumcised, and from my limited understanding, were a short-lived an local phenomenon.
A.H. Newman regularly admits that the Ethiopes did keep Sunday. Their use of Saturday as a day of rest is not far from our concept of "weekend;" Copts certainly keep the day of Resurrection, Sunday, as most Holy.
As to Chaldean Catholics (A non-Latin rite of the Roman Church) and the Armenian (An Eastern Orthodox branch), I can attest from personal witness that they keep Sunday holy.
I am ignorant as to the ancient Chinese Christians, but remain dubious given the above facts.
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