Posted on 04/11/2008 5:52:15 PM PDT by DouglasKC
ping
Another article for you....
bump
Thanks for the bump...
Bumping for later. We have a Messianic Jew (believes in Christ as Messiah) that is giving talks at our church. We have been looking at the various Jewish holidays and how they fit in with the Christian holidays. Not that the Christians wanted to “fit in”, but that the “Christian” events happened on the Jewish holidays. He was saying how the ancient rituals of the Passover Feast (Last Supper) can add lots of meaning to a Christian, but is not “mandatory”.
“Seems the least Christians could do would be to keep this most important feast in all of Christianity.”
Passover is a Jewish feast. I am not Jewish, therefore I do not observe it. I do however participate in the memorial know as communion or the Lord’s Supper. THAT is the Christian thing to do.
Two comments from my recent Sunday school class:
For the Passover the host was to wash the guests hands. (Jesus humbled himself even further by washing the feet!)
During the beginning of the Passover feast the middle matza is broken in half, wrapped in a cloth and hidden. Then the children go to look for it and bring it back and hold out for a ransom from the adults (treats). The speaker said this has no symbolism for the Jewish feast, but as a believer in Christ it is obvious: Christ’s body was wrapped in a shroud, buried, rose again as a ransom for us.
The gal sitting next to me is married to a Jew (and raised their children Jewish), and I asked her if that was correct. It seemed unbelievable to me that it had NO symbolism for the Jews (broken in captivity in Egypt, etc. which I mentioned to her). She said no - it was just a fun thing they did with the kids!
I read it all real fast.
I’ll read it again more acutely when I have time.
Seems terrific on my first perusal.
Now did the Heavenly Father or Christ either one say anywhere this feast was specific to Jews? What was the purpose of the first Passover??? Was it not protection from the 'death angel' and was Christ not our Passover lamb. Sorry there would be NO Christianity if there was not the Passover. Christ certainly kept the Passover and He set the standard for the rest of us and that 'communion' is the Passover. NO sacrifice ever need be performed again as Christ became that for one and all time perfect sacrifice.
As you said, Christian events happen on God's holy days. Christ was killed on Passover. The church was established on Pentecost. In God's prophetic timetable we are in the long season between the spring holy days and the fall holy days. Future events such as the return of Christ will likely happen on God's holy days.
Thanks for the ping....Doug.
Passover as kept by Jews is a jewish feast. Passover kept as Christ commanded is certainly a Christian practice. "Communion" is a bastardization of the original practice of observing the yearly passover with the symbols of the bread and wine. That's what was done in biblical times.
I've heard of other traditions and rituals that are similar. They make all kinds of sense when put in the context of Christ, but are as you described when divorced from him.
You’re the one who brought up about Pascha = Easter or Passover?
I e-mailed an associate pastor (I’m not a pastor at all but he’s not the main guy — I just have good rapport with him) about it and he really didn’t have any opinion about the correct translation.
But I was reading over Acts 12. Is it just my imagination, or is it kind of a retelling of the Easter story, writ small?
time of the Passover - impending trial - empty prison - but this time Herod gives up the ghost.....
“Now did the Heavenly Father or Christ either one say anywhere this feast was specific to Jews?”
Yes, it was specifically commanded by God to his Chosen People, the children of Israel.
“Sorry there would be NO Christianity if there was not the Passover.”
There would be no Christianity if it wasn’t for the CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.
I’m done.
In Acts 12, yes. Nearly all translators agree that the "pascha" in question signifies the Passover, not the pagan feast of Easter.
But I was reading over Acts 12. Is it just my imagination, or is it kind of a retelling of the Easter story, writ small? time of the Passover - impending trial - empty prison - but this time Herod gives up the ghost....
Yes, it does seem to be of a similar type as the death of Christ.
“”Communion” is a bastardization of the original practice of observing the yearly passover with the symbols of the bread and wine.”
That’s a rather sacrilegious remark. It certainly isn’t what Christ said. And I’m sure that if He intended this NEW covenant to be called PASSOVER, He would have said so.
“1Co 11:24 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.
1Co 11:25 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.
1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
1Co 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1Co 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”
Besides, he did call it "Passover":
Luk 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
Luk 22:16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
Luk 22:17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
Luk 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
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