Should Christians celebrate Passover?

A recent commenter on my blog asked the question, “Should Christians celebrate Passover?” While this is certainly a controversial topic, it is absolutely one that needs to be visited on a regular basis, and the answer needs to be Scriptural, not based on man’s traditions and doctrines.

I will seek, in a short post, to demonstrate that Scripture clearly points Christians to celebrating Passover. Numerous links to expanded explanations in previous blog posts will be provided.

The early chapters of Exodus recount the miraculous redemption of Israel from Egypt. Central to the story is the celebration of Passover ‘as a sign’…’on your hand and on your forehead.’ (13:9) As part of the commandment, the Lord (YHVH) states clearly, multiple times, that Passover is an ordinance that is to be celebrated annually, forever. Here are a few verses from Exodus 12 and 13:

^{Ex. 12:14}‘Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as ^[a]a permanent ordinance.

^{Ex. 12:24}And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.

^{Ex. 13:10}Therefore, you shall keep this ordinance at its appointed time from ^[a]year to year.

Clearly, from these verses and their surrounding context, someone is supposed to be keeping Passover every year! But, who?

Continue reading “Should Christians celebrate Passover?”

Come, let us go up!!

Recently, I shared a terrific series concerning the debate about making regular pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the feasts. As previously shared, Bob Parham demonstrates with clarity that the eleven most common objections do not hold water when held to the light of Scripture.

As if that were not enough, the Barking Fox, who has reblogged and commented on the series, has written a fantastic wrap-up that is at once exciting and challenging. I commend it to you as a must read and call you to prayerfully consider how this will alter your plans for the coming year!

Come, let us go up!!

The Jerusalem Debate – The End of the Matter

The Little Red Hen and her chicks

enjoy the fruit of her labors.

There is a children’s story about a Little Red Hen who worked diligently to feed her chicks and keep her house in order. One day she found some grain, which she decided to plant. She asked the other barnyard animals to help, but each of them refused for one reason or another. The same thing happened each time she asked for help in tending the plants, harvesting the wheat, taking it to the mill to grind into flour, and bake the flour into bread.

At the end of this lengthy process, as the Little Red Hen pulled the fresh bread hot from the oven, all of the animals came running to help her eat it. But before any of them could come near, she said, “Not one of you helped me plant the grain, nor tend it, nor harvest it; none of you helped me take it to the mill, and you did not help me bake it into bread. Why should I share the bread with you now? It is for my chicks and I, and we will eat it ourselves.” Whereupon she shut the door, leaving her neighbors to watch longingly as her family enjoyed the fruit of her labors.

This story contains a moral for Hebrews who are debating whether the commandment to go up to Jerusalem for the Feasts of YHVH applies to them. Quite simply, if we are to enjoy the benefits of a restored Temple of the Living God, and of the nation that will be restored around it, then we had best be doing all we can to help in the process now.

Second Passover: Sundown, May 22, 2016

Is the Second Passover significant?

Quite possibly, it is VERY significant. Consider, Numbers 9:1-15.

….Then Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying, ¹⁰“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If any one of you or of your generations becomes unclean because of a dead ^[f]person, or is on a distant journey, he may, however, observe the Passover to Yehovah. ¹¹In the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight, they shall observe it;

In numbers 9 we read the story of some men who were not able to partake of the Passover at the appointed time in the first month because they were unclean. Moshe is then instructed by Yehovah to tell them to partake in the second month, on the fourteenth day according to the guidelines.

Several very interesting items pop out from, or are connected with, these verses:

Passover is so important that if one misses it due to ritual uncleanness, there is a provision for a second partaking. No other feast has such an allowance.
Moshe requests on behalf of those unclean, but Abba adds an allowance. those on a distant journey. Who but Ephraim, and those returning home, are on a distant journey?
Noah entered the ark and was saved. Studying the story seems to indicate that the animals came on the 10th day of the second month and they were shut up as the rain came on the 17th day of the month. Certainly the story has Passover implications, but is it possible that Noah celebrated Second Passover and was ‘waved’ before Yehovah on the waters on First Fruits? Consider, Methusalah died in the year that Noah floated, so was Noah unclean at the first Passover due to burying his grandfather? Quite possibly. (And, significantly, does this little picture have a meaning for those of us who live in a time period that is ‘as in the days of Noah?’)

Here’s the simple point: If you missed Pesach, or know someone who did and wants to celebrate, there is still time!! The evening of May 22 is the beginning of Second Passover and you have time to prepare!! My wife and I have been invited to lead a small private Pesach for a couple people who missed Passover this year. We will lead them in their first Feast and first Passover, ever! We, and they, as so excited!! (Pray for this little gathering!)

Shalom and blessings!

Evangelism, Heresy and the Eighth Article

I have a friend, Tom, who just returned from his 15th or 20th trip to Israel. He is a believer in Yeshua who looks very much like an Orthodox brother of Judah. For the last five or six years he has journeyed to Jerusalem for all of the pilgrim feasts, this time taking his 17 year old son for Pesach.

Each trip he prays for and is blessed with Divine appointments wherein he can share why he walks Torah and why he believes Yeshua is the Moshiach. The stories are interesting and varied. He does not have to initiate conversations and never pushes for some preconceived response. Rather, he simply tells his story.

On this trip, a mutual friend invited he and his son to join her for Erev Shabbat with an Orthodox couple. Upon arriving at the home, they found out the man of the house had not yet arrived, so the lady of the house and the lady who brought them began having a conversation. Tom and his son were shown to the patio and, to Tom’s curiosity, the patio door slowly slid shut Continue reading “Evangelism, Heresy and the Eighth Article”

Christian Seders a Growing Phenomenon

Breaking Israel News (BIN) has a terrific article up this morning that delves in the Seder observance of Messianic and Hebrew roots believers. I appreciate Eliyahu, the author, giving us a fair shake and accurately reflecting our position, even if he is not entirely in agreement. I appreciate, too, that he uses a number of individuals to confirm various degrees and types of observances among our larger community.

It is very interesting to track BIN’s fascination with and coverage of Messianic and Hebrew roots believers as they exit the Church in droves as the Spirit leads them back to the ancient paths. BIN recognizes something deeply spiritual and prophetic is occurring and they are bravely willing to openly wrestle with it. We must walk in grace and humility sharing when given opportunity and letting the Ruach do His work!

Enjoy this article and if so led, comment here and there. Share on Facebook, etc…

Christian Seders a Growing Phenomenon

By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz April 28, 2016 , 12:30 pm

“And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.” Exodus 12:14 (The Israel Bible™)

The Passover Seder plate, on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Passover, April 22, 2016. Passover is celebrated to commemorate the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt some 3,500 years ago. (Photo: Hadas Parush/Flash90)

The unique phenomenon of Christians participating in Passover seders is beginning to catch on, as many non-Jews delve into the Jewish roots of their faith – but it is taking on new forms that are unexpected and may cross some delicate red lines.

Annie Washburn of rural Tennessee, with her hair covered and modestly dressed, can pass for an Orthodox Jew. Her family held a seder for about 20 people. It became clear that this was not a traditional Jewish home when, in true Passover spirit, her Chasidically bearded husband, Tom, slaughtered a lamb. “As a memorial, not a sacrifice,” she stressed.

Susan Conrad Gates from Indiana adopted many Jewish rituals as important aspects of her Christian observance, lighting Shabbat candles every week and observing Hanukkah. She also reads the weekly Torah portion on Saturday, incorporating readings in the Gospel. Thirty years ago, reading the Bible led her to wonder if people still observed the feasts. At that time, she took part in a Passover seder led by the Chosen People Ministries. For her it is significant as, Continue reading at BIN…

Seudat Moshiach!! (Feast of the Messiah)

The eighth day of Passover (Unleavened) is often celebrated with a big feast called Seudat Moshiach. The Feast of the Messiah was instituted by Rabbi Yisroel ben Eliezer, better known as Baal Shem Tov, in the 18th century. His purpose was to establish a feast that made tangible the reality of the coming Moshiach with lively Scriptural discussion, food, nigunim, celebration and four cups of wine.

Rabbi Amichaye Even-Israel, son of the eminent scholar and author Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, told Breaking Israel News, “The main goal of Seudat Mashiach is to try and internalize the issue of the coming of the Mashiach (Messiah) as a ‘real’ issue and not as a myth or a fairy tale. This is why we eat and drink while discussing this issue – to symbolize that it is real and could be ‘digested’”.

Texts such as Isaiah 11, Ezekiel 37:15ff, Isaiah 60-62, Zechariah 14, among others are passages that are discussed along with eating, singing, dancing and generally rejoicing in Moshiach!

I searched for ‘Seudat Moshiach’ and could not find a Seder to get some ideas from, but did find a number of announcements for synagogue and Messianic celebrations in the coming days. Chabad Chayil in North Miami Beach Continue reading “Seudat Moshiach!! (Feast of the Messiah)”

FOREVER. (Chag Sameach)

At least a half dozen times we are told that Passover is a statute to be kept ‘forever’ in ‘all your dwelling places.’

Does your preacher affirm this?

Worth asking the very hard questions!! What a blessing last night and today fellowshipping with families as we celebrate God’s Feast in God’s way.

If this is bondage, lock me up and throw away the key!! 🙂

http://bible.com/59/exo.12.14.ESV

Sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb Returns to Jerusalem After Millennia [PHOTOS]

I have warned for a couple years now that the day is coming when sacrifice would begin again in Jerusalem. This NOT a bad thing, in fact prophecy clearly teaches in Ezekiel 43 and following that when the Messiah comes, He will preside over the sacrifice in the Temple. Other passages as we have explored before, also prophecy future sacrifice, contrary to Christendom’s assertion in the negative. I have covered this in detail through a number of posts. Here are just a few under one search term.

Well, today I read a jolting and deeply exciting article that portents again just how very very close we are to having sacrifice re-instituted which is a clear sign the Messiah is near.

Breaking Israel News reported yesterday that

Sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb Returns to Jerusalem After Millennia [PHOTOS]

One of the highlights of the Jewish year, the Passover offering, is making a comeback. On Monday, a reenactment presented the Biblical commandment in its full glory, which is fortunate since many rabbis believe that neglecting this important mitzvah (Torah commandment), even in the absence of a Temple, has grave consequences for Israel.

Just four days before Passover, the day the Bible commands Israel to bring a lamb to the Temple to be sacrificed, a group of Kohanim (members of the Jewish priestly class) sacrificed a lamb on Mount Scopus overlooking the site of the Temple. The Kohanim wore ritual clothes conforming to Biblical requirements and were accompanied by music played on silver instruments specially made to serve in the Third Temple.
Continue reading at http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/66076/passover-sacrifice-makes-comeback-overlooking-temple-mount-photos/#HaYB8uVCVCDmM0CW.99

A Messianic perspective on the 4 cups of Passover

Shalom fine Kineti reader, and chag sameach. Here are some notes I jotted tonight for the significance of the 4 cups of Passover for Messianic believers. I hope you enjoy!

-Judah

Why do we drink the 4 cups of Passover?

The Jewish people have several traditions around the 4 cups. One prominent tradition is that the 4 cups correspond to the 4 “I will…” statements of Exodus 6:

I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will save you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people…

We take these 4 cups remembering the works of God, aspects of his saving Israel, facets of his salvation:

“I will bring you out” – sanctification
“I will save you” – deliverance
“I will redeem you” – redemption
“I will take you as My people” – restoration

We also take these 4 cups in remembrance of Messiah. At Passover, Messiah commands us to “do this in remembrance of Me” – but what are we remembering about Messiah?

Continue reading “A Messianic perspective on the 4 cups of Passover”

Taking out the Leaven…

On pondering the Days of Unleavened, it occurred to me that we do not focus enough on removing the leaven of Hollywood* from our lives. Yeshua spoke of leaven as the little sins that affect the whole lump. If we are to be a kadosh/set apart lump for Him, and our pursuit is holiness, then we should really consider the leaven of Hollywood.

During these days of house cleaning, let us focus on removing the leaven of video games, secular music, movies and TV shows. Even the seemingly innocuous ones. Hollywood ‘programming’ is just that. Programming. Hollywood seeks to influence culture and steer us toward ever lower moral standards.

Besides just getting us ‘out of Babylon.’ we need to focus on the harder task of getting Babylon out of us.

Rav Shaul writes, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 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 of sincerity and truth.” (1 Cor. 5:6-8)

Shalom, Pete

*Hollywood used here as a euphemism for all of Babylon’s culture which Hollywood has a substantial hand in shaping.