Happy Passover!

I know I am a day late on this one, but I wanted to wish you all a happy Passover!  Now before some of you start wondering if I suddenly converted to Judaism, I want to remind you of our heritage and the significance of the Passover to Christians.  Sadly, many Christians focus entirely on the New Testament, forgetting that the foundation of our religion was built in the Old Testament and is imbedded in the history of the Jewish nation.  Christ, Himself a devout Jew, quoted Old Testament scripture to assert that He was the Savior the Jewish nation was waiting for.

The story of the first Passover is found in the Book of Exodus.  At the time, the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians.  God had called Moses to urge Pharaoh to set the people free.  Each time Pharaoh refused, a plague was placed on the Egyptians.  The final plague was that all of the firstborn, man and animal, of any Egyptian household would die.  However, God gave the Israelites specific instructions to protect themselves that night.  He commanded that each Jewish household slaughter a spotless lamb and take the blood of the lamb and paint the doorframe of the home using a hyssop branch.  The Jews were to remain in the home the entire night.  This would be a sign to God to pass over these households that night as the plague took place.  They were to eat the lamb after it had been roasted over a fire, along with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast.  They were to have their cloak tucked in their belt, sandals on their feet and staff in hand as they ate, signifying that they would be leaving quickly.

All of this is a symbolic foreshadowing of what we will be celebrating in a few days as Easter approaches.  First, it was because Jesus was observing the Passover that He was returning to Jerusalem at the risk of His life.  Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt, the foal of a donkey, to fulfill the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, and many gathered to shout Hosanna (which means "save" in Hebrew).  The day is now celebrated as Palm Sunday, but on the day that it took place, it was the day that the Jews were required by law to present their Passover lamb for inspection so that it could be declared without blemish and an acceptable sacrifice.  It was not a coincidence that Christ presented Himself on this day.  He was spotless- without sin.

The blood of the lamb of the Passover protected the Jews from death the night of their exodus from Egypt.  It was not simply the blood on the doorframe that caused their household to be passed over, but it was a declaration in belief of the God who would save them.  In the same way, when we declare belief in Christ's death and resurrection, we are covered in his blood and saved from eternal death and given life eternal.  This is why Jesus is often referred to as the "Lamb of God."  When God looks at us, He sees the blood of Christ on the "doorframe" of our heart.  Our declaration of belief is that Christ's death was sufficient payment for our sins as the wrath of God was poured out on Him during His death on the cross, therefore we are passed over and spared.

I pray that you understand the significance of Passover and have painted the doorframe of your heart with the blood of the Ultimate Paschal Lamb, Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed for the sins of the whole world.