Passover: Why do we do it?

Passover:    Why do we do it?              March 21, 2015

 

Passover is a memorial day, a very important anniversary day for a Christian Believer.

It is a feast day, but not a High Day. 

Why should we, as a Christian, observe the Passover? 

Because we are told to. 

Lev 23:4-5 NKJV  'These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.  (5)  On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD's Passover. 

Convocation just means, a Rehearsal, something called out, assembly, calling.

Apostle Paul tells us that our Lord said why we are to observe the Passover”   

1Co 11:23-26 NKJV  For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;  (24)  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."  (25)  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."  (26)  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 

As we approach Passover this season, we are to prepare ourselves and our homes.   

How are we to do it?  I think about what the Apostle Paul tells us what the Gospel is, because it applies to this time of year.  We are to remember Jesus death, burial and resurrection, which took place during this time period.

 

1Co 15:1 NKJV  Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 

1Co 15:3-4 NKJV  For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received:

1. that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 

2. and that He was buried, and

3. that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 

We are to prepare ourselves and our homes as we approach the Lord’s Passover this season.

 

Why remove leaven from our homes? 

Exo 12:15 NKJV  Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 

1Co 5:2 NKJV  And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 

1Co 5:7-8 NKJV  Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.  (8)  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.

The Corinthians (Gentile church) must have been observing the Days  of Unleavened Bread because the Apostle Paul said, “you truly are unleavened.”  They removed unleavened from the home, now they have to do it spiritually, with the “unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 

We find leavening symbolizes sin and we are to remove it from our lives.  Sin puffs up just as physical leaven puffs up. 

What is it? baking powder, baking soda (bicarbonate of soda), yeast, leavening, etc.  Something that makes your cooking puff up. 

We always can go to extreme, we check every corner to see if there is leavened products in our homes, but we fail to eat unleavened bread for the seven days we are told.  Yes, everyday we are to eat Unleavened Bread. 

Exo 13:6 NKJV  Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD.

 

Yes, we are to eat it every day with our meals.

How are we to prepare ourselves for the Passover?

1Co 11:27-29 NKJV  Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  (28)  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  (29)  For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 

Unworthy word has been use to put a guilt trip on individuals in the past.  The Greek word means, nonchalant, profaning and regards the celebration as a mere ritual.  If we have the attitude of we have not sinned and become before the Passover, then we could be in an unworthy manner. 

But if we examine ourselves, and find we have come short, then we are the ones that needs to take of the Passover for our Lords Blood to cover our sins and we are then worthy of the Passover.  Self-examination is essential in our walk with the Lord.  It is a life time walk of overcoming. 

In our self-examination, we look to see how far we have grown and how much we still need to overcome and to rededicate ourselves to the covenant we have made with God at our baptism and each following Passover Service.  Yes, we do rededicate ourselves openly to the world at each Passover Service.

Is it OK to observe the Passover in our homes?

It is interesting, the disciples did ask Jesus our Lord this very question.

Luke 22:8-13 NKJV  And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."  (9)  So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?"  (10)  And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.  (11)  Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" '  (12)  Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready."  (13)  So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

This example of Jesus our Creator that it is OK to observe the Passover in our homes and not in some rented building.  Number of members makes a difference.

 

When should the Passover be Observed?

 

Very big issues among churches and groups.  On the 15 day as the Jews and other Sabbath keepers observe it.

We know from Scripture that our Creator God set the days to begin and end at sunset. 

Lev 23:5 NKJV  On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD's Passover.

Num 28:16 NKJV  'On the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the LORD.

see also:  Numbers 9:5, Joshua 5:10, 2 Chronicles 35.:1

How should the Lord’s Passover be Observed?

The Jews have a dinner, called, Seder meal, on the 15^th day of the month at evening.

We seen that the Lord’s Passover was on the evening of the 14^th.

What do we do during the Lord’s Passover?

We look at Scriptures what Jesus did on his final night before His death and resurrection.

Footwashing service.  Why do we do it:  This is Jesus command and example

John 13:2-17 NKJV  And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him,  (3)  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,  (4)  rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.  (5)  After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.  (6)  Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?"  (7)  Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this."  (8)  Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."  (9)  Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!"  (10)  Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."  (11)  For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean."  (12)  So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?  (13)  You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.  (14)  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  (15)  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.  (16)  Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.  (17)  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (command from Jesus)

 

Unleavened Bread service, why this?

Jesus command and example.

The bread is a symbol of taking of the unleavened bread, symbolizing His broken, sinless body.

Mat 26:26 NKJV  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."

Wine service, why this?

Also command and example.

The wine represents His shed blood.

Mat 26:27-29 NKJV  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.  (28)  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  (29)  But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

Why read from the Book of John?

This was the final, innermost, personal feeling and desires of our Lord and Creator last time with Jesus shared with the disciples. 

Why sing a song at the end of the service? 

An example that Jesus and the disciples did for us.

Mat 26:30 NKJV  And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Mar 14:26 NKJV  And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 

Night to be much observed, why?

 

Exo 12:42 NKJV  It is a night of solemn observance to the LORD for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the LORD, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations. 

Exo 12:42 KJV  It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations. 

Deu 16:1 NKJV  "Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night.

It is about coming out, not about the Passover night.  

Deu 16:2 NKJV  Therefore you shall sacrifice the Passover to the LORD your God, from the flock and the herd, in the place where the LORD chooses to put His name. 

This cannot be Passover evening, because the sacrifice for Passover has to be a goat or lamp, not from the flock or herd or from cows.  This sacrifice is on the 15^th day, 1^st Day of Unleavened Bread. 

Deu 16:3 NKJV  You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. 

This has to be the first day of Unleavened Bread, not Passover.  Remember, Days of Unleavened Bread is 7 days long. 

Deu 16:4 NKJV  And no leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory for seven days, nor shall any of the meat which you sacrifice the first day at twilight remain overnight until morning. 

This sacrifice in on the 15^th, 1^st high day 

Deu 16:5 NKJV  "You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates which the LORD your God gives you; 

This sacrifice could not be at your home, but somewhere else. 

Deu 16:6 NKJV  but at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at twilight, at the going down of the sun, at the time you came out of Egypt. 

Did they come out on the 14^th or on the 15^th, but on the 15^th, first day of Unleavened Bread 

This example of the Night to be Much Observed is a way to start the Days of Unleavened Bread as coming out from sin.  We know from Scriptures that Egypt symbolize sin in many locations.  Yes, by observing this evening, we are coming out of sin by an enjoyable start as our Eternal God removes us from bondage and leads us in His Way of Life and walking with Him.