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ParT 1: InTroDucTIon
Gods ultimate plan in the salvation of mankind begins with, and is built upon, Passover. The Old Testament Passover (Exodus 12:5-14) was a foreshadowing of events to come and by what means we must be redeemed and forgiven of our sins...Our deliverance from the penalty of sin and death...death has passed over us.
The whole of the Word of God rests solidly on Jesus Christ, being the Carpenter and Fashioner, Author and Finisher, the Beginning and the End...the Fulfillment of All Things.
My children, Jesus the Christ, Yeshua is His name, is your Passover! ~ God
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Just before the Passover feast that would see His execution, Jesus said that for this purpose I came to this hour...And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself (John 12:27, 32). Jesus sacrifice is the pivotal event in Gods plan to save humanity. Speaking of His certain death, Christ said He, referring to Himself as the Son of Man, must be lifted up (crucified) even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so that all those who believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:14-16). This important event, Jesus Christs sacrifice on the cross, laid the foundation for the remaining annual Holy Days and festivals. It is the most important step in Gods plan.
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The Hebrew pesach means a passing over, a pretermission, an exemption (Strongs Exhaustive Concordance - #6453). It is derived from #6453, pasach, to hop, skip over, or spare. The Greek pascha, Strongs #3957, means the Passover, the day, the festival or special sacrifices connected with it. The KJV incorrectly translated Passover as Easter in Acts 12:4, but other translations have written it correctly. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 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 forever. ~ Exodus 12:1-14
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The Passover feast was and is held on the fourteenth day of the first month (Nisan) of the Hebrew calendar.
In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lords Passover. ~ Leviticus 23:5 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the Lord. ~ Numbers 28:16
Only those Hebrews, who were ceremonially clean, who were circumcised in the flesh, were allowed to partake of the Passover. Strangers were not allowed to eat of the Passover. In Joshua 5, Israel had to be circumcised before they observed the Passover at Gilgal.
And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the Passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof. ~ Exodus 12:43 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. ~ Exodus 12:48
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The Old Testament Passover is a memorial to God passing over the houses of the children in Israel when He smote the firstborn of man and beast in Egypt. The Passover of the Old Testament commemorates Israels deliverance from Egypt. The Passover is not a memorial to the exodus of Israel from Egypt.
...And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 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 forever. ~ Exodus 12:13-14 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover unto the Lord thy God. For in the month of Abib, the Lord thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night...But at the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place His name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the Passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt. ~ Deuteronomy 16:1,6
Passover involved purification and preparation of many things, but especially of the heart.
In the Old Testament Passover, purification rituals were required for all who partook of the Passover feast. But most importantly, we must prepare our hearts to seek God as Hezekiah prayed (verse below).
For they could not keep it (the Passover) at that time, because the priest had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem...then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord...for there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified. Therefore, the Levites had the charge of the killing of the Passovers for everyone that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the Lord. For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people...then the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people. And their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, even unto Heaven. ~ 2 Chronicles 30:3,15,17-20,27 For the priests and Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the Passover for all the children of captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel, did eat, and kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy. For the Lord had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. Ezra 6:20-22
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The importance of the Passover lamb was evident by the specific instructions God gave regarding the feast. The male lamb was to be without spot or blemish. One Passover lamb was sacrificed for each household unless the household was too small, then they were to share it with their neighbors. The lambs blood was sprinkled on the houses. Then the lamb was to be cooked a certain way and eaten a certain way. God even gave instructions as to how to dispose of what was left after the meal...let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire (Exodus 12). And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste. It is the Lords Passover. ~ Exodus 12:11 Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover. ~ Exodus 12:21
The Blood of the Passover lamb saved the Israelites from Gods wrath.
God has always required blood sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins, allowing His people to escape His wrath. In the Feast of Passover, God required the blood of a lamb, without spot or blemish, to save His people from wrath. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. ~ Exodus 12:13
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 forever. ~ Exodus 12:14
note: God said we shall keep the Passover Feast forever. We are still to keep this feast today, according to the new Covenant in Christ, who is the fulfillment of Passover. Christ has become our Passover, and we observe this day in remembrance of Him. We are, by no means, to observe Passover as in the Old Testament. This would be to deny Christs incredible sacrifice.
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The Passover Feast was observed before Jesus crucifixion, by Jesus, His parents and His followers.
Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother knew not of it. ~ Luke 2:41-43 And the Jews Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ~ John 2:13 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did. ~ John 2:23
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The Passover was observed after Jesus crucifixion, with the new symbols set forth by Christ...the New Covenant.
Jesus, Himself, knowing He came into the world not to condemn the world, but to save it by being a living sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin, the Lamb of God, instituted the new Passover symbols we should observe in remembrance of Him, our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7). Below we see an example of the Corinthians keeping Passover, though disrespectfully, with the apostle, Paul, correcting them and teaching them how to keep it properly, with their hearts in the right place.
When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lords supper. For in eating everyone taketh before another his own supper. And one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you. That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread. 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. 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. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lords death till He come. 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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lords body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:20-34
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ParT 4: Jesus chrIsT fulfIlls The ProPheTIc olD TesTamenT symbols of Passover
From the beginning, God required offerings and sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. Yet this was temporary because the blood of animal sacrifices could never sufficiently purge the sins of man. Only God, Himself, could purge our sins, once for all time, by sending His own Son to live a sinless life as a man, in our image...sacrificed for us...the Just for the unjust...the Righteous for the transgressor...the Upright for the fallen. Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire, Mine ears hast thou opened. Burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come. In the volume of the Book it is written of Me. I delight to do Thy will, O My God. Yea, Thy law is within My heart. ~ Psalm 40:6-8 But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? ~ Hebrews 9:11-15 The penalty of sin is death. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, has caused death to pass over us because of His sacrifice for our sin, having died in our place on the cross. 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. ~ 1 Corinthians 5:7 The great sacrifice of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, our Passover, was of such a kind, that only through the power of God, by His Messiah, could the sins of mankind be atoned for, by the precious blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God without spot or blemish...sacrificed for all through His death, even death on the cross...so all might be raised from death, having been freed from the power of sin which is death, by the resurrection of Christ Jesus, whereby He abolished sin and conquered death, forever. This is the new Covenant. And for this cause He is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. ~ Hebrews 9:14-15
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ParT 4: Jesus chrIsT fulfIlls The ProPheTIc olD TesTamenT symbols of Passover (cont)
God would save His people from His wrath and judgment by the blood of a sacrificial lamb.
In the Old Testament, God required the blood of a sacrificial lamb to spare His people from His wrath and the judgment He would pour out on Egypt. Likewise, by the new Covenant, we are spared from Gods wrath and judgment by the shed blood of Christ, our Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. I am the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. ~ Exodus 12:12-13 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ~ Romans 5:8-9 I am He who is called the Lamb of God, the Lamb from Heaven without any spot or blemish, given as a ransom for many so that death will pass over you, and you shall live forever. My blood is the blood shed for you to place upon your door, so you may be spared. No one goes to the Father unless they eat of the flesh of the Lamb, and drink His blood. Do this in remembrance of Me and My covenant with you, for I have already accomplished it and sealed it forevermore upon My rising. I am no longer the Lamb, but the Risen One, the Holy One of Israel, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The Lamb was slain, My people redeemed in all the earth. I am risen forever and ever, clothed in glory and praise. So too will My people be clothed in glory, for they are cleansed and will be like the angels of Heaven in that Day. Your Redeemer lives...death has passed over you. The Lamb was slain so you might live. Eat and drink and give thanks in remembrance of Me, and I shall remember you and gather you up and hold you close to Me. Amen. ~ Jesus speaking. [Excerpt from I Am the Passover and Its Lamb...A New Covenant With Men, Volume One, Letters from God and His Christ] Through the precious blood of Christ, we will escape not only Gods judgment or condemnation for our sins, but we will also escape His impending judgments (John 5:24), during the seven-year period of tribulation (Daniel 9:27) to come, being taken up to Heaven for a short time*, while Gods judgments fall upon the whole earth (Book of Revelation). *Please see the Rapture or Gathering Up Study at www.trumpetcallofgod.com for more information.
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ParT 4: Jesus chrIsT fulfIlls The ProPheTIc olD TesTamenT symbols of Passover (cont) The Sacrificial Lamb must be a lamb without blemish (sin).
In Exodus 12:5, God required that the sacrificial lamb be without spot or blemish. Likewise, we are told many times in the new Testament, that Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was without spot or blemish, meaning He was completely void of sin.
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. Ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats. ~ Exodus 12:5 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot. ~ 1 Peter 1:18-19 For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God? ~ Hebrews 9:14 I gave them the Lamb, without blemish, for them to sacrifice for the cleansing of all men. ~ God [Excerpt from Wisdom Given to Timothy Regarding Those Who Killed Jesus the Christ - Volume One, Letters from God and His Christ] I am He who is called the Lamb of God, the Lamb from Heaven without any spot or blemish, given as a ransom for many so that death will pass over you, and you shall live forever. ~ Jesus [Excerpt from I Am the Passover and Its Lamb...A New Covenant With Men - Volume One, Letters from God and His Christ] [Jesus] Hear the Word of the Lord, the Risen One, your Redeemer: I had come to you as a man, clothed in the flesh of men, humble, My glory set aside, God become man, living as all have lived in the body, but not as man lives in the spirit...for I am clean, having no sin in My body nor in My spirit, having obeyed every command of the Father...blameless. [God] Behold the Lamb of God! Without spot or blemish, sent to die for the sins of the world, bearing the full weight of transgression in His own body. My Son, You are, and will always be, the Risen Lamb of God, whereby You took the leaven of the world, having completely unleavened all men once for all time by Your blood, having been the perfect sacrifice for sin, acceptable to God, whereby men have been reconciled to the Father...they themselves becoming, once again, My sons and daughters, free to enter the Garden and My love from which they shall never again be separated...their new life lived in, and for, Christ Jesus, the Lord and Savior, in whom I am well pleased. ~ God and Jesus speaking [Excerpt from Unleavened - Volume Five - Letters from God and His Christ] Thus says the Everlasting who would be man, Emmanuel, born into the world, of a virgin, the chosen vessel by which the salvation of man comes, as a babe, growing, living as men, yet remaining unspotted from the world and sin, completely blameless...Amen. ~ Jesus speaking [Excerpt from He is Risen! Volume Five - Letters from God and His Christ]
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ParT 4: Jesus chrIsT fulfIlls The ProPheTIc olD TesTamenT symbols of Passover cont. The Israelites would be responsible for killing the sacrificial lamb.
The Passover lamb was to be killed by the congregation of Israel. God stated this in His instructions regarding Passover in Exodus 12. Likewise, the nation of Israel was responsible for the crucifixion death of Jesus Christ. And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month. And the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. ~ Exodus 12:6 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death. ~ Matthew 27:1 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. ~ Matthew 27:20 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let Him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath He done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let Him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person. See ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. ~ Matthew 27:22-25 ...Those, who say the Jews condemned The Christ Jesus to death, speak rightly, for I, God Almighty, know all the works of men, and in that day did I harden their hearts to accomplish My purpose in the salvation of men. In the days of Abraham, even unto Moses, did I establish My people as the chosen to give sacrifice for the cleansing of sin... And so they only, and only they, did I chose to carry out My will, according to the New Testament I have set forth with all men in Christ Jesus. I gave them The Lamb, without blemish, for them to sacrifice for the cleansing of all men. No other nation would I allow to carry out My will in this, so all that written by the prophets of old would come to pass, and all that written of The Son of Man would be fulfilled in Christ Jesus. ~ God [Excerpt from Wisdom Given to Timothy Regarding Those Who Killed Jesus the Christ - Volume One, Letters from God and His Christ]
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God commanded the Israelites, regarding the Passover meal, that none of it should remain until morning. Likewise, Jesus body was removed from the cross near evening, before the beginning of a high holy day, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. ~ Exodus 12:10 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was a high day,) besought Pilate their legs might be broken, and they might be taken away. ~ John 19:31 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus disciple. He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out of the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. ~ Matthew 27:57-60
In Exodus 12, God commanded the Israelites to eat unleavened bread with the Passover feast. Also, according to the new Covenant, we are to partake in the breaking of unleavened bread with our Passover meal. This signifies our acceptance of Jesus Christs sacrifice for our sins. For He was our perfect, sinless sacrifice, the unleavened bread, broken for us for the forgiveness of our sins, which is also signified in the eating of the unleavened bread, that we are now also unleavened, having obtained forgiveness of our sins through Him. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. ~ Exodus 12:8 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat. And they said unto Him, Where wilt Thou that we prepare?...And He said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer...And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves...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. Likewise, also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you. ~ Luke 22:7-9, 15, 17, 19-20
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This feast was called the Passover because the Lord passed over Israel during the night of the fourteenth. Likewise is Christ appropriately called our Passover, because by His shed blood, Gods wrath will pass over us.
It is the Lords Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. I am the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. ~ Exodus 12:11-13 For even Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast. ~ 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 My blood is the blood shed for you to place upon your door, so you may be spared....I am the Passover...for he, who believes in Me, has everlasting life. ~ Jesus speaking. [Excerpt from I Am the Passover and Its Lamb...A New Covenant With Men - Volume One, Letters from God and His Christ] My children, Jesus the Christ, Yeshua is His name, is your Passover! ~ God [Excerpt from Keep the Passover, Even All Seven Holy Days Set Forth by the Father, and You Will Begin to Know and Understand the Glory of God and His Christ - Volume Six - Letters from God and His Christ]
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God tells the Israelites, even from the very first Passover, that they would keep this day as a memorial forever. In the same manner, we are to observe Passover, with the new symbols instituted by Christ, as a memorial for Christs crucifixion. He was crucified on Passover and has become our Passover. Therefore, we, as believers, memorialize Him by observing Passover. He tells us to do this in remembrance of Him.
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Through faith, Moses kept Passover, believing that God would indeed deliver him and the Israelites from Egypt. Likewise, should Christs church observe the Passover with faith in God and faith in Christ, fully accepting and acknowledging Jesus sacrifice for us, until He comes again.
Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest He that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. ~ Hebrews 11:28 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lords death till He come. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:26
Behold the Lamb of God! Without spot or blemish, sent to die for the sins of the world, bearing the full weight of transgression in His own body. My Son, You are, and will always be, the Risen Lamb of God, whereby You took the leaven of the world, having completely unleavened all men once for all time by Your blood, having been the perfect sacrifice for sin, acceptable to God, whereby men have been reconciled to the Father...they themselves becoming, once again, My sons and daughters, free to enter the Garden and My love from which they shall never again be separated... their new life lived in, and for, Christ Jesus, the Lord and Savior, in whom I am well pleased. ~ God speaking [Excerpt from Unleavened - Volume Five, Letters from God and His Christ]
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Scripture, very clearly, shows that Jesus Christ was crucified on Passover. This is especially important to note because Jesus is our Passover, solidifying further that He is, indeed, our Messiah. Now the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto Him, Where wilt Thou that we prepare for Thee to eat the Passover? And He said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto Him, The Master saith, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at thy house with My disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover. ~ Matthew 26:17-19 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover. Will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? ~ John 18:39
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We eat the broken bread and drink the wine in remembrance of His broken body and shed blood. His sacrifice makes possible the forgiveness of our sins. By partaking of the Passover symbols of bread and wine, we are proclaiming our continual faith and rememberance in Jesus sacrifice...for He is worthy of all our thanks and praise. Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto Him, Where wilt Thou that we prepare for Thee to eat the Passover? And He said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with My disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover. Now when the even was come, He sat down with the twelve...And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ~ Matthew 26:17-20 & 26-28 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. ~ Luke 22:19 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread. 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. 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. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lords death till He come. 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. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:23-27 So, My children of Zion, celebrate Passover, but not as in the days of Moses, for even I, Christ the Lord, did keep this Sabbath before My death...and by My death and resurrection as the Lamb, did I become the new Passover, sacrificed for all. Celebrate Passover as a remembrance and as a thanksgiving of you and I united. For in the past, you were separated from Me...now we are together again, forever in the kingdom prepared by the Father. ~ Jesus [Excerpt from I Am the Passover and Its Lamb...A New Covenant With Men - Volume One, Letters from God and His Christ]
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When we partake of the Passover symbols, we again commemorate the death of Jesus. The Christian Passover is a reminder of our newly restored relationship with God, our Father, in and by Christ, who has restored us to glory...even now, being sons and daughters of the Most High God, once again and forever. Amen.
We are to continue observing the Holy Days (feasts) as we are taught by Christ and His apostles.
Paul, speaking to the Corinthians, told them to keep the feast. He also told them to keep the ordinances as he had taught them. Paul was not only teaching the Corinthians, but he was also teaching us, the faithful followers of Christ, to also observe the Holy Days (feasts), and to observe the ordinances according to how he taught them. The teachings of the new Testament not only applied to the believers of the apostles time, but also to anyone, today, who truly desires to follow Christ, faithfully abiding in His holy doctrine set forth in the Scriptures.
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 bread of sincerity and truth. ~ 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now, I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you...~ 1 Corinthians 11:1-2 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lords death till He come. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:26 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. ~ Luke 22:19
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According to the new Covenant, we are to partake in the breaking of unleavened bread with our Passover meal. This symbolizes our acceptance of Jesus Christs sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. For He was our perfect, sinless sacrifice, the unleavened bread, broken for us for the forgiveness of our sins, which is also signified in the eating of the unleavened bread, that we are now also unleavened, having obtained forgiveness of our sins through Him. We are also to drink the wine, which symbolizes Christs shed blood for the remission of sins. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread. 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. 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. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lords death till He come. 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. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:23-27 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat. And they said unto Him, Where wilt Thou that we prepare?...And He said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer...And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves...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. Likewise, also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you. ~ Luke 22:7-9, 15, 17, 19-20 I am the living bread which came down from Heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever. And the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. ~ John 6:51 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. ~ 1 Corinthians 5:7
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ParT 6: moDern chrIsTIan observance of Passover cont. Only those, who are truly circumcised in their hearts, should observe Passover.
In the Old Testament observance of Passover, only those who were circumcised in the flesh, were allowed to participate in the Passover feast (Exodus 12:48). However, because Jesus is the new Passover, we now keep it according to how He has taught us (Matthew 26:26-28). Christ did not teach that we must be circumcised in our flesh, but that we must be circumcised in our hearts (Romans 2:29). Jesus gave us this example by sharing the Last Supper with His disciples, who were circumcised in their flesh, but most importantly, they were circumcised in their hearts. Observing Passover is for those who are truly circumcised in their hearts...this is the true circumcision. Therefore, observing Passover is not for unbelievers, but for believers only. But he is a Jew, which is one outwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God. ~ Romans 2:29 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. ~ 2 Corinthians 7:1 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. ~ James 4:8 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ~ 1 John 1:9 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. ~ 1 Corinthians 5:8 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. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:7 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. ~ 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
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For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ~ John 3:16
So, My children of Zion, celebrate Passover, but not as in the days of Moses, for even I, Christ the Lord, did keep this Sabbath before My death...and by My death and resurrection as the Lamb, did I become the new Passover, sacrificed for all. Celebrate Passover as a remembrance and as a thanksgiving of you and I united. For in the past, you were separated from Me...now we are together again, forever in the kingdom prepared by the Father. Know this, even Passover has passed away...I am the Passover, for he who believes in Me has everlasting life. Keep this Sabbath as commanded by the Father. Passover as it was written in the days of Moses, do it not. Remember Me, and embrace and teach My covenant, and give thanks. The Passover as it was written is a sign post. Read its writing, and have understanding. Take its meaning to heart. ~ Jesus [Excerpt from I Am the Passover and Its Lamb...A New Covenant With Men - Volume One, Letters from God and His Christ]
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Keep the Passover, even all seven holy Days set forth by the father, and you will begin to Know and understand the Glory of God and his christ
[God] Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Keep the Passover. Keep it according to the new Covenant. Keep it in faith and love. Forsake these vanities of men, false doctrines taken from that which is unseemly in the eyes of the Lord your God. Unleaven yourselves and give Me perfect praise, pure worship in Christ, your Sanctuary. Keep this Feast of Unleaven also, seven days as an offering of thanks for Him who I sent to you, the very same who has removed all leaven from within you. My children, Jesus the Christ, Yeshua is His name, is your Passover! How is it that you do not remember Him according to how He, Himself, has shown you? Stop following the world and the perverse doctrines of men. Return to your First Love, and remember. For upon this one sacrifice rests the salvation of all mankind...the Lamb of God who has taken away the sins of the world. Yet I do not see you, even you who call yourselves by the Christs name, keeping that which I, even I, have set forth that you should keep, even all Seven (the Holy Days). Know you not, in these Seven is wisdom and understanding...yea, the very mind of God? Yet you choose vanities on top of vanities. You are a perverse and adulterous generation, even all of you who call yourselves by My own name, the name I have given My Son, the Holy One of Israel. [Jesus] I tell you the truth, the time is coming, and is already here, when I shall pass through the door and reap, for the harvest is ripe, and many shall be left wanting, in tears. So then, prepare yourselves and make ready, for the age of men is finished and judgement shall reign seven times. And then the end shall come, which shall also be the beginning. I am not of this world...My children, you are of this world. And so, all those, who love and accept Me, are no longer of this world, for I reside in them. And if I am in you, how is it you do not follow Me? For if you follow Me, you would do as I did, and learn from those I sent out bearing the Gospel of My own name. Follow Me, beloved, follow Me!...I shall bring you into glory. I am coming quickly...yea, I am already here. Though you do not yet behold My face, I have never left you, beloved. Yet I am coming quickly, and all those, who are truly converted in their hearts, shall be caught up and never leave Me, nor shall they be separated from Me ever again. And these same ones shall also return with Me in all My glory, and not just them, but all those who I shall gather up, who did not love their lives more than Me, who sang the song of their new hearts, even unto death, even all these during the times of great tribulation. So then, beloved, even all those who call of themselves by My own name as I had received of the Father, keep the Passover in remembrance of Me, even all of the Fathers most Holy Days, according to Me, and you shall begin to know My glory. Behold, I am coming quickly to fulfill and restore all things! As I am holy, may you also be holy, and do that which is holy. Know this: Four are fulfilled - salvation assured, sin and death overcome, the Spirit given. Three are coming quickly - sin destroyed, evil bound, My seat taken, judgement... A new day, even one thousand years. Then a short season....consummation....An everlasting day in the Lord. Amen and amen.
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