Parasha: Bo – come, enter
Torah: Shemot: 10:1 – 13:16
Observing Passover Today
Shemot 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Mitzryim this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Mitzryim, both man and beast; and against all the demon-idols of Mitzryim I will execute judgment: I am Avinu. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Mitzryim.
** The lamb’s blood on the doorway of the home acted as a ‘covering – kippur – atonement that protected the first born males, both human and animal, from dieing when Avinu passed through Mitzryim (Egypt). The shed blood sacrifice of Meshiach accomplishes this same ‘covering’ for us in the Salvation process. Without His shed blood we could not approach the Mercy Seat to have our sins forgiven without dieing because we entered into the presence of Avinu with sin.
Shemot 12:21 Then Moshe called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. 22 And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23 For Avinu will pass through to smite the Mitzryimians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two side posts, Avinu will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.
Here is why we need that same ‘covering’ today:
Romans 6:21 But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of Avinu, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of Avinu is eternal life in Meshiach Yeshua, our Master.”
Here is how the Apostolic Writings describe that same ‘covering’.
“through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of Avinu.” (Ro 5:2 )
Yeshua’s sacrifice allows us the access that the blood of the Pesac gave to Israel on the evening of Nisan 14. When we congregate to fulfill Passover in our lives, we also participate in Meshiach’s sacrifice just as Israel participated in the sacrifice of the Pesac lamb.
Here is how Shaul instructed the congregation at Corinth to observe Passover:
“6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Meshiach, 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.” (1Co 5:6-8 )
Six chapters later the final instructions came with a warning:
1 Corinthians 11:20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Master’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the Congregation of Avinu and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
** It appears that the Corinthian Congregation was meeting to share a meal together. Shaul seems to be saying that the meals weren’t accomplishing what they were intended to. You might notice that taking the Passover isn’t a random activity. Passover is strictly connected to 14 Nisan.
23 For I received from the Master that which I also delivered to you: that the Master Yeshua on the same night in which He was betrayed
** The evening portion of 14 Nisan.
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 Master’s death till He comes.
** The observance of Passover as described above allows the Believer to participate in Meshiach’s sacrifice reminding the partaker that he has been given ‘atonement’ through the original sacrifice.
The warning:
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Master in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Master. 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 Master’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
** The consequences for observing Passover on a different day or for a different reason aren’t what some expect. Observing Passover is to come together to remember His sacrifice for us on the same day that His death occurred.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Master, that we may not be condemned with the world.
** The Levitical priesthood also participated in the sacrifices by consuming some of the meat. They also were required to be ritually clean before they even entered the outer court to participate in the sacrifices.
33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat,
** “…to eat the Passover…”
wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.” (1Co 11:20-34 )
** We meet on the afternoon portion of Nisan 13 for an immersion to prepare ourselves for the Passover ‘meal’. As the evening comes in (14 Nisan), we wash each other’s feet, participate in the elements as instructed and read the Scriptures that pertain to the event.
Leave a Reply