Thursday, June 7, 2012

The Seven Jewish Feasts commanded by G-d (1)

The first of the seven feasts commanded by God was the Passover Feast or Pesach.  It celebrates the deliverance of the Hebrew slaves from 400 years of Egyptian bondage.  In (c.1446 B C), the final plague against Egypt was the death of all the firstborn of both people and animals of all the households that didn't have the blood of the lamb sprinkled over the doorpost as instructed.  The angel of death 'passed over' those households who had the blood of the lamb.  

That night the Hebrews were instructed to have their bags packed, and to prepare unleavened bread - and to eat the meat of the lamb they had slain.   (Exodus 12:1-13)  They were obedient, and they were saved. 

God commanded the Passover be an annual celebration of remembrance in Leviticus 23:4-5.

Jesus was the fulfillment of the significance of the Passover Lamb.  When He died on the cross, it was for our sins.  As the Lamb of God, His blood was poured out for all of mankind - - we just have to appropriate His sacrifice by asking Him to live in us and take charge of our lives...His blood over the door of our hearts.

When Jesus was with His disciples celebrating His final Passover feast on earth with them, He changed Passover forever.  He told them, ""As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me."  No longer about the Hebrew children and their escape from Egypt - - about Him being the Lamb and us being saved from the slavery of sin by the shedding of His blood.

Every one of the seven feasts God commanded the Jewish people to keep have either already found fulfillment in Jesus - - or will find fulfillment in Jesus....which makes for some interesting observations.  My pursuit of doing some research on that was triggered by comments made by our Jewish guide in Israel on our tour in 2011.


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