Passover

Saturday at sunset marks the first day of the Jewish Passover celebration. This is one of the most joyous and most holy of Jewish celebrations. The Passover celebration lasts for a week, thus affording many Israelis an opportunity to travel, most to warmer climates. It is a time for celebration with family. It is a time to remember God's miraculous deliverance of ancient Israel from the bondage in Egypt. As Christians we see many images of Christ and His ultimate sacrifice within the Passover seder and celebration.

Passover was one of three so-called "pilgrimage feasts" described in the Old Testament as being a time when Jewish males would travel to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices on behalf of themselves and their families. Passover also marks the beginning of the Jewish religious calendar. You will remember that God told Moses that the 15th of Nisan would be the beginning of months to Israel. And, it was at Passover that Jesus was crucified, thus fulfilling the prophecy of John the Baptist who had declared, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." (John 1:29).

This year marks a significant Passover. I am not sure if you read or heard that on Sunday, April 6, a year-old male lamb was sacrificed upon an altar on the Mount of Olives. This was the first animal sacrifice since the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD by the Romans. The sacrifice was not a ritual sacrifice, that is, it had no truly religious benefit. However, it was a sacrifice in anticipation of a third Temple being built upon Mount Zion. We could rightfully say that this was a practice sacrifice. Dozens of young men are presently preparing themselves to become priests when that third Temple is built. And part of their preparation is to know how to offer a sacrifice in the proper manner. Thus this sacrificial exercise on April 6.

Friends, what I find interesting is the continued emphasis upon the part of the religiously orthodox Jews in looking for a Messiah to come in the very near future. This practice-sacrifice is just part of that emphasis and anticipation. Now, if they have those expectations, how much more excited should you and I be as we look for and long for the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior and King?

As part of the Passover seder, a place is set for Elijah at each table. During the dinner, one of the members of the dinner party goes to the door in hopes that Elijah will come. So far, Elijah has not come. Perhaps, this will be the year that Elijah (Jesus Christ, I believe) will come. We can pray with enthusiasm, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"