Pesach (Passover) Ex 12 & I Cor 5:6-8

In our last newsletter, we began to introduce the Feast of Passover, Exodus 12. Hebrew: Hag Ha Pesach.

This "Season of Our Freedom" Hebrew: - Zeman Herutenu vss 1-2 begins on the first month on the Hebrew year.
Read Exodus 12 for a complete description. Briefly,

• Vss 3-5 A lamb without blemish – male yearling.
• Vs 6 kill it.
• Vs 7 appropriate its blood on side (door) posts and upper lintel.
• Vss 8 – 10 Roast the lamb and eat it with unleavened bread (matzah) and bitter herbs.
• Vs 11 Eat it as in haste, dressed for evacuation.
• Vs 12 God will PASS – OVER (exempt) those protected by the appropriated blood. He will execute judgement against the (idol) gods of Egypt.
• Vs 13 The blood will be a token (Hebrew OT=sign)that God recognizes and so EXEMPTS from the plague(s) upon
  Mitzrayim = Egypt.
• Vs 14 It is to be a feast of continued remembrance = FOREVER!
• Vs 15 Seven days of unleavened bread = no yeast = all to be removed from the house.
• Vs 16 Holy convocations = assembling for worship – 1st and 7th days.
• See vss 17 – 20 = A reminder of redemption. Unleavened bread – then on 14th day to 21st day no leaven.
• Vs 21 – Select i.e. examine Passover lambs and slaughter.
• Vs 22 APPLY blood with hyssop on doorframe and remain in house and behind the blood until morning.
• Vs 23 God will spare those who are protected by the blood – only.
• Vs 24 FOREVER (eternal).
• Vs 25 When Israel inherited the land (given by God) keep this service = Hebrew SEDER.
• Vs 26 Your children shall ask what is the meaning of this SEDER = Order of Service?
• Vs 27 Your answer is to explain the Lord’s Passover, the Redemption of Israel and the makkot mitzrayim = the smiting of the Egyptians – Israel BOWED their heads in "awesome" worship.
• Vs 28 Israel obeyed God as Moses and Aaron directed them.
• Vs 29 At midnight, the firstborn were smitten – even Pharaoh’s and the inmates and even livestock.
• Vs 30 Pharaoh and the people of Egypt cried out in despair. (The Children of Israel had done so for centuries.)
• Vs 31 Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron – "Go! Serve the Lord!"
• Vs 32 "Take your livestock – and bless me also!"
• Vs 33 The Egyptians also said "Go, before we all pay the price!"
• Vs 34 Hasty evacuation – bread in kneading troughs – no time to rise (leaven).
• Vs 35 The Egyptians gave valuables to Israel to encourage their departure.
• Vss 36 – 41 similar description.
• Vs 42 A night to be MUCH OBSERVED = a Feast of Freedom.
• Vs 43 – 47 Ordinances and limitations.
• Vs 46 No bones of Passover to be broken!!
• Vs 48 Special requirements for participation Old Testament = no uncircumcised = of flesh.
• Vs 49 – 51 Conclusion of chapter.

2000 years ago Yeshua was born. Prophecies about His life, death and resurrection were literally fulfilled.

• Gen 3:15 A child to be born of "the seed of the woman."
• Isa 9:6 A Child is born – Son is given. etc.
• Malachi 3:1 God’s messenger (John the Baptist in the spirit of Elijah – I Kings 2:15; Lk 1:17) prepares the way for the Lord who will come suddenly to His Temple! "The Messenger of the Covenant."

Abraham in Gen 22:7 was asked by Isaac his son, "Where is the Lamb for the burnt offering?" Vs 8 Abraham answered "God will provide himself a Lamb ------" At that time a ram was caught in a thicket (bush). Next we’ll read how the Lamb was provided, "Behold the Lamb of God!"

Jn 1:29 John the Baptist pointed to Yeshua at his mikveh (ritual immersion) and proclaimed Him to be "the Lamb of God which takes (bears) away the sin of the world." Amazingly, John, through his father Zechariah, was a Kohen = priest – and this was exactly what the priests would proclaim as each lamb was slaughtered for the Passover!!

Today, we who are Jewish, celebrate the ancient Passover Seder. Some worthy points of interest:

1. We still use the concept of "telling" (narrative) - a book called Hagaddah. Gen 12:25-26.
2. Our children require answers – Gen 12:27-29.
3. We make it personal e.g. "When I was at Mt. Sinai…"
4. We eat bitter herbs. Ex 12:8
5. We remember the "blood" (red, "Fruit of the Vine").
6. We eat only matzah = unleavened bread. We eliminate leaven for the seven days.
7. We remember with sorrow the makkot mitzrayim – the plagues upon Egypt.
8. Hope of the coming of Messiah is expressed.

Today, we normally avoid any similarity to the roasting of the sacrifice with fire, however, some old cultures such as the Samaritans still sacrifice lambs.

The New Testament explains how Jesus sent Peter and John to "prepare the Passover." Obviously these disciples had experienced the Temple sacrifice. The penitent would present a blemish-free Lamb, and having laid hands on it symbolically transferred sin to it. Then the penitent would be given a knife. He would look into the victim’s eyes and take its life. The animal would plead with its eyes. A horrible reminder of the price for sin! Lk 22:61 describes how Peter, as he looked into Jesus’ eyes, wept bitterly.

Yeshua (Jesus) met with His disciples in a designated room Lk 22:9-12, 13. At the "hour" (evening) He sat to partake of the last SEDER = Order of Service. Many will recognized this as "THE LAST SUPPER." He told them how he desired to share this last seder with them. (He was about to fulfill its prophetic ushering in of the Kingdom – Lk 22:16. He told them He would not eat it again until "Olam Haba" = the fulfillment in the Kingdom of God. See Rev 19:9 re: "the marriage supper of the Lamb." Mt 26:29 refers to "drinking anew of the cup in Olam Haba i.e. My Father’s Kingdom.

A. Today, in the seder we re-enact the hyssop by dipping a piece of parsley or celery in salt water. This reminds us of the green (spring) vegetable and crossing the Red Sea – both symbolic of new birth. Jn 3:3 & 7; I Peter 1:23.

B. We look at a shankbone and remember the One whose bones were not broken (though He was pierced).

• Bones Ex 12:46; Num 9:12; Jn 19:36
• Pierced Ps 22:16; Zech 12:10; Jn 19:34 & 37; Rev 1:7

C. We pay attention to the matzah and remember how along with a blemish free lamb, we are to avoid leaven = in Hebrew called chometz i.e. "corruption." (This also refers to false doctrine and traditions of men that replace Biblical truth!) Matt 16:6 see especially Matt 16:11-12 NOT BREAD, as Jesus emphasized but men’s traditions as they replace Biblical truth, still applies today. We might also compare the matzah to Isa 53:3 and especially to vs 5 which describes the piercing and striping as seen in the matzah. (So it can’t become leavened. Yeshua (Jesus) is the Bread of Affliction Deut 16:3. He is also the Bread of Life (i.e. from Heaven) Jn 6:32. Jn 6:35 = implicit, Jn 6:47-48; 6:51.

When the roasted Passover Lamb was presented at the seder table, it was called "The Body." The Messiah, at the last "supper" broke bread and declared IT to be His "Body" Matt 26:26 (see also I Cor 11:24). Now, however, it was to be represented by unleavened bread – The ultimate flesh and blood sacrifice was to be Him! He would be (as presented in the Passover sacrifices) BOTH LAMB OF GOD and BREAD OF LIFE Lev 23:5 – especially see vss 6 & 12.

• Lamb of God Jn 1:29 & 36/ Rev 7:10 & 14; 14:4
• Bread of Life Jn 6:35 & 48 especially 6:51

It is possible that Jesus actually introduced a third loaf of bread. This is broken in half close to the start of the Passover seder and half is "hidden" until the end of the service. There were originally two in the Passover celebration. This came to be called by a Greek hybrid word "aphikomen" literally "I have come. I will come AGAIN." (i.e. return). It is wrapped in a cloth (as a shroud) and is "resurrected" at the conclusion of the seder. It also represents the loaves of shewbread i.e. the BREAD OF THE FACES OF GOD. Hebrew = Lechem Ha Panim (Lechem = bread; Pan = face; Panim (plural) = faces). Indeed they looked upon Him in whom DWELLS ALL THE FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY" Col 2:9. This shewbread was "hidden and revealed" to the priests from Sabbath to Sabbath.

The Cup of Grace which is partaken of at the end of the Seder takes us back to Ex 24:8, when Moses sprinkled the people and said "Behold the Blood of the Covenant." See Heb 10:29; 12:24 esp. & 13:2. We see how the Master turned the "ritual cup" into a REALITY. Matt 26:27. He made the "B’rucha = Blessing i.e. gave thanks and told His disciples to drink all of it (complete). Vs 28 "This is the Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Again, a vegetable (fruit of the vine) product would be the symbol of the ultimate Blood Sacrifice. THAT is why He said we were to partake – the Lord’s Supper/Table/Communion would be the FINAL looking for Messiah – But He, having fulfilled the Old Testament hope, gave us a MINI-PASSOVER to look for His imminent RETURN.

We have been in touch with a sincere television production ministry. This ministry will put us on INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE!! They are willing to help us produce a year’s pre-taped professional series on the Mishkan AND videos and CD Roms. A video series along with the CD will contain animated priests, music, ancient chants, etc. We have also begun by faith to prepare for the productions of three versions of the Ark of the Covenant and three versions of the Priest models. These can accompany the CD’s and videos or can be sold individually.

In January 1999 we took our three Ark of the Covenant models to a manufacturing contractor in Vancouver, Canada. The ark models can be completely dis-assembled for study purposes, with removable mercy seat, gold box liner and the contents which include the tablets with the Ten Commandments, pot of manna, Torah scroll and Aaron’s budding rod. We also have three different 16" porcelain Biblical priests models in minute detail as a marketable teaching aid/showpiece treasures. These, we hope to reproduce along with the different models of the Ark of the Covenant. Each model is highly researched as is our Tabernacle model. Our goal is also to produce a glossy booklet/pamphlet with a description of each article. This booklet will be signed by Dr. Nangle depicting it as the "original." A signed Certificate of Authenticity will accompany each model. Ordering a larger volume of each of the above will significantly reduce cost per unit.

Our primary purpose is to bring understanding and to educate.

However, we must find patrons/investors to accomplish this vision of hope. WE NEED FINANCIAL HELP to make the models right away! We are praying for patrons and sponsors. The need is $100,000 to make the models and to produce the catalogues. We will make copies of our prospectus available to any interested potential patrons. We have applied for tax exempt status and will be able to send our own tax receipts.

If you would pray - we will also find office space (office equipment will be needed) large enough to be able to set up our "museum" and have a conference center/teaching location for seminars with sound doctrinal foundations. Your prayerful responses will determine the results. Thanks.

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