Dear friends,
A few short weeks ago, we considered and celebrated the earth shattering, history changing events of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of ישוע, Jesus. (From now on I will often refer to His name in Hebrew.) The centerpiece of human history. The moment in time that our forefathers looked to, and the moment that we reflect back upon. There is no three day period that holds more importance for mankind. It is beautiful to explore these events within their cultural context and the specific time frame that they fall within. I pray that this will enrich our understanding of those days, and cause worship to arise from deep within our spirit , as we contemplate together how perfect His ways are and the precision with which He does things.
Friends, the Crucifixion, burial and Resurrection are connected into an intimate time frame within the Jewish Feasts, or what we could simply call the Feasts of יהוה, His moadim/ appointed times. יהוה is the Hebrew tetragrammaton, and is thought to be pronounced either Yahweh or Yehaweh. It is so rich to read Exodus 12 and 23 and compare them to the timeline of the last week of the life of ישוע . Exodus 12 verse 2 tells us that the first month of the year is to be called Aviv, which in modern Hebrew is used for the season of Spring. God defines that it begins just 12 days before Passover.
How amazing that the Jewish calendar begins with a season of redemption and deliverance, as well as judgment on the enemies of יהוה! This is the true Biblical New Year.
Exodus 12 v 3 tells us that on the 10th day, each man is to take a lamb for his household. This year in Israel was perhaps the only year since the actual Exodus, that we have celebrated the Passover with only our own households, and that after 6pm we were literally not allowed to exit our homes. Normally we would have many guests and it is a time for visiting others. However, in Acts 16 v 31 says “You and your household shall be saved.” There was something precious and intimate about celebrating with only our household and placing the blood on the doorpost, believing for the plague to pass over our home. It would seem that God truly protected Israel from the modern plague of Corona, since we are consistently number one as a nation, for the very small number of deaths and active cases!
Please read this next part slowly, to let the precision and perfection of God and the fulfillment of ancient prophecies fully sink in!
The lamb must be without spot or blemish and is watched over in each household for 4 days. ישוע is the perfect Lamb that was slain from before the foundations of the earth (revelation 13 v 8), without spot or blemish. He was examined by His own people, and was found to be without sin. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes just as the lambs were that were born in Bethlehem Ephrata, by the Migdal Eder, or watchtower of the flock. This term is first mentioned in mentioned in Genesis 35 v 21, is later found in Micah 4 v 8 and 5 v 1 and is then quoted in Matthew 2 v 6,). Those lambs were born to die as sacrifices in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. They were checked for blemishes, and then carefully wrapped in swaddling to protect them from getting spots or blemishes. Thus the shepherds, saw ישוע born where the sheep gave birth, and then being wrapped in swaddling clothes. They would have understood the incredible depth of the symbolism that the Father was using to communicate this most important message to and through these humble and unlikely messengers! The long awaited Messiah of Israel is born! This one is born to die for the sins of Israel and the nations! They understood that He was born to die, and that at His birth and His death He would be wrapped in linen swaddling clothes. The details are so profound. Some would suggest that there was only one time of the year when the Shepherds would be in the fields watching over their flocks by night, as per Luke 2 v 8. This was in the month of Aviv, the month of the Passover. Could it be possible that ישוע was born at this same time period, in the same season that He gave His life as a ransom for many?
The animal killed for the Passover sacrifice must be slaughtered at twilight, the very hour that ישוע gave up His spirit on the cross (Exodus12 v 6). Then the blood must be placed on the two door posts and lintel of the house (Exodus 12 v 7), just as His most precious blood must be applied to our hearts and to our lives. It is both shed for the nation/s and for us as individuals and households.
As I was editing this post, my thoughts were drawn to the celebration of the Chinese New Year, which this year fell on January 25th. There is an article in the Times of Israel detailing the incredible similarities between the Chinese New Year and Jewish פסח/ Passover. Red decorations are placed above and down the two sides of the door frame, just as per the Biblical instruction that was given to the Israelites. At this time it is being reported that crosses are being removed from many Chinese churches. May Abba release His children from bondage and sound judgement over His enemies. It was said that last week when a law was being passed to increase persecution of believers in China that the sky turned black during daylight hours! Let us pray together for God to work deliverance for the Nations, just as He did for Israel at the time of the Exodus from Egypt.
One day that Exodus will be eclipsed by a greater Exodus according to the Prophet Jeremiah in chapter 16 v 14-15. “However, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but it will be said, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.” I noticed that in verse 16 it says that God will send many hunters who will hunt them down on every mountain, hill and cleft in the rock. Compare this to the following sura of the Qurán that says: “Judgment Day will not come before the Muslims fight the Jews, and the Jews will hide behind the rocks and the trees, but the rocks and the trees will say: Oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.” In the Middle East at this time, these cries are again increasing from certain quarters. May Abba use this season to deliver us from enemies within out hearts, the sin that comes between us and our Father, and the enemies without.
