Passover - Renewal Thru Christ!

"...Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7) .

The Old Testament Passover lambs were a symbol of the coming Messiah. This is the reason they were killed each year in the Spring, the same season in which Christ would be crucified.

After the death of Christ there is no need to sacrifice a lamb. Christ is the fulfillment of that symbol.

Christ was cut off in the midst of his week. He died on Wednesday the 14th of the Hebrew month Nisan. He died on the cross (or stake) at 3 PM (the ninth hour) (Mark 15:34-37). This the same time the Passover lambs were being slaughtered. That night most of the Jews would eat the Passover lambs, woefully unaware that the symbols of Passover had changed.

In the Old Testament, eating the lamb was symbolic of eating the future Messiah. However, in the New Testament, eating the unleavened bread and drinking the wine was symbolic of eating the Messiah and Savior Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:26-28).

This ceremony of the eating of Christ is to be done only by baptised Christians. It is, in a sense, a renewal of our baptism.

Christ also left us the example of foot washing during the ceremony of Passover (John 13:4-14).

One of the lessons of the foot washing is: The servant is not greater than his Lord (John 13:16). Whoever would be a chief must be the servant of all (Mark 10:44).

Disciples of Christ are those who are willing to be taught by him. What is the mark of a disciple? It is the attribute of love for others (John 13:35). This is in opposition to the spirit of competition, greed, lust, and hostility.

Are we, as disciples (those taught by Christ), supposed to set up chain-of-command systems in order to exercise close control of others? No (Matthew 20:25). Any of us who would seek to be great should seek to serve others. It is through being a servant that we are fulfilling the purpose for which we are called.

Christ pointed out that the earnest and sincere prayer of a sinner repenting is the formula for justification (Luke 18:10-14). Christ mentioned this because the religious leaders of the day looked down their noses at people of other faiths (Luke 18:9). Repentance is a human priority. It is the main lesson of Nineveh when visited by Jonah. Jonah predicted the end of Nineveh in 40 days (Jonah 3:4). However, the King repented, called a fast, and the entire city joined in (Jonah 3:6-9). As a result God cancelled the scheduled destruction of Nineveh (Jonah 3:10).

Nineveh was such a good example of repentance, that Christ pointed it out to the sick religious leaders of the day (Matthew 12:41). Christ made the comparison of the servant who said he wasn't going to work but later did go to work. This was compared with the servant who said he was going to work but then didn't go to work (Matthew 21:28-30). He told the religious leaders that "...publicans and harlots go into the kingdom before you" (verse 31). The publicans (tax collectors) and harlots repented but the religious leaders thought they had nothing to repent of (verse 32).

The religious leaders looked down their noses at Christ for eating with publicans and sinners (Mark 2:16). Christ let them know that he "...came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (verse 17).

Acceptance of the sacrifice of Christ is reconciliation with God, allowing us to be saved by his life (Romans 5:10). Christ was raised from the dead. He is the living Messiah. He is not just a good teacher, a good leader, or a prophet. He is the first begotten from the dead (Revelation 1:5).

Repentance means to turn or change. Godly sorrow may lead to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).

After repenting a person should count the cost (Luke 14:27-30), be baptised and receive the Holy Spirit.

How does one receive the Holy Spirit?

The sequence of events is:

Repentance
Conversion
Baptism
The Laying on of hands
Receiving the Holy Spirit

Repentance (turning or changing) is first, followed by conversion and baptism (Acts 2:38 and Acts 3:19). Next is the laying on of hands (hands placed on your head, applying a small amount of oil), and receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15-17).

After receiving the Holy Spirit, we should pray, and study the scriptures, and apply what we learn in our daily lives so that the Spirit can grow within us.

Prayer is our communication to God

Bible study is God's communication to us.

As the spirit of God grows within us we are destined to become overcomers.

Those who overcome will be given power over the nations (Revelation 2:26).

-- wilyelder

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