Passover - Pesach

when is it (on the calendar)?

what is it's historical basis?

how is it celebrated?

is there any link in the apostolic scriptures to it?

do christians see any relevance to the messiah in it? if so what are the implications?


Steve

passover

occurs on the 14th of Nisan, April 19/20 2008

passover celebrates the night when G-d delievered His people from under the cruel struggle and slavery imposed by the Egyptian captor.

The passover and killing of the first born was the last in a series of plagues visited on Egypt in an effort to encourage the Pharoah to let Israel go, needless to say he did not and hardened his heart to the point where God fixed his choice for him.

Each plague was directed at the prominent egyptian deities. The firstborn was the ultimate deity in the end when it was Pharoah's son.

Imagine the scene... G-d tells Israel to take a lamb (sheep or goat whichever you could get) and kill it, smearing its blood around the doorframe with a hyssop branch. Over the coming days hundreds of thousands of Israelites were slaughtering sheep. The streets must have been running with blood. Not to mention the egyptians that did the same so as not to suffer.

I remember an account that the number of family may have been as high as 100,000 (i suppose that would pretty much use up the entire lamb stock of the country... what a wallop on the national reserves).

Either way, the people did as they were told, and that night the Angel of Death passed over the houses. Those with blood on the door, were OK those without paid the price. We always think of it as firstborn children (in the sense only children died), but it says firstborn, whether they be babies, children, teenagers, adults and animals, all firstborn died.

Pharoah suffering the loss of his son, was gutted commanding the Israelites to leave, now we have 100,000 families plus animals/livestock and their goods and belongings AND any egyptians that chose to leave with them.

Next up came the sea. You know the charlton heston scene were the river splits.

Pharoah had come to his senses and set the army after them to bring them back (after all, the country needed them for construction workers - can't have the common egyptian doing that can we).

Coming to the water, Moses strikes the water and the water moves and the people cross over on dry ground... by the time Israel are across (which must have took a while), Pharoah and his army have almost caught up, but Israel are across and the horses and chariots and riders are drowned when the waters close again.

G-d has delievered His people from a mighty hand...


so why do we celebrate passover.... because G-d delivers when no one else can. blessed be His holy Name. We do it to remember, our captivity, our slavery, our deliverance.

• when is it (on the calendar)?
  
• how is it celebrated?
  
• is there any link in the apostolic scriptures to it?
  
• do christians see any relevance to the messiah in it? if so what are the implications?
  

I can't answer t/ 1st 3 but I have something wonderful I've learnd about t/ relevance to t/ Messiah in it!

I've learnd that t/ Passover was only referring to that night when t/ Angel of Death passed over t/ homes w/ t/ blood on t/ door posts. And t/ implications that are interesting about this event is: T/ Blood was placed on t/ door posts of t/ home, t/ ENTRANCE to t/ home, & it DID NOT MATTER what type of person was inside that home. There could've been murderers, thieves, criminals in that home but IT WAS ONLY T/ BLOOD t/ Angel was looking for! Not our good works, our good deeds or our good intentions, JUST T/ BLOOD!

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" Titus 3:5 (verse 3-starts it, v.4-sets it up, v.5-explains it, v.6-finishes it!)

Oh, t/ Blood of Jesus! Oh, t/ Blood of Jesus! It washes White as snow!!! Halelujah!!! Glory to God!!! Praise t/ Lord God of Israel!!! Amen & Amen!

If you've never accepted t/ price that Jesus our Messiah paid for your sins when He suffered for you on that Cross so long ago & you are ready to receive it, PRAY - 1) ask God to forgive you of your sins, 2) ask Jesus to come into your heart & save you, 3) tell Him you believe that He died for your sins so that you could be forgiven, & 4) put your trust in Him 100% & make Him your Lord & Savior, & 5) tell Him, "Thank You, Jesus!" Amen!

sincerely & for certain,
Jack Swanger

*Glorify your God*