17 posts tagged “christianity”
Feast of the Passover (Final)
XI Shulchan Orekh…..The Festive Seder Dinner!!
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Those demonstrations or teachings on the Seder conducted without a dinner can use many of the traditional songs during this interim.
The following are some songs taken from the “Judasim 101: Peasach” website:
Many people think of Pesach as a time of deprivation: a time when they cannot eat bread or other leavened foods. This is not the traditional way of viewing the holiday. Pesach is Z'man Cheiruteinu, the Time of Our Freedom, and the joy of that time is evident in the music of the season. There are many joyous songs sung during the seder.
Mah Nishtanah (Why is it Different?)
This is the tune sung during the youngest participant's recitation of the Four Questions:
Why is this night different from all other nights, from all other nights? Mah nishtanah ha-lahylah ha-zeh mi-kol ha-layloht, mi-kol ha-layloht?
1) On all other nights, we may eat chametz and matzah, chametz and matzah. On this night, on this night, only matzah. She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin chameytz u-matzah, chameytz u-matzah. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, kooloh matzah.
2) On all other nights, we eat many vegetables, many vegetables. On this night, on this night, maror. She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin sh'ar y'rakot, sh'ar y'rakot. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, maror.
3) On all other nights, we do not dip even once. On this night, on this night, twice. She-b'khol ha-layloht ayn anu mat'bilin afilu pa'am echat, afilu pa'am echat. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, sh'tay p'amim.
4) On all other nights, we eat either sitting or reclining, either sitting or reclining. On this night, on this night, we all recline. She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin bayn yosh'bin u'vayn m'soobin, bayn yosh'bin u'vayn m'soobin. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, koolanu m'soobin.
Dahyenu (It Would Have Been Enough For Us)
This is one of the most popular tunes of the seder, a very up-beat song about the many favors that G-d bestowed upon us when He brought us out of Egypt. The song appears in the haggadah after the telling of the story of the exodus, just before the explanation of Pesach, Matzah and Maror. I provide just two sample verses from a rather long song. The English does not include all of the repetition that is in the Hebrew.
Had He brought us out of Egypt and not judged them, it would have been enough for us. Ilu hotzi-hotzianu hotzianu mi-Mitzrayim, v'lo asah bahem s'fateem dahyenu.
(Chorus) It would have been enough for us. Dahy-dahyenu, dahy-dahyenu, dahy-dahyenu, dahyenu, dahyenu, dahyenu.
Dahy-dahyenu, dahy-dahyenu, dahy-dahyenu, dahyenu, dahyenu!
Had He judged them and not done so to their idols, it would have been enough for us. Ilu asah bahem s'fateem, v'lo asah beyloheyhem, v'lo asah beyloheyhem dahyenu.
Chorus, etc.
Eliyahu Ha-Navi (Elijah, the Prophet)
Many people sing this song when the Cup of Elijah is poured and the door is opened in anticipation of his return.
Elijah the Prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah, Elijah, Elijah the Gileadite Eliyahu ha-Navi, Eliyahu ha-Tishbi, Eliyahu, Eliyahu, Eliyahu ha-Giladi.
Speedily and in our days, come to us, with the messiah, son of David, with the messiah, son of David. Bimhayrah v'yamenu, yavo aleynu, im Moshiach ben David, im Moshiach ben David.
Adir Hu (He is Mighty)
Adir Hu is a great sing-along song, because it has a lot of repetition. You don't need to know much Hebrew to get by with this one! It's also got a catchy tune. It's sung as the seder comes to a close. It expresses our hope that the messianic age will begin soon, and the Temple will be rebuilt. Each line of praise begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in alphabetical order, a common gimmick in Jewish hymns.
He is mighty, He is mighty Adir hu, adir hu
Chorus:
May He soon rebuild his house
Speedily, speedily and in our days, soon.
G-d, rebuild! G-d, rebuild!
Rebuild your house soon! Chorus:
Yivneh vayto b'karov
Bim'hayrah, bim'hayrah, b'yamenu b'karov
E-yl b'nay! E-yl b'nay!
B'nay vayt'kha b'karov
He is distinguished, He is great, He is exhalted
(Chorus) Bachur hu, gadol hu, dagul hu,
(Chorus)
He is glorious, He is faithful, He is faultless, He is righteous
(Chorus) Hadur hu, vatik hu, zakay hu, chasid hu,
(Chorus)
He is pure, He is unique, He is powerful,
He is wise, He is King, He is awesome,
He is sublime, He is all-powerful, He is the redeemer, He is all-righteous
(Chorus) Tahor hu, yachid hu, kabir hu,
Lamud hu, melekh hu, nora hu,
Sagiv hu, izuz hu, podeh hu, tzaddik hu
(Chorus)
He is holy, He is compassionate, He is almighty, He is omnipotent
(Chorus) Kadosh hu, rachum hu, shaddai hu,
takif hu
(Chorus)
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XII Tzafun: The Afikoman
The father or leader of the Seder now brings forth the hidden piece of Matza that had been broken, wrapped in white linen and buried. If during the Seder, the Matza, called the “Afikoman”, which means, “that which comes after”, has been taken from its hidden place by one of the children, then the father or leader of the Passover Seder will have to redeem it in silver. The piece of Matza is the last thing eaten at the Seder…and is called the “dessert”.
As I said before, the Matza is taken out of the Matza cover at the beginning of the Seder. The Matza cover is divided into three compartments. This represents the one God who has revealed Himself in three specific persons: the Father (Jehovah), the Son (Yeshua – Jesus)and the Holy Spirit (Ruach Hokodesh). The same is seen in the Old Testament description of the three courts of the Tabernacle. They call the Afikoman, the hidden bread.
The son (center piece Matza) is hidden between the other two pieces..”the Father and the Holy Spirit”. The Jewish people understood the Father and the Spirit, but they did not understand the Son. He was hidden. I am reminded of the (1 Colossians 3:3) “your life is hid with Christ in God.” Timothy calls Christ the “mystery of the ages” (1 Tim 3:16). This middle piece is broken. Jesus said at that last Passover, “this is my body broken for you;” (1 Corinthians 11:24) And like Jesus, the Matza is wrapped in white linen and buried. (Matthew 27:59) “And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in clean linen cloth.” (Matthew 27:60) “And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock:” With the third cup of wine….redemption, the bread is brought forth from its entombment and all at the table eat of it with the wine. It is the last thing eaten, as if “he who eats of this bread, shall never hunger.” (John 6:35)
The parallels between the Messiah and the hidden bread are obvious and in the ancient copies of the Haggadah, this was reflected in it writing. One of them, written over 100 years ago reflects that connection.
“I am ready and prepared to keep the commandment eat the Afikoman for the sake of the G_d and His presence, may it be counted as done in the name of all Israel. I am observing the commandment so that I may remember the Passover lamb that was eaten at the end of the Seder before midnight, may the eating of the Afikoman also achieve all the spiritual things accomplished in the Passover lamb itself. May it be thy will O Lord our G_d and the G_d of our Fathers, that you build the holy temple soon during our lifetime. May we be able to bring our offerings there and eat of the Passover lamb during our lifetime, as the Torah says. And then, of the first year, roasted over the fire, together with the Matza and Moror, may we be able to do this in our holy city of Jerusalem soon in our lifetime.”
Jesus, as the father of the Passover, took the bread and He blessed it, saying, “ Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.” This is another prophetic utterance reflecting His resurrection to come three days later.
Let’s take a closer look at the bread.
….It’s STRIPPED (Isaiah 53:51) “By His stripes we are healed”.
….It’s PIERCED (Zech 12:10) “And they shall look upon Him who they have pierced.”
….It’s PURE, without leaven. (1 John 3:5) “In him was no sin”.
….It was PLACED On DISPLAY. (Exodus 5:22/John 12:32) “If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.”
….Jesus was born in Bethlehem (which mean the “HOUSE OF BREAD”)
….Jesus was raised in Nazareth (Which means a stalk of grain)
….Jesus used images of bread all though his teaching. He was “baked in the fire”, judged on our behalf. And He was buried of the 2nd feat day, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and risen on the Festival of First Fruits.
XIII The Third Cup……….Redemption
The Third Cup of wine….the cup of redemption is represented by a silver chalaise. Like in the Tabernacle and the Temple, silver always represents redemption. Traditionally the wine was mixed with a little water. Some Rabbis feel this was done so the children also could partake of the wine. I am reminded that as the Roman soldier pierced the side of Jesus with a spear, out from His side flowed blood and water. (John 19:34)
Jesus took the wine and He blessed it. Does anyone know what that blessing was? First let’s look at the Jewish wedding.
-Parallels in Jewish Tradition-
a. A contract is made with the bride, which they both sign. The groom pays the bride’s father a dowery. Often the price is very high, but under the advise of the groom’s father, the price is paid in full.
b. The groom goes to “prepare a place for her. Their new home.
c. The bride waits at home of her father…consecrated, bought with a price, with oil in her lamp, as the groom might come at night. She wears a veil if she goes out because is no longer her own.
d. With the groom, things are going as fast as possible, but even he does not know the day or the hour of the wedding, as it is in his fathers hands.
e. The big day comes. The groom gets his groomsmen ready and his best man and off they go. He sends the best man ahead to warn others of his impending arrival, who gives a great shout, “Behold the bridegroom cometh.”.
f. The best man would wait outside the room for the voice of the groom and would be told when the marriage had been consummated. (John 3:29)
g. They would have a seven day celebration that would end….with a great marriage supper. Sometimes they would even run out of wine…..unless there was someone to turn the water into wine.
Wedding/ New Testament Comparisons
a. Jesus (Yeshua) approached us with a contract as we see in Jeremiah 31:31-34, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
b. As we can see the contract is particularly advantageous to us as it forgives us of all sin and is paid in full, by Jesus Himself.
c. Jesus found the price very high, but because it was the will of the Father and because of His great love for us, the bride, He paid the price in full.
d. Then He “went to prepare a place for us, that where He is we might be also”. He went to prepare a mansion for us.
e. Like the Jewish wedding, the day and the hour are in the Fathers hands.
f. The believer is to be set-apart, sanctified, bought with the blood of Christ Himself. We are no longer our own…we belong to Him.
g. Like the bride we are to have oil in our lamps (the Holy Spirit).
h. Jesus will let us know of His coming. He sent John the Baptist before Him to tell the people that the “kingdom of God was at hand”. Before He takes the church home He will let us know, “with the trump of God and the voice of an Archangel.”
i. And we will wear beautiful white linen, which represents “the righteousness of saints”
All this is to demonstrate that blessing upon the wine, is also a toast to the bride in the lifting up the cup with the right hand and sealing the contract.
The blessing was: Blessed art thou, I Lord our God, King of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine.”
“Baruck ato Adoni, Eluhaynu meleck haw olam, borey paree agophen.”
Jesus said, “I am the true vine.” We are the branches. Before Jesus comes into our lives our branches are withered from the decay of sin and we were barren of any fruit. But the Father grafted us onto the true vine of His Son so that now as we abide with Him we become a “fruitful bough…hanging over the wall” The fruit of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and patience, witnessing to the world the character of Christ.
XIV Barekh: Grace after Meals
Reading from the Haggadah: “Y’hee shaym Adoni m’vo-roch v’ad olam”.
“Let is bless G_ds name forever and ever.
“Blessed art thou, O Lord our G_d, King of the universe, who in thy goodness feedest the entire world, and in mercy providest sustenance for all living creatures. The blessing of food has never failed us, for in thy goodness, thou dost provide for all our needs.
IX Nirtzah: Closing Elijah’s Cup..The Cup of Joy
The fourth cup is poured, including a cup set aside for the prophet Elijah, who is supposed to herald the Messiah, and is supposed to come on Pesach to do this. The door is opened for a while at this point (supposedly for Elijah.
Tradition tells us that Jesus turned over this last cup, before it was filled saying, “I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers kingdom”. (Luke 22:18)
Every Seder closes with these words: “Next Year in Jerusalem”
“ L’shana ha’ba-ah b’Yerushalayim”
So, we to wait for that glorious day….for the marriage supper of the lamb, in New Jerusalem!!
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Whether in homes or in the local church I like to finish this Seder with communion together, to lift our cups to the Lord and give thanks for the awesome plan of the groom.
Feast of Passover No. 4
The Four Questions Ma-nish-a-nah
The youngest asks in the household or congregation who is able, asks for questions from the Haggadah. Since at one time, every child has been the youngest…everyone would have a chance to hear the answers and thus the commandment to pass this down to all generations would be fulfilled. The four questions are:
1) Why is this night different from all other nights? On all other nights we can eat any kind of bread but on this night only unleavened bread?
2) Why on all other nights we can eat any kind of herbs but on this night only bitter herbs?
3) Why on all other nights we do not even dip once but on this night we dip twice?
4) Why on all other nights do we sit up at the table but on this night we all sit in a reclined position? Why?
Answers:
1) Unleavened Bread (Matza)is the symbol of purity and holiness, as it contains no leaven. Leaven is a symbol of sin, as we seen in both the Tenach and the New Testament. (Exodus 24:25/ 1 Corinthians 5:7) “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:” What more fitting that on the night of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt by a Holy and Righteous God, that they would use this symbol of holiness. Also this was the bread of affliction made in great haste with no time for the leaven to rise as they were thrust out of Egypt.
2) Bitter Herbs (Maror) represent the bitterness of slavery and bondage in Egypt. As Christians we see this as the bitterness and bondage to the slavery of sin. (John 8:34) “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”
3) The Dipping of the Parsley (Karpas) into the salt water represents both the tears of repentance, as well as the Hebrew children who entered the Red Sea and came out safely on the other side. As Christians we too see tears of repentance and the second dip is our Baptisim. We also came out in safety…changed. (Romans 6:4) “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. It was also this action whereby Jesus identified Judas as the one who would betray Him at the last Passover meal they would share together.
4) The reclining in their seats represents their deliverance from slavery.
Even so, we can see this as a celebration of our freedom. (John 8:32) “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
In Orthodox households the Mageed (the story of the Exodus) was chanted. After the reading of the four questions (the Ma-nish-a-nah) and the answers are read from the Haggadah, the “Be-khol-dor-vecor” (In every generation
every individual, we are redeemed.”) is read. To me these are both
reminders that God desires “that all be saved”….and that so great a salvation is offered “to whosoever will” trust in His sacrifice for the world. Truly it was enough (Dayanu) to secure a place for us in God’s kingdom.
The best version of the Exodus story can be found in the book of Exodus. The important point is not just that God delivered His people, but how He chose to do that. God could have used any means He wanted to “translate” His people out of Egypt and into the promised land. But Gods work with mankind has never been just about the destination but the journey. God would have them take a lamb without spot or blemish from among the flock of Israel. Four days before the Passover, the lamb was selected and examined by the people. Jesus entered into Jerusalem four days before Passover and was examined by the people. Many cried, Hossana”, (Oh, Save Us!) The Passover lambs were kept in an area called “Ephratah”, just outside Bethlehem, watched over by temple priest/ shepherds. (Micah 5:2) “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting. The lamb was slain outside the gate and its blood sprinkled upon the lintels and doorposts of the house, that the angel of death would “pass over” those covered with the blood. Our body is the “the house or temple of the Holy Spirit” (Hebrews 3:6) “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” Jesus (Yeshua), Gods lamb without spot or blemish, has sprinkled His own perfect blood upon “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord” (Romans 10:13), and we have passed from death unto life by faith in His sacrifice for us. (1 John 3:14) “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.
The message to be remembered down through the ages is that BLOOD SAVES!!
(Leviticus 17:11) “For the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls:”
The story continues….
Giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai, wandering in the wilderness, and finally entering into the promised land. The ceremonial foods are taken and eaten from the Sedar plate.(K’arah)
The items on the Seder Plate are: Bitter Herbs (Maror)…often ground horseradish, Vegetable (Karpas)..usually parsley, Charoset (a sweet mixture of honey, nuts, apples and cinnamon), an Egg, and a Lambshank (Zeroah). On the table is Unleavened Bread (Matza) ,Salt Water to dip the Karpas and Wine for the Four Cups.
We have already spoken of the Bitter Herbs (Maror) and the Dipping in Salt Water. Let’s look at the other items on the Seder Plate.
1) Parsley (Karpas) represents to both the Jew and the Christian the promised land and its abundance. Although we recognize the fulfillment of Gods promise as the Hebrew people came into the land of Cannan, as well as the fulfillment of prophecy as Israel was born again in 1948…as Christians we see another promised land, promised to those who believe in the name of the Son of God. The Kingdom of Heaven. We see the description of New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven (Revelation 21:2) and its beauty is beyond description.
2) Charoset represents the sweetness of a life devoted to God. The “sweet savour of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:15)
3) To the Jewish people, the Egg represents the hardness of Pharaohs heart, and was probably added to the Seder plate during the Babylonian captivity. But to Christians it also represents the new life we have in Christ.
4) The Lambshank (Zeroah) represents the lamb sacrificed at the Passover, as well as in the temple at Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). It is interesting that the word “zeroah” lterally means “right arm”, “right hand”, or “mighty power”…all terms directly linked to the Messiah…and linking the Messiah to the sacrificial lamb.
-A Scriptural Parallel- (Genesis 37-50)
The Passover story really begins with Joseph being sold in to slavery by his brothers who were jealous of his relationship with his father
Jacob and with the Lord. During the following seventeen years in Egypt, divine providence brings Joseph to a place great favor in the eyes of Pharaoh and Joseph becomes a man of great power and authority…just under Pharaoh himself. A severe famine brings the sons of Jacob for food. Which Joseph had been storing up for the previous seven years being forewarned by the Lord of the famine. After a wonderful story of the families reconciliation and forgiveness, Jacob and the rest of their family and servants moved to Egypt. When Jacob died, Joseph fulfilled his dying wish to be taken back to Cannan for burial, where his body is still today. Many years later as Joseph grew old, he prophesized that one day all their descendants would again return to Cannan and when they did, they were to take his bones back with them for burial in that land of his fathers. (Genesis 50:24-25). After Joseph’s death, his body was embalmed and buried in the Valley of the Kings in accordance with his royal station. While in Egypt, Joseph was called…Joseph of Rama…which means “Joseph in the seat of idolatry” as he was just under Pharoah in his authority over the most idolatrous kingdoms in existence at that time. The Egyptians had hundreds of gods, and yet Joseph remained faithful to the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
Four hundred years pass and there arose Pharaohs who knew not of Joseph. Great cries of anguish went up to God as the Hebrew people were forced into slavery. God raises up Moses to deliver His people but God hardens Pharaohs heart so that His glory and power might be seen in the peoples deliverance. God brings great plagues upon the Egyptians that concludes with the death of all the first born of Egypt. Only those within a house whose doorpost and lintels have been
sprinkled with the blood of the Passover lamb are untouched as the angel of death passes over Egypt. Pharaoh is defeated and tells Moses to take his people into the wilderness to worship for three days. But it was not long after the Hebrews had left Egypt, that the Pharaoh knew that they were not returning and began to make plans to pursue them and force them back into Egyptian slavery.
The question is: How did Pharoah know that the Hebrews would not be returning after the three days of worshiping in the wilderness?
Because the tomb of Joseph was open and his bones were gone…taken back to Cannan for burial in fulfillment of Josephs last dying wish.
The Chaldean word “Rama” meaning “a place of idolatry”, is much the same as the Hebrew word “Arimathaea”. Arimathaea is a town in Israel named after its “high” places that were used in the worship false gods. Are we seeing the parallel yet?
Now, let’s jump ahead another 1, 476 years. Jesus (Yeshuwa) lays down His life at the hands of wicked men to die on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for all those that would believe and trust in Him. He is taken down from the cross and buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea.
After three days, they find the stone rolled away and His body is gone.
* * * * * * * * *
-Scriptural Parallel-
The name Jesus is actually a translation..…of a translation.... of a translation.
Jesus name in the Hebrew is Yeshua, which means “Savior”. Yeshua was not directly translatable into Greek…which used the name Iesous. Iesous became Yesous….. Yesous became Jesous….. Jesous became Jesus. If you directly translate Yeshua into English it becomes Joshua. How interesting. Who was it who brought the Hebrew people into the promised land? Joshua
(Joshua 6:20) and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
Let’s compare that to the New Testament promise of Yeshua
(1 Thessalonians 4:16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Yeshua (Jesus) bringing us into the promised land of heaven.
VIII The Second Cup……… Deliverance
This is a time for the Jewish people to look back on what they were delivered from. The father or leader of the Seder would dip his finger in the wine and drop…one drop at a time....the wine onto a white saucer before him each time reciting a plague that fell upon the Egypt. As Christians it is a time for us to remember what we were delivered from and the Jesus shed His blood …one drop at a time…for the sins for the entire race of Adam, and secured a place in heaven for all those that believe on Him.
IX Rachtzah ……..The Washing of hands
This time the washing of hands is done with a blessing in preparation for eating the Matza. There is also a blessing given over the all the grain products (the Motzi) and the bitter herbs (the Moror) And finally the blessing upon the Matza itself.
“Baruch ato Adoni, Eluhaynu meleck haw olam, a moshek amin ahorey”.
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.”
More about this important prayer at the end of the Seder.
X Korech……. Rabbi Hillel’s Sandwich ?
A portion of the Seder sometimes includes this tradition. Rabbi Hillel placed the Moror and the Charoset together between two pieces of Matza. It is interesting that the sweetness of the Charoset, which represents Gods love in sending the Messiah cancels out the bitterness of the Moror, which represents sin.
XI Shulchan Orekh…..The Festive Seder Dinner!!
(Continued from Feast of Passover No 2)
Feast of the Passover No. 3
Let’s start out this third session with an explanation of some of the terminology and symbols.
afikoman: Greek, "dessert," in ancient times the last morsel of the paschal lamb, eaten at the end of the Passover meal. In modern times, it is represented by half of the middle Matzah in the ceremonial Seder dish, which, when broken off, is hidden until the end of the meal. Adapted from some Jewish traditions, it also symbolizes the Messiah who will come to restore all things. In Christian Seders, this becomes the symbol of Jesus the Messiah (Christ), and is used as the bread of the Eucharist.
beitzah: "roasted egg," in the Seder meal represents the burnt offerings brought to the Temple during festivals in ancient days; it also symbolizes the cycle of life, the endurance of God’s people and the hope for a future. Traditionally, a brown egg is used on the Seder plate, roasted in an oven until it turns dark. Vegetarians often use an avocado seed as a substitute for the egg on the Seder plate. While hard boiled eggs are often served as the first course of the Seder meal, like the zeroah the beitzah is not eaten since sacrifices are no longer offered.
chametz: "leaven" or "yeast," the ingredient in bread that ferments and makes the bread "rise"by producing bubbles of gas in the dough. Its absence in Passover carries a dual symbolism. First, the use of unleavened bread symbolizes the haste with which the Israelites had to flee Egypt; second, it is often a symbol of corruption and sin, and so its removal symbolizes the freedom from sin that God brings.
charoset: derived from the Hebrew word for "clay," a mixture of apples, nuts, cinnamon, honey, and wine which serves to sweeten the bitter herbs. Because of its appearance, it symbolizes the mud mixed with straw used by the slaves in Egyptian buildings. However, it’s sweetness symbolizes that the bitterness of slavery is tempered with the hope for a future. While the maror and matzah are biblical commands, the charoset was an element added by the rabbis.
haggadah; plural, haggadot: from a root which means "to tell," the printed booklet that contains the instructions or order or service, readings, and songs for the Passover Seder.
k’arah: a ceremonial Seder plate, sometimes very ornate, that contains places for the five symbolic elements of the Passover Seder: karpas (parsley), lamb bone, bitter herbs, egg, and charoset. On more elaborate plates, additional places are provided for other symbols, such as a place for a small bowl of salt water.
karpas: "green vegetable," garden greens, usually parsley, celery, lettuce, or other leafy green vegetable such as watercress used in the Seder meal. The greens are dipped in a small bowl of salt water, recalling the hyssop dipped for sprinkling on the door posts of Hebrew dwellings in preparation for the Exodus (Exodus 12:22).
maggid: "telling," the section of the Seder in which the story of exodus and Passover are recited in various ways.
maror: "bitter herb," traditionally a piece of horseradish root or romaine lettuce. A reminder of the bitterness of life in bondage, not only in Egypt, but everywhere. In the Seder meal, grated horseradish is usually used.
matzah; plural, matzot: "unleavened bread," dough made without yeast that bakes into a thin flat bread. Biblical tradition says that the Hebrews had to leave Egypt so quickly that they did not have time to let the bread rise so they made the dough without yeast or leaven. It is possible that they took the dough with them in kneading bowls and sun baked the bread on the hot rocks of the desert. There are various ways to transliterate this term. Today, Matzah is represented by flat cracker-like wafers. In the Passover Seder three Matzot are used, two representing the two loaves of bread that were placed in the Jerusalem Temple on festival days, plus an additional one for Passover.
pesach: "passover," used to refer to the entire Passover festival or more specifically to the Passover lamb. In the Seder, it refers to the roasted lamb shank bone that represents the sacrificial Passover lamb (Exodus 12:21-27).
seder: "order," refers both to the service of the Passover festival meal that follows a prescribed order, and to the entire festival meal itself.
zeroah: "arm," the roasted shank bone of a lamb that is symbolic of the Passover lamb, both the lambs that were killed in Egypt for the first Passover, but also for the sacrificial lambs offered in the Temple to commemorate Passover. Some Jews understand the bone also to symbolize the arm of God outstretched to help his people in times of trouble. Since there are no longer Temple sacrifices, no lamb or any other roasted meat is eaten at Passover. Some households use a chicken neck in place of the shank bone, and vegetarians often use beets to replace the shank bone on the seder plate, with the red beets and juice symbolizing the blood of the lamb that was used to mark the door posts of the houses.
This is Not exhaustive…but it should help………………
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Kaddesh… Previously (No. 2), we had done the Kaddesh (The Blessing ) over the items on the table and the Seder plate. But before the First Cup of wine is drunk from, there is a special blessing over the wine.
“Baruck ato Adoni, Eluhaynu meleck Haw Olam, boray paree agophen.”
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, king of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine.”
Then they all Drink of the First Cup.
In teaching the Passover, I usually do not explain the Christian parallel of this incredible prayer until the end of the Seder.
Urchatz.. The Washing of hands
In preparation for the meal, there is a ceremonial hand washing This is not a sanitary action but is symbolic of the "clean hands" with which one comes before God (Psalm 24:3-4). This can be done only by the leader, with a brief explanation of the action, or can be done by all the participants. If time allows, this can be expanded into a communal activity, in which one person pours for another, thus emphasizing the humility and service to each other in community. It is also possible to incorporate a reading here from John 13:2-14, in which Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as a sign of humility. It is not included here in order to preserve the flow of the story without introducing specifically Christian elements at this point.
This first washing of the hands is none without a blessing in preparation for eating of the Karpas (Vegetable.. usually parsley or celery).
Karpas .. A vegetable (usually parsley) is dipped in salt water and eaten. The vegetable symbolizes the lowly origins of the Jewish people; the salt water symbolizes the tears shed as a result of our slavery. Parsley is a good vegetable to use for this purpose, because when you shake off the salt water, it looks like tears. Once again all these symbols have a fulfillment in Christian doctrine and will be explained a little later in the Seder.
Yachatz… The breaking of the Matza
At this point the Father of the Passover (or the leader) picks up the Matza cover containing three pieces of Matza. The three pieces separate and yet under the cover together. In this we see the trinity of the one God. The Father, the Son and the Spirit. The center piece, the Son, is removed. It is broken, wrapped in white linen or placed a special cover. This piece is called the “Afikoman”.. the dessert. The children cover their eyes while the Father hides the Afikoman. While he buries it. If during the Seder. A child finds the Afikoman, it must be redeemed in silver.
Like children with their eyes closed, the disciples really did not understand, when Jesus told them He would have to leave soon. And when they came to the empty tomb their first reaction was, “Where is my Lord? What have you done with Him?” It was after He had risen that suddenly all these symbols of a ceremony that had done every year of their lives…moved from their heads…to their hearts. More detail on this will be given near the end of the Seder.
Mageed… The Story
Mageed means the story and begins with the invitation…the “Ha-lahma-anya”…”this is the bread of affliction”. Spoken in Arabic traditionally, as they believed that was the language of the Jews spoken in that era. But if fact, at the time of the first Passover, the language spoken was Egyption, Hebrew..or a mixture of those language that had developed during the 400 year captivity. Much as Yiddish formed in Europe as a unique blend of both Hebrew and German. It wasn’t till much later that Arabic became a common language. It was the common language of Jesus. In His great pain and anguish on the cross, Jesus would speak in the language of His childhood…Arabic, when He said, “My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me”. “Eli Eli Lama sabach thani”, as prophecied in Psalm 22.
Reading from the Haggadah: “Lo, this is the bread of affliction, the humble and simple bread which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let anyone who is hungry join us at this Seder, and let him partake of what we have to share.
This is amazingly similar to the invitation to communion!!
(More of the Mageed to come…in Feast of Passover No. 4)
The Feast of Passover No.2
Preparation For The Passover. It doesn’t just happen!!
“On the 14th day of the first month at even, is the Lord’s Passover” (Leviticus 25:5)
A) Bedikat Hametz: In preparation for Passover, all chametz or leavened food (food with yeast) is removed from the house and cannot be eaten during the seven days of the Festival. The unleavened bread symbolizes the haste with which the Israelites had to flee from Egypt. Since they did not have time for the bread to rise in order to have provisions for the journey, they had to bake it without yeast (Ex 12:11, Deut 16:3). A game is played with the children, as they search through the house for leaven. The father hides crumbs on windowsills or counters. When the children find them, they yell out, “Leaven, leaven.” The father quickly comes and sweeps them onto a piece of paper and them throws them into the fire. In this we can see the doctrine of justification as Jesus became our sin-bearer…going through the fire of Gods wrath on our behalf. We can also see the doctrine of sanctification of being separated from sin and made holy through Jesus the Messiah.
(1 Corinthians3:13) “Every man’s work shall be made manifest,
For the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire;
And the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”
(1 Corinthians 5:7-8) “Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye
may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our
Passover is sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast, not
with the old leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the
unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
The house is trimmed in white, a symbol of righteousness as seen
In Rev 19: 1-8…white linen, napkins, candles. The leader of the
Seder (usually the Father in the home) wears a white “Yarmulke”
and a special white “Talis” for the occasion. All this is symbolic
of that the priesthood has come into the home (Rev 1:6), and also
of the glorified Christ (Rev 1:12-16). Even the dishes are special.
In orthodox Jewish homes have four sets of dishes to keep
Kosher. One set for the separation of dairy products and meat ..
And the other sets that had never touched leaven.
Hadlakat Ha-Nerot The Lighting of the Passover Candles
Women in Judaism participate in very little of the traditional formal ceremonies, but a woman must light the candles of the Passover.
How fitting this is as the “Light of the world” would come not through the seed of man….but the seed of woman.
(Isaiah 7:14) “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;
Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his
name Immanuel.”
(Galations 4:4) “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent
forth His Son, made of woman, made under the law,”
As the Seder begins and a woman lights the candles, this prayer is
said.
“Barch ato Adoni, Eluhaynu melech haw olam, asher v’kid shawnu
B’mitz-vu-sawu visti vanu ver hadlick ner shal peasch.”
“Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has
Commanded us to kindle the Passover lights.”
The Four Cups
The Seder is predominated by four cups of wine. Reading from the
Haggadah, “Four times in the course of the Seder, we shall partake of the wine, a symbol of joy and thanksgiving. The four cups represent the four-fold promise which the Lord made to the Israelites in Egypt. In the following words, He assured them that they would be freed from servitude. I will bring you forth, I will deliver you, I will redeem you I will take you.
First Cup (Sanctification) (1 Corinthians 6:11) but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Second Cup (Deliverance) (Colossians 1:13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Third Cup (Redemption) (Galations 3:13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:
Fourth Cup (The cup of Joy/ Elisha’s Cup) (Matthew 26:29) But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Kaddesh Sanctifying Prayer and the First Cup
The Kaddesh means “cleansing” and this prayer of sanctification
begins the Seder. The prayer can be quite long in orthodox traditions
and is said over the items and food on the Passover table. Reading
from the Haggadah:
“Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, who hast chose us for thy service
from among the nations, exalting us by making us holy through thy
commandments. In love hast thou given us, O Lord our God, Sabbaths
for rest, holidays for joy and festivals for gladness. Thou did give us
this feast of unleavened bread, the season of our freedom, in commem-
oration of our liberation from Egypt. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who
hallowest Israel and the festival.”
“Bauch ato Adoni, Eluhaynu meleck haw olam, she-he-che-yo-noo,
V’kee-ymo-noo, vhee-gee-o-noo, lazman hazeh.”
“Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast kept
us in life, who hast preserved us and hast enabled us to reach this
season”
(More to come in Passover No. 3)
My apologies but this will take about 5 different posting. Please have patience. Thanks......
The Feast of the Passover (No. 1)
Over the past 30 years, I have done hundreds of demonstrations of the Jewish Passover Seder for local churches and for home bible study groups. Most Christians do not really understand the incredible continuity running through the entirety of the Holy Writ from Genesis to Revelations. The Bible is not a divided book. The message of God’s Grace is evident from Genesis 3 to Revelations 21. The Tenach (Old Testament) points forward in time and the New Testament points backward….and they meet on Golgotha’s hill.
Passover is the oldest and most important religious festival in Judaism, commemorating God’s deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and his creation of the Israelite people. Passover is actually composed of two festivals, The Feast of Unleavened Bread and Passover (which is sometimes used to refer to the single day and sometimes to the entire span of both festivals). The Passover has been called the “crown jewel” of the Jewish feasts as within its rituals and symbolism is a perfect picture of God’s plan of salvation. There are seven major festivals (or feasts) mentioned in the Torah (Leviticus 23). The festival of Passover, known as Pesach, is the first of these festivals and begins at sunset on the 14th of Nisan (usually in March or April), marking the beginning of a seven day celebration that includes the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The focal point of Passover is a communal meal, called the Seder (which means "order," because of the fixed order of service), which is a time of rejoicing and celebration at the deliverance for the Hebrews that God accomplished in the exodus.
Unlike the most Holy days of Christianity that are observed in Church, since the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in AD 70, Passover has been celebrated in the home with family and friends as they eat a meal together. It is customary to invite guests to share the Seder meal, especially newcomers to the community. The actual Seder meal in most Jewish homes is an elaborate feast, with food, games for the children, and plenty of time to tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt. It is not unusual for a Seder to last three to four hours.
The Seder involves everyone present since they all have a “Haggadah” (Heb: "telling," the printed order of service, reading, and songs) and are called to share in reading and singing the story. Passover is really more than a festival. It is an elaborate teaching experience, especially for the children. By using all of the senses, the Passover Seder tells the story of God’s grace in history and calls the participants to experience and share in the story as their own story.
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I usually begin this teaching with a prayer given both in the Hebrew and the English.
“Baruch ato Adoni, Eluheynu valuhay avu sanu, aluhay Aveco, aluhay Izrac, aluhay Avachom, aluhay Yeshua Hameshea, Melech Haw Olam.
“Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, the father of Jesus the Messiah, King of the universe.”
So, Why should Christians study the Passover?
Answers:
1) It is what Jesus did. Jesus walked three times a year (75 miles roundtrip) from Galilee to Jerusalem for the feasts. Jesus considered this particular feast of such importance that He would celebrate it the night before his crucifixion and would use this feast to introduce a New Covenant between man and God purchased through His blood which would be shed upon the altar of the cross.
2) The Passover is a witness to the Jewish people. It is a great tragedy that the very people from which the Lord would spring forth from are almost all unsaved. Paul states that his desire and burden was to see the Jewish people come to know their Messiah.
(Romans 10:1) “Brethren, My hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.”
3) Most witnessing to the Jewish people is done by small or individual ministries rather than the church as a whole. One of the reasons of this is because most Christians don’t know enough about Judisim, from the Old Testament, to be able to share the gospel based upon a common ground. The knowledge of the Passover provides Christians with that common ground to share the good news of the Messiah in a ceremony that is familiar with every Jewish person.
4) The Passover is an insight into the very essence of Christianity …. “the sacrifice of the lamb.” The crucifixion was in many ways a repeat of the ritual sacrifices seen in the Old Testament. God had already shown that a lamb, without blemish, of the first year, from among the flock….was sufficient to cover the sins of an individual (Genesis 4:4), of a family (Genesis 8:20), of those in a house (Exodus 12:23), and of a nation ( Yom Kippur...Levitcus 16:34). John the Baptist declared, “Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29)
The Passover bridges time in that both the Jew and the gentile can say…”I was delivered from slavery by the blood of the lamb.”
5) And lastly, we will be celebrating in the Lords kingdom and this ceremony is just a taste….a foreshadow of the marriage supper of the lamb.
ISRAEL IN PROPHECY
It is amazing that anyone that actually studies Last Days Prophesies and events of that age could not understand Israel’s unique place in Biblical Prophecy. Below are some of the major prophesies concerning Israel.
#01 - The nation Israel would be born in one day. (Isaiah 66:8) On May 14, 1948 Israel became a nation again.
#02 - The Jews would begin to re-gather in Israel. (Jeremiah 31:7-10; Ezekiel 37:21-22; 38:8) Over five million and counting!
#03 - The Jews would regain control of biblical Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:6 ; Luke 21:24) This happened in 1967!
#04 - The Eastern Gate would remain closed until the Messiah returns. At Christ's Second Coming, he will enter Jerusalem through the now sealed Eastern Gate. (Ezekiel 44:1-3) Today, as predicted, the Eastern Gate remains sealed.
#05 - The nation of Israel which had been divided into two kingdoms since the time of Solomon (950 B.C.)- Israel in the north and Judah in the south- would be one united nation in the last days. (Ezekiel 37:15-22) At present, as predicted Israel is one nation.
#06 - The returning Jews would have no king until Jesus returns. (Hosea 3:4-5) Amazingly, not only is Israel no longer a theocracy, but today the Jewish state is governed by a democracy comprised of some 30 political parties.
#07 - During the Diaspora (the dispersion of the Jews to the four corners of the globe), Israel would become a wasteland. (Deuteronomy 29:23-28; Ezekiel 36:8-11; Ezekiel 36:33-36) During the past 1900 years Israel became a nearly uninhibited desolate wasteland.
#08 - Israel, once a desolate desert, would blossom in the last days and export produce to the world. (Isaiah 27:6; 35:1-2; Ezekiel 36:34-36) Israel's increased rainfall and world renowned irrigation technology have caused the land to blossom. Incredibly, as predicted, they currently export 800 million dollars worth of fresh produce each year.
#09 - Israel would once again plant vineyards on the mountains of Israel. (Joel 3:17-18; Amos 9:13) Today, sweet wine flow from the Golan Heights and many other vineyards on the mountains of Israel.
#10 - The last days Jews would plant forests of trees. The Bible even specifies the variety of trees - cedar, acacia, myrtle, oil, cypress, pine, and box. (Isaiah 41: 18-20) This has happened in our day.
#11 - Though Israel would be the focus of many fulfilled prophecies, most Jews would remain blind to the fact that Jesus is their Messiah until the very end. (Luke 19:41-42; Luke 13:34-35; Romans 11:25-26)
#12 - The Hebrew language would be restored. (Zechariah 3:9) Remarkable, but today Hebrew is once again the official language of Israel. Ultimately, when Christ returns to set up his kingdom, all people will share one speech. Not only will one language be restored, as it was before Babel, (Genesis 11:1), but all people will call on the Lord with one accord.
#13 - The Ethiopian Jews would return to Israel. (Zephaniah 3:10) At least 60.000 Ethiopian Jews have returned during the past 20 years.
#14 - The returning Jews would once again use the ancient shekel for commerce. (Ezekiel 45:12; Amos 8:5) Amazingly, the shekel is now Israel's official currency.
#15 - Plans to rebuild the temple in Israel anticipated. (Revelation 11:1-2, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4; Matthew 24:15) Preparations by the Temple Institute are nearly complete.
#16 - A red heifer without blemish must be born and sacrificed to purify the temple in Israel. (Numbers 19:2, 3, 5, 9) A kosher red heifer was born in 2002 and remains without blemish!
#17 - The temple sacrifices would be reinstituted in Israel in the last days. (Daniel 9:27; Daniel 12:11) Daniel foresaw the Antichrist ending the daily sacrifices. Therefore, the Jewish sacrificial system must have first been restored in the last days. Currently, the Temple Institute has created all the temple furniture and vessels. There are also several hundred young Jewish men in training for the Levitical priesthood.
#18 - In the last days, Israel would be surrounded by enemy nations. (Psalm 83:4-8)
#19 - Israel would remain invincible except during the Great Tribulation. (Zechariah 12:6-9) Even during those last three and one half years, when it looks like Israel will be destroyed, the Lord shall deliver Israel from the hands of her enemies. (Jeremiah 30:3-7; Zechariah 14; Mark 13:14-20) Since 1948, Israel has been attacked in three major wars and six lesser wars, yet despite being vastly outnumbered, they have destroyed all attacking foes.
#20 - Israel would be partitioned by other nations. (Joel 3:2; Daniel 11:39) this has been a top priority for the United Nations since Israel's statehood. Currently, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, and Gaza, have been divided up into Jewish and Palestinian settlements.
#21 - The possession of Jerusalem would be at the center of international turmoil. (Zechariah 12:3) Almost daily the world news reports on the conflict over Jerusalem.
#22 - The ancient city of Petra (Sela- the rock city) in Jordan would exist and become the refuge for the fleeing Jews during the Tribulation (Isaiah 16:1-4; Matthew 24:16; Revelation 12:6, 14) In 1994, Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty making Petra a potentional refuge for fleeing Jews.
#23 - Russia (Magog) would rise a military power and lead a surprise attack on Israel just prior to the final seven years of this age. (Ezekiel 38) Today, most of the southern states of the former Soviet Union are both military powerhouses and Muslim.
#24 - Turkey (Meshech) would also turn on Israel in the same surprise attack. (Ezekiel 38) In November 2002, Turkey elected a pro-Islamic party to govern the country.
#25 - Iran (Persia, Sudan (Cush), and Libya (Put) would also partake in the surprise attack on Israel. (Ezekiel 38) Anti-Semitism in the Muslim world is rampant. According to the Koran and Hadith, all Muslims are commanded to kill Jews, Christians, and non-believers in Jihad (holy war) unless they convert to Islam (Surahs 9:5 and 47:4; Volume 1, book 2, numbers 24 and 35)
#26 - Ironically Egypt and Jordan would not participate in this surprise attack. (Ezekiel 38) Astoundingly, they are the only two Arab nations that have signed a peace treaty with Israel. Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994 and Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979.
#27 - Birds of prey would eat the dead flesh of the enemy armies that fall in battle against Israel (Ezekiel 39:4, 17; Revelation 19:17-21) It is a little known fact that Israel is the bird migration capital of the world. In fact, 500 million to 1.5 billion birds fly over Israel each spring. During the fall migration an estimated 1 to 4 billion birds traverse Israel. Many of these migratory birds are raptors- carrion (dead flesh) eating birds of prey. In fact, 34 species raptors migrate over Israel.
Last Sunday we had a very interesting message from our Associate Pastor at our morning service. For the last month the messages have been focused on the theme of “miracles” in the Bible. Miracles in the Old Testament, the miracles Jesus did in his earthly ministry as shared in the Gospels and the miracles done by his disciples in Acts. This last message in the series was the miracle of “Empowerment”. When I read the title the first thing that came to mind is Tony Robins, Dale Carnegie or some other motivational method pushing the name it – claim it, blab it – grab it..focus on self-fulfillment and self-interest. I never really thought about the word “empowerment” as God speaks to us from His Word. Even though I have been a Christian now for over 30 years…and in the ministry since 1986,..I still get frustrated sometimes when you work hard and yet see little fruit. And sometimes we get so involved in our various projects and tasks that we fail to see the simplicity of the answer to this lack of success in ministry. (John 15:5) Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” It is Christ that “empowers” us to do His work. A beautiful example of this is in Acts 4:1-31. Peter and John had been used by God to do a great miracle in Jerusalem. A man, lame from birth, was healed at the temple gate called “beautiful”. The man was know by all and had sat at the gate for many years begging for alms. The people were filled with wonder and amazement as this man was seen by all…walking, leaping and praising God. News of this miracle quickly went across Jerusalem and Peter and John were surrounded the people. The temple priests and Sadducees were not to happy about this. They saw this as a threat to their power and authority. They had the temple guard take Peter and John into custody and held them in a prison cell over night. The next day they were taken before the High Priest and members of the Sanhedrin. ( Acts 4:19- 21) Peter and John were instructed not to speak or preach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all [men] glorified God for that which was done. Being let go they returned to their friends, and prayed that God would give them a boldness to speak Gods Word. (Acts 4: 31) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. The point is…they had to ask. (John 15:16) Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Until we ask and are empowered by God our success in ministry will be always limited to our individual intellect, education and natural giftings. That does not mean that we will not be successful to a certain degree in some areas. But in Christ we are operating in a whole new area of power and boldness. It opens the doors of Gods power used through us to reach a world in darkness. Not only for the individual believer but those who hear the Word and are recipients of Gods grace and love. So…Ask. (Matthew 7:7) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Ask (Matthew 7:11) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Ask (Matthew 21:22) And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Ask (John 15:7) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Errors and Misrepresentations
Christopher Hitchens may be extremely knowledgable regarding history and world politics...and may be very quick witted and well read but does that mean the "facts" he presents in his book "God Is Not Great" are true? Mark Roberts debated Christopher Hitchens not to long a ago and from this put together a 10 part series looking at many of the errors, misquotes and misrepresentations found in his book. VERY interesting reading.
http://www.markdroberts.com/htmfiles/resources/godisnotgreat .htm
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
I have always been surprised at how some Christians interpret the scriptures to fit their doctrine, instead of the scriptures being their doctrine. As an example, I was once told by a Christian brother, who was very knowledgeable of the Bible, that the wine in the Bible that Jesus drank was non-alcoholic. This is a perfect example of someone looking at the Bible with a preconceived belief and then interpreting the scriptures to fit that belief.
I explained that the people of that time did not have refrigerators, ice boxes, BHA preservative or Welches grape juice. The only method of preservation they had was place the juice of the grape in a wine sac and add sugar and a little yeast. The fermentation process preserved the wine. The problem is not the alcohol in the wine but its abuse. “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the spirit.” (Eph 5:18) You can’t be drunk on Welches. He had been taught that if you got 10 feet from a wet wine cork you were in sin, so he had to interpret the wine that Jesus drank as non-alcoholic. You can see the problem with this faulty exegesis.
In the same fashion are those that claim the “Spiritual Gifts” passed away with the death of the last apostle. Where did they get that? It’s not in the Bible. Most will try to use 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 to give an excuse for their lack of faith or their particular church doctrine, explaining that when the New Testament canon was established the gifts were no longer needed, and passed away. As you read the text, you can see how it is far beyond any stretch in exegesis to come to that conclusion. “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” (1 Corinthians 13:10), does not refer to the Bible but the second coming of Christ. Whi is “perfect”, Christ himself. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Hebrews 5:9) The next verse in 1 Corinthians 13:12, speaks about seeing Jesus face to face. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
First, let’s look at the “Gifts”. The greek word for gifts is “Charisma”, whose root word is “Charis”…the word for grace. This is why many call them “gifts of grace”. There are three different categories of these gifts are found in the epistles of: 1st Corinthians, Romans and Ephesians. These categories are: “Manifestation or Charismatic Gifts”, “Motivational or Operative gifts” and “Ministerial or Administrative gifts”.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
It is important to remember than the instruction that the Bible gives regarding the function and use of the “spiritual gifts” is given by Paul to the members of the body of Christ…the church. There purpose is also spelled out in the scriptures.
Ephesians 4:12-13
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
In other words, the “spiritual gifts” were given to the members of the body of Christ to equip them in their mission to reach a world with His message of forgiveness, love and grace. To bring His light to a world in darkness.
As we get closer to the end times, can you think of any other time when we would need those gifts more than now? I am glad the Lord is “the same yesterday, today and forever”. (Hebrews 13:12) As a matter of fact God says he won’t take away the “spiritual gifts”.
Romans 11:29, “For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.”
Let’s look at these “spiritual gifts”. A manifestation gift is a temporary supernatural physical capability (there is an exception to this), given at a specific time ….and for a specific purpose.
The nine manifestation gifts are: the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophesy (that is a forth-telling, not necessarily a fore-telling), discerning of spirits, tongues (speaking in a language unknown to the speaker…may or may not be an human language), and interpretation of tongues (if tongues is spoken in the congregation, it should be done only with interpretation …otherwise will not people think you are “mad”). 1 Corinthians 14:23, “If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in [those that are] unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
I know, what do I mean by a non-human language. 1 Corinthians 13:1,
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
The gift of tongues is the biggest obstacle with some believers and non-believers. Everyone of these other manifestation gifts can be seen exhibited at some time in the Old Testament. But God wanted to do a “new thing”. (Isaiah 43:18-19)
He would take control of the most unruly portion of man’s being. After all, it was the power of the tongue in a lie that got us into this mess to begin with. James expounds on this in his whole 3rd Chapter.
“And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3 :6-8)
Now this “gift of tongues” is both a temporary supernatural capability which is given at a specific time…and for the purpose of edification of the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 14:27) “If any man speak in an [unknown] tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most [by] three, and [that] by course; and let one interpret.” (1 Corinthians 14:22) “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying [serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.” So when tongues is used in the congregation it is for the purpose of prophesy (a forth-telling of the things of God) and edifies (lifts up) the Body of Christ. That is why there must be interpretation, otherwise no one knows what was said.
But tongues can also be a very private “prayer” language, that is just between you and God. This gift is not temporary but is permanent.
(1 Corinthians 14:2) “For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”
Some call this “praying in the spirit” as the Spirit makes intercession for us, as describes in Romans 8:26.
Many have difficulties with the other manifestation gifts too, especially healing and miracles. They seem to forget that they might be perfect gifts but in very imperfect vessels. So, when people ask why are some people healed and some are not, they are forgetting that God does things for His purposes and His timing to His Glory. The only time we are going to know those answers are when we leave this world and are translated into the next.
God has always desired to work through the faith of those who follow Him. He doesn’t have too. After all He is God. But He does that for our benefit. He does it to help us grow up to become more like Jesus.
(2 Corinthians 3:18), “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
The next group of giftings are found in the letter to the Romans 12:6-8 and include: Prophecy, Ministry, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leading and Showing Mercy (Compassion). These are the “Motivational or Operative Gifts” . Again remember Prophecy does not necessarily speak about a fore-telling but usually a forth-telling of the things of God. Unlike the Manifestation Gifts, these are permanent giftings. Where a person can flow in the Manifestation gifts as God places you with different people and circumstances, these other two areas of gifts are blended with your natural talents and abilities.
The last group, the “Ministerial or Administrative Gifts” is also called the five fold ministry: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher.
I hope some of this has been interesting, educational and answers some questions regarding this important part of the Biblical Christian experience.
Incredible Patterns of the Bible
One of the most interesting studies in the Bible is looking at the patterns that are developed and then repeated in a variety of symbols. What I would like to do is compare five sets of sevens. The seven days of the creation…the seven pieces of furniture in the tabernacle…the seven feasts of Israel, the seven last words of Christ and the seven dispensational periods of history. Out of these five comparisons, the only ones that might be debated as to the order would be the last words of Christ on the cross. To find all of the seven last phrases that Jesus uttered from the cross on Calvary, one must read all four gospel accounts. The sayings would have been originally uttered by Jesus in His common tongue, the Aramaic, but only one of those last seven phrases is preserved in the original Aramaic, namely; “Eli, Eli, lama Sabacthani” or “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me.” This is also the only of the phrases found in more than one of the gospels (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34) Three other phrases are found in Luke and three more in John. The order that I use is the generally accepted order from all of the gospels and reflected in the writings of the early church fathers. The seven dispensational periods of history are periods of time where God has used a particular theme to show man his need for a redeemer. Each historical period is also generally linked together with one of the predominant biblical events during that period of time. Innocence…Adam and Eve in Eden. Conscience…Cain and Abel. Human Government…. The Tower of Babel. Promise…. Abraham. Law….Moses. Grace….Jesus Christ. And the Millennium…… New Jerusalem.
The First Day of creation “Let there be Light”…and the separation of light from the darkness. This was not an ordinary light illuminated by the sun, moon or stars, which were created on the fourth day. This was God’s presence that entered into the darkness of this new universe. “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:5) The first piece of furniture in the outer court of the tabernacle was the Brazen Altar. This is where it all begins. The place of sacrifice. A place of separation between evil (darkness) and good (light). The first feast is the Feast of Passover. It too has to do with sacrifice. “For Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12) The Passover candles are lit by a woman because the light of the world would come through the seed of woman not by the seed of man. The first of the last seven phrases recorded by Jesus on the cross was , “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Like the Brazen Altar of old, the altar of the cross was a place of ultimate sacrifice…… forgiveness and grace. This is the dispensation of innocence. The sacrifices on the Altar were not righteous…they were innocent. But Jesus was the perfect righteous lamb.
The Second Day of creation saw the water formed and separated above and below the firmament. The second piece of furniture in the tabernacle is the Laver. The Laver is a large round open polished brass bowl that the priests would use for ceremonial washing of there hands and feet before coming into Gods presence. It was made of mirrors so shiny it reflected the sky…and the priest as he washed.. above and below. It was a place of cleansing of sin. A separating the clean from the unclean. As Christians we see our baptism. Buried with Christ in baptism. The Feast is the second night of Passover…the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The house is searched for leaven (sin) which is swept onto a white cloth and thrown into the fire. This was the evening before 6:00 pm (before the beginning of the Sabbath) when Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathia. “Unless a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain”. (John 12:24) Jesus said to the thief, “Today, you shall be with me in paradise”. The repentant thief was washed with the water of the Word. This is the dispensation of conscience. Like the brass mirrors that made up the Laver, we see ourselves as sinners in need of a savior. “Purge out therefore old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;”
The Third Day of creation saw the creation of the oceans and the land. It also saw the creation of grass and all the vegetation bearing seed. Wheat, Barley, Oats, Rye. The third piece of furniture is the Table of the Shewbread. Twelve loaves of unleavened wheat bread representing the twelve tribes as well as the 12 disciples. The Table of the Shewbread represents the place where God kneads us, forms us, and makes us into useful creations. It is the place of sanctification. It is a place seen where we are changed from glory to glory. Even as we see sanctification as an instantaneous aspect of our new birth, here we see our progressive sanctification. Here we pick our cross daily and follow Jesus. The third feast is the “Festival of First Fruits.” An offering of barley (the first grain to ripen) is offered to the Lord. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead. The stone had been rolled away and Jesus was not there. Like the Passover prayer, “Blessed art thou, Oh Lord, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.” Jesus, the Bread of Life, brought forth from the earth. On the cross Jesus said, “Woman, behold your son. Then He said to the disciple, Behold your mother.” Part of that sanctification is that we become responsible members of Gods family. Here Jesus takes care of the last of those earthly responsibilities as the physical son of Mary, making sure she will be cared for as He prepares to leave this world. The third dispensation is that of human government. The Table of Shewbread represents nations as well as us individually. Man felt that human government is the solution to our problems. He is wrong. As Babel was destroyed and the nations scattered….mankind still is trying to prove that his own wisdom and knowledge is enough to heal the human heart and spirit but it is only in the power of His crucifixion and resurrection that mankind will ever find peace.
On the fourth day God created “the lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth”…the sun, the moon and the stars also. The fourth piece of furniture in the tabernacle is the lampstand. The lampstand always stayed lit, except when the moved the tabernacle and then they followed the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of smoke by day. The fourth feast is that of Pentecost…the great harvest festival of Shevous. The name “Pentecost” actually means 50 and referred to the number of days from the Festival of First Fruits (Resurrection Day) and the Great Harvest Festival of Shevous (Pentecost), which was 7 Sabbaths of days (49). Jesus told the disciples, “And behold, I send the promise of the Father upon you; buy tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) On Pentecost that promise was fulfilled as the Holy Spirit descended upon those in the upper room, “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they all were filled with the Holy Spirit..” (Acts 2:3-4) As Jesus struggled in agony upon the cross He said, “My God, My God, Why hath thou forsaken me?” He said this as the sky gave up its light and it became as night. The Father turned his back on His son and gave Him up unto death as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. This phrase is also the first verse of Psalm 22, which is an incredible description of the crucifixion written over 500 years before crucifixion was even invented by the cruel Romans. The next dispensation was that of Promise. “For the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off (even), as many as the Lord shall call.” (Acts 2:39)
On the fifth day God said, “Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creatures that hath life and fowl (that) fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven”…..whales…fish and every winged fowl after its kind.” The fifth piece of furniture is the Golden Altar of Incense. This Altar was directly before the last veil that entered in the Holy of Holies. The Golden Altar, the Table of the Shewbread and the Lampstand were all in the Holy Place, the second of the three courts of the Tabernacle, which represents the Holy Spirit. The Holy of Holies, a 15 foot cubical room, separated from the Holy Place (15’ x 30’), by a 8” thick curtain, contained the Ark of the Covenant. It was here that God would meet with the High Priest once a year on the Day of Atonement. It was here that God met with Moses in the wilderness. But to get in there they had to offer prayers, petitions and offerings of incense at the Golden Altar. This is where every aspect of the law had to be finished exactly for the High Priest to enter into Gods presence. Like the fowls above the firmament, the prayers and smell of incense went up before God. The fifth feast was the “Feast of Trumpets” or Yom Tervah. Later it would also be called Rosh Hashanah.. the Jewish civil New Year. The Shofars (Rams horn’s) are blown and as we see in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, this is our announcement into heaven. “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; and we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall ever be with the Lord.” Jesus fifth statement at the cross was “I thirst”. Truly, He must have been thirsty, but not just for physical water, but for this final fulfillment of Gods plan. Thirsty for man to come back into the presence of God again. Thirst for that paradise that was lost to be regained. The fifth dispensation is that of the law. It was here at the Golden Altar where the law was seen insufficient in truly bringing man into a relationship with God as sons and daughters. Only through the altar of the cross was this possible. Not by the law but by grace is man justified.
On the sixth day God created everything other living creature on the earth…including man and woman. The sixth piece of furniture in the Tabernacle is beyond the veil….beyond the thick curtain into the Holy of Holies. It was the Mercy Seat which sits upon the Ark of the Covenant. The Mercy Seat was a solid gold lid with two cherubim’s on top. God told Moses that He would appear between the Cherubim’s to commune with him. There was no light in the Holy of Holies, except that illumination that radiated from Gods presence. The “Shekinah”. The High Priest each year would take the blood of a sacrificed ram, without spot or blemish, into the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the blood upon the Mercy Seat. This was done on the sixth feast of Yom Kippur…..the Day of Atonement. All this was done for man. Not for the angels or any other creature. God loved man so much that prepared a way that man could come back home. Paradise lost could be regained. Jesus would enter into the presence of His father with His own blood, shed on the altar of the cross, and like the High Priest would sprinkle His blood upon the Mercy Seat of heaven. “Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.” Jesus on the cross said, “It is finished”. His sacrifice was enough. His mission was completed. The sixth dispensation of course….is grace. “For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Roman 6:14)
“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.” The last piece of furniture in the Tabernacle is the Ark of the Covenant. It represents the abode of the Father. The veil had been ripped in twain from top to bottom and access was now open to God by man. The feast is the Feast of Tabernacles..or “Succoth”. Sometimes referred to as “booths”, Jewish families would build canopies “Succas” outside and cover them with grapes and fruit. They would celebrate as families together under Gods blessings. It was a place of joy, rest and peace.
The holy of Holies was an exact cube 15 feet by 15 feet, just like New Jerusalem as seen in Revelations 21:16. Jesus last words on the cross were, “Father, into thy hands, I commend my Spirit.” God had left His throne and entered humanity as Jesus, God the Son, in the little town of Bethlehem. Now it was time for Him to take back His mantle of majesty and prepare our new homes in heaven. The last of the dispensations is the Millennium. This is the last 1000 years of human history after the tribulation. It will be a time of peace until the very end when Satan will be allowed to once again temp mankind. God will squeeze the last bit of sin and rebellion from our race…and the rest of eternity we will “Tabernacle” with God. We will enter into His rest. “And God shall wipe away every tear from our eyes.”
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