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Part 2: The Passover of the Old Testament.

After many years of cruel slavery under the Egyptian Pharaoh, God heard the cries of the Israelites... “God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.” (Exodus 2:23-25).
God chose Moses to bring forth His people out of Egypt, and God also chose Aaron, Moses’ brother, to help Moses accomplish this. Moses and Aaron brought the Lord’s request, to free the Israelites, before Pharaoh, but Pharaoh did not respect the Hebrew God, nor did Pharaoh care for the Israelites; and Pharaoh refused God’s command. “Then the Lord said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.” (Exodus 6:1). Through many plagues, God demonstrated His incredible power to Pharaoh, but Pharaoh still did not hearken. The final plague, cast on Egypt, was the death of all the firstborn of Egypt, both of men and beasts, (Exodus 11:5), yet the Lord allowed the Israelites to escape this unscathed...

And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a house. And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. Ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats. And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month. And the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening...

...And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. I am the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. ~ Exodus 12:1 through 14.

Through faith, Moses kept the Passover.

Through faith he* kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest He that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. ~ Hebrews 11:28. [*He, is referring to Moses].

The Passover feast was and is held on the fourteenth day of the first month (Nisan) of the Hebrew calendar.

In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord’s Passover. ~ Leviticus 23:5.

And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the Lord. ~ Numbers 28:16.

Only those Hebrews, who were ceremonially clean, who were circumcised in the flesh, were allowed to partake of the Passover. Strangers were not allowed to eat of the Passover. In Joshua 5, Israel had to be circumcised before they observed the Passover at Gilgal.

And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the Passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof. ~ Exodus 12:43.

And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. ~ Exodus 12:48.

The Passover feast of the Old Testament commemorates Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.
The Old Testament Passover is a memorial to God passing over the houses of the children in Israel when He smote the firstborn of man and beast in Egypt. The Passover of the Old Testament commemorates Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The Passover is not a memorial to the exodus of Israel from Egypt.

...And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. ~ Exodus 12:13 through 14

Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover unto the Lord thy God. For in the month of Abib, the Lord thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night... But at the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place His name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the Passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt. ~ Deuteronomy 16:1 and 6.

Passover involved purification and preparation of many things, but especially of the heart.
In the Old Testament Passover, purification rituals were required for all who partook of the Passover feast. But most importantly, we must “prepare our hearts to seek God” as Hezekiah prayed (verse below).

For they could not keep it, (the Passover), at that time, because the priest had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem... then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord... for there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified. Therefore, the Levites had the charge of the killing of the Passovers for everyone that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the Lord. For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people... then the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people. And their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, even unto Heaven. ~ 2 Chronicles 30:3,15,17 through 20 and 27.

For the priests and Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the Passover for all the children of captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel, did eat, and kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy. For the Lord had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. Ezra 6:20 through 22.

The Israelites were instructed to teach their children regarding the Passover feast.
And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, Who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses... ~ Exodus 12:26 through 27.

The Passover lamb was sacrificed and eaten.
The importance of the Passover lamb was evident by the specific instructions God gave regarding the feast. The male lamb was to be without spot or blemish. One Passover lamb was sacrificed for each household unless the household was too small, then they were to share it with their neighbors. The lamb’s blood was sprinkled on the houses. Then the lamb was to be cooked a certain way and eaten a certain way. God even gave instructions as to how to dispose of what was left after the meal... ”let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.” (Exodus 12).

And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover. ~ Exodus 12:11.

Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover. ~ Exodus 12:21.

The Blood of the Passover lamb saved the Israelites from God’s wrath.
God has always required blood sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins, allowing His people to escape His wrath. In the Feast of Passover, God required the blood of a lamb, without spot or blemish, to save His people from wrath.

And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. ~ Exodus 12:13.

God instructed the Israelites to keep this feast forever.
And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. ~ Exodus 12:14.

Note: God said we shall keep the Passover Feast forever. We are still to keep this feast today, according to the New Covenant in Christ, who is the fulfillment of Passover. Christ has become our Passover, and we observe this day in remembrance of Him. We are, by no means, to observe Passover as in the Old Testament. This would be to deny Christ’s incredible sacrifice.

So, My children of Zion, celebrate Passover, but not as in the days of Moses, for even I, Christ the Lord, did keep this Sabbath before My death... and by My death and resurrection as the Lamb, did I become the new Passover, sacrificed for all. Celebrate Passover as a remembrance and as a thanksgiving of you and I united. For in the past, you were separated from Me... now we are together again, forever in the kingdom prepared by the Father. Know this, even Passover has passed away... I am the Passover, for he who believes in Me has everlasting life. Keep this Sabbath as commanded by the Father. Passover as it was written in the days of Moses, do it not. Remember Me, and embrace and teach My covenant, and give thanks. The Passover as it was written is a sign post. Read its writing, and have understanding. Take its meaning to heart. Your Redeemer livs... death has passed over you. The Lamb was slain so you might liv. Eat and drink and give thanks in remembrance of Me, and I shall remember you and gather you up, and hold you close to Me. Amen. ~ Jesus speaking. [Excerpt from, “I Am the Passover and Its Lamb... A New Covenant With Men”, Volume One, Letters from God and His Christ.]

End of part 2.

Introduction.

God’s ultimate plan in the salvation of mankind begins with, and is built upon, Passover.
The Old Testament Passover, (Exodus 12:5 through 14.) was a foreshadowing of events to come, and by what means we must be redeemed, and forgiven of our sins... ”Our deliverance from the penalty of sin and death... death has passed over us.”

The whole of the Word of God rests solidly on Jesus Christ,
being the Carpenter and Fashioner, Author and Finisher,
the Beginning and the End... the Fulfillment of All Things.

Jesus was with God at creation... Jesus is the Beginning of all things.

And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ~ Genesis 1:26.

All things were made by Him; and without Him, was not anything made that was made. ~ John 1:3.

God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds. ~ Hebrews 1:1 through 2.

He was there at our formation, our Carpenter and Fashioner, the very One who breathed into us life (Genesis 2:7). So then, by Him, who made us and gave us life, being formed in His image, shall we also be saved from death, being once again restored to His image... ”In Him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).

My children, Jesus the Christ, Yeh shoe ah is His name, is your Passover! ~ [God speaking.]

To restore us, once again, Jesus first had to come in our image and liv and die as a man... a living sacrifice for our sins. In this way, Jesus became our Passover, the very Passover Lamb that was slain for the sins of the world, so death would no longer have power over us.

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. ~ 1 Corinthians 5:7.

For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot. ~ 1 Peter 1:18 through 19.

For as much, then, as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also, Himself, likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil... Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be make like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. ~ Hebrews 2:14 and 17.

I am He who is called the Lamb of God, the Lamb from Heaven without any spot or blemish, given as a ransom for many so that death will pass over you, and you shall liv forever. My blood is the blood shed for you to place upon your door, so you may be spared. No one goes to the Father unless they eat of the flesh of the Lamb, and drink His blood. Do this in remembrance of Me and My covenant with you, for I have already accomplished it and sealed it forevermore upon My rising. I am no longer the Lamb, but the Risen One, the Holy One of Israel, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The Lamb was slain, My people redeemed in all the earth. I am risen forever and ever, clothed in glory and praise. So too will My people be clothed in glory, for they are cleansed and will be like the angels of Heaven in that Day.
Your Redeemer livs... death has passed over you. The Lamb was slain so you might liv. Eat and drink and give thanks in remembrance of Me, and I shall remember you and gather you up and hold you close to Me. Amen. ~ Jesus speaking. [Excerpt from, “I Am the Passover and Its Lamb... A New Covenant With Men”, Volume One, Letters from God and His Christ].

Jesus’ sacrifice was a supreme act of love for humanity.
Just before the Passover feast that would see His execution, Jesus said that “for this purpose I came to this hour... And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself”, (John 12:27 and 32). Jesus’ sacrifice is the pivotal event in God’s plan to save humanity. Speaking of His certain death, Christ said He, referring to Himself as the Son of Man, must be “lifted up”, (crucified), even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so that all those who believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”, (John 3:14 through 16).

This important event, Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, laid the foundation for the remaining annual Holy Days and festivals. It is the most important step in God’s plan.

The Meaning of the Hebrew Word, “Pesach”, and Greek Word “Pascha”.
The Hebrew, “pesach”, means a “passing over”, a pretermission, an exemption (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance - #6453). It is derived from #6453, pasach, to hop, skip over, or spare.
The Greek, “pascha”, Strong’s #3957, means the Passover, the day, the festival or special sacrifices connected with it. The KJV incorrectly translated Passover as “Easter” in Acts 12:4, but other translations have written it correctly.

And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. ~ Exodus 12:1 through 14.

(End of part 1.)