No Compromise! Parashat Ha'Azinu | Sukkot 2018 | By His EVERY Word

Holiday Calendar: Sukkot / Feast of Tabernacles 

Sunday Twilight | 23 September ~ Sunday Twilight | 30 September 2018

Sh'mini Atzaret (Eighth Day Special Sabbath)

Sunday Twilight | 30 September 2018 ~ Monday Twilight | 1 October 2018

Article about Sukkot following brief commentary on our Parsha

Shabbat | 22 September 2018 | 13 Tishrei 5779

As we draw to a close another year's rotation of reading through the Scriptures, His Word becomes ever more precious. 

In the encroaching darkness, His glorious light is indeed our wisdom, our understanding, and our lifeline, as this week's portion says:

"Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe and to do carefully, even all the words of this law.For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life." Deuteronomy 32:46-47

  

His light reveals that there are no grey areas for His children.

 Live in His light, or perish with the world. 

It is likely that trying times are ahead. 

Yet His Word is replete with encouragement, and His Spirit within able to make even the meek an overcomer.

Yeshua told us that “the way is narrow that leads to life...”


The word narrow in Greek is θλίβω thlibō. 
It means “trouble, afflict, to press hard (as grapes), suffer tribulation.

Which is consistant with other promises: 

“In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” 
John 16:33

“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 
2 Timothy 3:5

The Festival of Sukkot reminds us of our utter dependance upon YHVH, and that this world is not our home. 

Houses built of brick and mortar give the illusion of security, but they, too, will perish with the new heavens and the new earth. 

Ever since the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, many believers have become swept up in the issues—and the problems America and the world are facing.
In doing so, many may have chosen to trust in the arm of the flesh—a man who promises to solve the problems, rather than trusting in God.

Although the U.S. Administration has accomplished many beneficial things, such as mending grievous wounds in our relationship with Israel, and our Vice-President is clearly a wonderful man of faith and integrity, the 2016 election season opened a door to vulgarity, rage, and deception that has disastrously rent the fabric of America.

The 2016 Presidential debates were prefaced with a warning "NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN TO WATCH" This was a DISGRACE.

No longer are there warnings, as the mainstream media is awash with an unending stream of obscene and scandalous "news," which is little more than tawdry tabloid gossip—not fit for the ears of the upright, much less children. 

And media programming has been tainted with indecent and immoral twists—classics revamped in order tear down the morality of this generation.

What is to come of this? Adonai alone knows.
We need to trust in Him.

We, like the great saints of the Hebrews 11 roll call of faith, as aliens and strangers, must hold loosely to the things of this world. 

Whether in plenty or in want, let us hold fast to that which is eternal and lift the Name of the LORD!

"Let my teaching drop as the rain, 

My speech distill as the dew, 

As the droplets on the fresh grass 

And as the showers on the green plants.

For I proclaim the name of the LORD; 

Ascribe greatness to our God!

The Rock! His work is perfect, 

For all His ways are just; 

A God of faithfulness and without injustice, 

Righteous and upright is He."

Deuteronomy 32:2-4

The Feast of Booths—Sukkot

Leviticus 23:34-44 | Zechariah 14:16-21

When I met my wife, my education in the Old Testament was sorely lacking. Sarah and I have sometimes mused over why our Lord would bring two people of such diverse backgrounds together—she being Jewish and me a Gentile. Not to wonder so much any more, however. One reason for certain is that Adonai has used this woman’s love and knowledge of the Old Covenant to fill in so much of what I did not give enough attention to in the past. And the joy of that impartation never stops as I am introduced to more and more...

This week, as the sun sets on Sunday, September 23rd, and for eight days following, Sukkot/the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths, is to be celebrated. This is an event that is recognized and honored around the world by most Jewish people. Whereas this once had no significance for me as a Gentile, it now does, and has for several years. And here in part is why.

Sarah had educated me regarding having a booth in our backyard and has now reminded me that it is once again time to get with the construction. It will be a three-sided, structure with a roof through which the stars can be seen. We will sometimes eat our meals in it and perhaps even sleep there a night or two. Sounds like a great “camp out,” but what heavenly significance  does this have for me? Well, with a little direction from this family’s Jewish sector it is time once again to review some spiritual truths.

Let’s start in Leviticus 23. There, as Moses is continuing to receive the Law, Adonai delineates seven holy convocations that the Jewish nation is to celebrate. They are called the “LORD’s appointed times” with His people. They were instituted in the wilderness and carried on through Jewish history, right up to this very time in our history. Each of these celebrations is intended to be a special time of meeting with God. 

“Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 

‘The LORD’s appointed times 

which you shall proclaim 

as holy convocations—My appointed times are these...”

(v.2)

• Passover (Pesach)  Commemorates the Israelites deliverance from slavery in Egypt through the blood of the Passover lamb. Yeshua came as the Passover Lamb who took away the sins of the world. vs. 4-5
• Unleavened Bread (HaMatzot)  Commemorates how the Israelites were brought out of   Egypt in a hurry. vs. 6-8
• First Fruits  Commemorates the dedication of the harvest to the Lord. vs.9-14
• Pentecost (Shavuot)  Commemorates the receiving of the Torah (the birth of the People Israel), and the receiving of the Holy Spirit, the birth of the Church. vs. 15-22
• Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah, Yom HaTeruah)  Signaled the beginning of the civil New Year. It prophetically looks toward the two resurrections of the righteous dead, and the final return of Yeshua to the sound of the Trumpet. vs.23-25, 1 Cor. 15:52, 1 Thess. 4:16, Matt. 24:31
• Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)  Atonement was made for all the sins of the entire congregation of Israel. vs. 26-32

• Feast of Booths or Tabernacles (Sukkot)  This is a time to remember God’s care of His people during their forty years of wandering in the wilderness.  This Feast has been seen as Messianic by the Jewish People. Psalm 118 is among the holiday liturgies: Note specifically verse 25, “Save us, we pray, O LORD!" ("Hosanna!") This would be proclaimed as water was poured from golden pitchers on the Temple steps by the priests. Yeshua came offering the gift of living water, and on the last day of this great Sukkot celebration, He cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" John 4:10, 7:37-39

The Feast of Booths or Tabernacles is an eight day celebration, initially established to remember the Lord’s provision in the Fall harvest (v.39) and His deliverance of Jacob’s people from Egyptian bondage (v.43). Added by those same people into this concept of God’s care was His provision for the people during their forty years of wandering, something not initially intended. This feast is so important in Adonai’s thinking that it will be re-instituted in the Millennium. Zechariah 14:16

So now one may ask, “How is this particular celebration significant for me?” 

Well first, it reminds me of God’s faithfulness to His people, and that His people are to recognize that faithfulness through substantive actions. That translates for me today in understanding that God is my faithful provider and that I in turn am to be a thankful and productive servant of His. 

Second, this celebration reminds me that disobedience to God’s Word brings consequences. Though this was to be a perpetual act (Leviticus 23:41) it fell by the wayside in the days of Joshua and was not reinstituted until Nehemiah’s return from exile. Nehemiah 8:17

Not celebrating this observance never served Israel well and indeed was just one more sin that led to her eventual downfall. 

Translation? Disobedience to God’s instruction will bring negative results.

Be Ye Joyful!

A third thing that simply has to be so self-evident is that obeying God is joyful! For the Israelite of the Old Covenant the Feast of Tabernacles meant a week’s worth of celebration and time away from the usual rigors of the agrarian life. And for the males it meant a trip to Jerusalem to present themselves to the Lord. Deuteronomy 16:16 

Adonai actually commands celebration and joyfulness—not only for the Israelite, but the Gentile as well. “...and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns.” Deuteronomy 16:14

One really must visit Jerusalem during Sukkot to appreciate the celebrating of it today. I’m still working on my wife for that one. Christians from around the world come together for enormous worship services and have grand processions down the thoroughfares with banners proclaiming Yeshua, as well as their solidarity with Israel and the Jewish People. And the Jewish People  themselves construct elaborate and decorative sukkot (plural for sukkah) in every available space—even apartment balconies become sukkot! The atmosphere is charged equally with celebration and reverence as neighbors, family and friends share meals, liturgy, and blessings during this festival of ingathering—a tiny taste of the final ingathering we can all look forward to! 

This week the Feast of Tabernacles will be celebrated around the world in different ways. With no Temple standing certainly there will be no animal sacrifices—189 animals in the Temple sacrifices for that one week. (Numbers 29:12-38) Some folks will build a sukkah (booth), or enjoy a community sukkah provided by friends or their local synagogue or congregation. Some will take most of their meals in their booth. Some may choose only to sleep a night or two in it under the stars so easily seen through the preplanned openings in the roof of palm fronds. Others may spend as much time as possible in their temporary shelter, inviting friends, and engaging in daily prayers, Bible readings, and traditional blessings. Messianic and Orthodox Jews are generally in this latter group, and their children look forward to "tabernacling with the Lord" in this unique and festive way each year.

The rhythm of these seven feasts—and two later additions not mentioned here (Purim and Chanukah, neither of which are commanded in Leviticus 23)—is a rich, enlightening, and blessed means of meeting up with our Creator, and simply enjoying who He is and what He has for us. 

Whether Jew or Gentile (or neither as Paul says—Galatians 3:28) be encouraged to partake of each of these feasts. In doing so one can’t help but grow further in the grace and the knowledge of both the God of the Old and New Covenant and be a better vessel for His service.   

May yours be a blessed and joy-filled celebration of the Feast of Booths this year! 

Shabbat Shalom!
In Messiah's Love,

His EVERY Word Ministries

Torah for Everyone! | Shabbat Shuvah | Parashat Vayeilech | Fall Mo'edim Calendar

 Parashat Vayeilech
Shabbat | September 15, 2018 | Tishrei 6 5779

Shabbat Shuvah
 Sabbath of Return and Repentance
Twilight, September 15 to Twilight, Sunday 16, 2018

The Shabbat between Yom T'ruah/Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is called 
Shabbat Shuvah — the Sabbath of Return or Repentance. 
Taken from the first word in the Haftarah reading, the name expresses the theme of this season: Shuvah, which means Return.

Torah: Deuteronomy 31

Haftarah: Hosea 14:2-10; Micah 7:18-20; Joel 2:15-27

COMMENTARY "Torah for Everyone!" FOLLOWS the MO'EDIM CALENDAR

During these Yamim Noraim, ימים נוראים 

the 10 Days of Awe 

from the Feast of Trumpets 

(traditionally known as Rosh Hashanah) 

to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, 

may we seek the LORD 

and turn from any ways 

that trample underfoot His glorious Name 

or the testimony of His holiness. 

Let us rejoice in His gracious forgiveness! 

Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity

And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?

He does not retain His anger forever,

Because He delights in unchanging love.

He will again have compassion on us;

He will tread our iniquities under foot.

Yes, You will cast all their sins

Into the depths of the sea.

You will give truth to Jacob

And unchanging love to Abraham,

Which You swore to our forefathers

From the days of old.

Micah 7:18-20

Fall Mo'edim (Appointed Times of the LORD) Schedule

Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement
10 Tishrei 5779 / Tenth day of the seventh month 
 Twilight September 18 to Twilight September 19, 2018

This is a special sabbath, and rather than a feast, we are commanded: "deny yourselves," which is traditionally interpreted as a fast.

“On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; 
it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD.
“You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the LORD your God.
“If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, 
he shall be cut off from his people.
“As for any person who does any work on this same day, 
that person I will destroy from among his people.
“You shall do no work at all. 
It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.
“It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls; 
on the ninth of the month at evening, 
from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath.”
(Leviticus 23:26-32) 

Sukkot/Feast of Tabernacles or Booths
15-22 Tishrei 5779
 Twilight September 23 to Twilight September 30, 2018
Sh'mini Atzaret—The Eighth Day Assembly
Twilight September 30 to October 1, 2018

The first day of Sukkot is a special Sabbath, as well as the eighth day, known as Sh'mini Atzeret is a great celebration, calling for rejoicing with the community of faith.

‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the LORD.
‘On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind.
‘For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD; 
it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work.
‘These are the appointed times of the LORD which you shall proclaim as holy convocations, to present offerings by fire to the LORD—burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each day’s matter on its own day—
besides those of the sabbaths of the LORD, and besides your gifts and besides all your votive and freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD.
‘On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, 
when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate 
the feast of the LORD for seven days, 
with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day.
‘Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, 
and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.
‘You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. 
It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; 
you shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
‘You shall dwell in booths (sukkahs) for seven days; 
all the native-born in Israel shall dwell in booths (sukkahs),
so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt.
I am the LORD your God.’”
(Leviticus 23:33-43) 

Torah for Everybody!
Deuteronomy 31

Be Courageous — The LORD goes ahead of you!

Moses is soon to depart this world at one hundred and twenty years of age. He has brought the sons of Israel to their inheritance, yet he will not lead them into their possession. Without bitterness he explains that the LORD told him, “You shall not cross this Jordan.” v. 2

His parting words to the nation are weighty. Moses affirms Israel’s complete victory in the land, telling them, “It is the LORD your God who will cross ahead of you; He will destroy these nations before you, and you shall dispossess them.” v. 3

And admonishes them, “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” v. 6

Joshua’s leadership is confirmed in the sight of all Israel, and he too, is charged, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” v. 8

Torah to Be Read to All Israel Every Sh’mittah at Sukkot

When Moses finished writing this portion of the Torah, he gave it, “to the priests, the sons of Levi who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel,” (v. 9) and commanded the Torah be read to all Israel every seven years at the time of the Sh’mittah, the release of debts, during Chag Sukkot, the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles.

Why Every Seven Years?

The joyous Sukkot holiday is an ideal time to read the Torah in the hearing of “all Israel,” as it was one of the pilgrimage festivals — one of the mo’edim when Israel was commanded to go up to Jerusalem. 

Further, it was a celebratory observance lasting eight days, and culminating the rhythm of the year’s appointed times. 

The Sh’mittah, the seventh year was special. It was a year of “release.” Debts were forgiven, Hebrew slaves were given their freedom, and the entire year is a Sabbath rest —for man, animal, and even the land. The sages noted that the Torah was read upon entering this holy year so that the people would be sustained by the mercies of God, whether they found themselves in plenty or hardship, to remain faithful and trust in Him.

Who is “all Israel?”

“...you shall read this Torah in front of all Israel in their hearing. 

“Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law. 

“Their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to fear the LORD your God...”  Deuteronomy 31:11-13

This is quite inclusive! Not just men, not just women… not just grownups … not just genetic descendants of Abraham. 

The word alien — in Hebrew “ger” גָּר — refers to the sojourner, the stranger, foreigners in Israel, a newcomer lacking inherited rights, and even a temporary inhabitant.  

The word rendered children — in Hebrew “taph”  טַף — is the word for children of every age: children, little children (toddlers), and little ones (infants).

Torah for Little Ones?

“Their children...will hear and learn to fear the LORD your God...”  v. 13

This is the charge of parents and their highest privilege! Consider how many times and ways God’s Word addresses teaching, correcting, admonishing, and training a child … equating it with love!

In observant Jewish homes, this begins early. Every Friday night is a biblical holy day! The Shabbat (Sabbath) meal is special, planned, set apart. It is the family altar. The father blesses his wife and pronounces blessing upon his children. The Word of God—the weekly parsha—is brought out and the little ones are given a piece of challah—sweet egg bread—dipped in honey, and told, “O taste and see that the LORD is good!” Psalm 34:8

This may be all the youngest understand at first, but it is an important foundation! 

YHVH commands us to diligently teach our children His Words of the Torah in our everyday life. 

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 
You shall teach them diligently to your children,
 and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
 and when you walk by the way,
 and when you lie down, 
and when you rise.”
 Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Not many of us consider this a priority. We want every good thing for our children and think we know how to achieve it—generally through financial security. Yet this rarely brings peace and well-being to our children or our home. They are raised by others in our pursuit of wealth, and their souls and spirits are neglected.

God’s prescription for peace, wholeness, and well-being is found in Isaiah 54:13, “All your children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.” 

The word for peace in Hebrew is שָׁלוֹם shalom. It means: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, health, contentment, prosperity, safety, tranquility, etc.

Wow! What more could we desire for our children?

These are the promises to those who love the LORD, know Him, know His Word, and do it! 

This cannot be gained from any worldly possession.

This cannot be gleaned from putting our children in a separate class during services to make cute arts and crafts based on Bible stories once a week — taught by someone else once or twice a week.

Paul noted that Timothy was raised in a typical Jewish home, learning the Scriptures from home, from his childhood: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation…” 2 Timothy 3:14-15

If we believed God's Word, that our “children are a heritage from the LORD,” (Psalm 127:3) would we be more circumspect in their upbringing? 

...And really believed the promise: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”  (Proverbs 22:6) Would we not be eager to invest our time ... our lives in our children? 

What investment is more important than directing our children to their Creator and King, from Whom all blessings flow? 

The only source of eternal wisdom enlightens us: 

“When all has been heard, 
the conclusion of the matter is this: 
Fear God and keep His commandments, 
because this is for all humanity.” 
Ecclesiastes 12:13

Haftarah  — Shabbat Shuvah

The Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is called Shabbat Shuvah — the Sabbath of Repentance or Return. Our Deuteronomy portion saw Adonai speaking of Israel’s future unfaithfulness and His need to chasten her, even as she stood on the precipice of the great promise. Yet, the love and grace of YHVH is unfathomable. His mercy extends throughout Scripture and across time, beseeching His people:  

“Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God.
Your sins have been your downfall!
Take words with you and return to the LORD.
Say to him: ‘Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously,
that we may offer the fruit of our lips.’”
Hosea 14:1-2

Oh how he loves to pour out His mercy upon the humble and the prodigal when the repentance is genuine, and all-consuming!

The Parable of the Gracious Father

Yeshua told a parable commonly called the “Prodigal Son,” found in Luke 15:11-32, in which a young son squandered all his father had given him — his entire inheritance. He was destitute when he finally came to his senses and realized he had to shuvah, return to his father or he’d die. Humbled and contrite, he intended to offer himself into servitude to his father. However, while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and filled with compassion, ran to him, embraced and kissed him. Not understanding, the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” But the father told his slaves to bring out his best robe and he put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet. He prepared the fattened calf and celebrated, explaining, “for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

What most don’t know, is that this is really the Parable of the Gracious Father! When Yeshua told this story, his Jewish audience knew the story already, however, He added a twist. In the original parable, the son returns and upon seeing his father, he is too ashamed to approach. The father’s love is expressed in that the father tells him, “Just come half way and I will come to meet you.” In Yeshua's parable, the gracious father, ran to his son, embraced and kissed him ... threw his best robe about his son's shoulders, put a ring on his finger (signifying restoration of covenant), restored sandals to his feet, and held a celebration!

Yeshua showed us in His revision how much greater the father’s love (our Heavenly Father’s love) is than we could imagine toward those of contrite heart!

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin
and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”
Micah 7:18-19

May God richly bless you and yours as you meet with Him in these prophetic times!
His EVERY Word Ministries

From Passover to Resurrection | The Last Week of the Lamb

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Chag Matzot Sameach!

From Passover to Resurrection

• The Passover Week~ A Shared Celebration

• Resurrection Redux

• Putting it All Together~Timeline of Yeshua’s Last Days

Pesach 1  
פסח

Torah Portion: Exodus 12:21-51

Maftir: Numbers 28:16-25
Haftarah: Joshua 3:5-7; 5:2-6:1; 6:27



PASSOVER is observed at twilight, Friday March 30 

through twilight, Saturday April 7, 2018

פסח EREV PESACH 14 Nisan 5778

CHAG MATZOT, the Festival of UNLEAVENED BREAD

begins twilight, Saturday, April 1, 
through twilight, Friday,  April 7,
Nisan 15 through Nisan 22

This week’s Torah portion departs from the traditional rotation to revisit the Exodus narrative as Passover is celebrated this Monday, April 10, at sunset.

Against the rubric of Scripture, we will examine this very meaningful holiday, as well as revisit Yeshua’s Resurrection—celebrated this year on Sunday, April 1. 

Please pardon the ashes ... those are just some sacred cows burning on the brazen altar...

This week is a time of immense significance for both Christians and Jews. 

For the Jewish People, Pesach, or Passover, celebrates the colossal event of Divine deliverance that defines them as a People, and sets in motion the grand redemption plan, confirmed at the foot of Mount Sinai.

Christians call this the Passion Week, commemorating the dramatic events surrounding the death, burial, and Resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus). This is central to the faith as it is the core of the redemption story going forth beyond Israel to the nations. 

If we could slip back in time two thousand years, however, we would not find these events severed from one another. 

The early church—followers of Yeshua, both Jewish and non-Jewish—largely continued celebrating the mo’edim, the appointed times found in Leviticus 23 with great joy in their shared faith.


Messiah had come, fulfilling the long-awaited promise—halle-lu-Yah!

Passover would not have have been particularly meaningful, with its core theme of the

Passover Lamb (without which Christianity would not exist).

Yeshua is the Passover Lamb

The Scriptures record John declaring Yeshua to be, “the Lamb of God.” John 1:29, 36

Revelation 5:6, 6:9, 7:17, 14:10, 19:9, 21:23, 22:1, and 22:3 also speak of Yeshua as, “the Lamb.”

Passover celebrates and declares the faithfulness of Adonai throughout all generations—to Israel, and all who trust in the Name of the LORD. Through Yeshua, the sacrificed Lamb, it is a shared celebration.

There exists a peculiar disconnect which sees the church divorcing itself from its God-given heritage once the promised Messiah has come. 

Why would the prophetic images promising God's glorious redemption not become even more precious once realized? Some may refer to Colossians 2:17, "...things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ." 

However, the English rendering of this verse from the original Greek reflects the bias of the translators rather than the literal, word for word translation.

For instance, there is no word or modifier to justify adding "mere" before shadow in order to diminish its significance. There may also be a contrast not intended by the text. The word "but" is the Greek word δέ, de', which means: but, and, now, then, etc. It is often not used as a comparison. Paul more likely may have been saying, "These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is the Messiah." (Holman Christian Standard Bible)  There are other translations as well that do not put a negative bias on this verse. 

If, for a moment, you can put yourself in the shoes of the first century believer, consider, central to the traditional observances of your faith has been the promises of the long-awaited Messiah of Israel ... for thousands of years. He may seem somewhat mythological for He has tarried so long. And NOW HE HAS COME! Your faith, beliefs, traditional observances have been proven TRUE! Yeshua IS the embodiment of the WORD! How can that possibly result in the diminishing of its value? 

As a Jewish believer, I can tell you that while the yearly festivals are beautiful testimonies of God’s miracles, love, and faithfulness in themselves; once the reality of Messiah is revealed in one’s heart, rather than diminish in value, they explode with astonishing significance! My first Passover Seder as believer in Yeshua, I wept all the way through, seeing the awesome reality and plan of God. I was obliterated by God’s love and faithfulness!

Being fulfilled by the coming of Messiah, the feasts are now extravagantly “filled full”* with sublime significance, and infused with the joy of revelation. They are enriched by the Holy Spirit, glorifying the faithfulness of the Father through His Son, and illustrating the great redemption story.

*Most Christians have been taught that the word “fulfilled” in the New Covenant means “ended.” However, the most common meaning of the Greek word, plēroō, πληρόω, is: to make full, to fill up, to fill to the full, to cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally, to cause God's will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God's promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfilment. (Strong's Greek Lexicon G4237) 

Passover remains one of the most meaningful feasts for sharing the Messiah due to the richness of symbolism and redemptive theme. It is also one of Adonai’s covenantal “forever” feasts, given “throughout all generations.” Leviticus 23:14

“Thus says the LORD, ‘If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time, then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers’.” Jeremiah 33:20-22

We even see Paul using the rich symbolism of the Passover feast to admonish the church in Corinth while confirming their yearly observance of this joyous celebration:



“Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” I Corinthians 5:6-8

When you think about it, why wouldn’t the church greatly value this rich celebration? After all, it was during the Passover Feast, and using the traditional Seder elements, that Yeshua revealed His impending sacrifice, and ratified the “New Covenant” promised in Jeremiah 31:31.

“When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.’” Luke 22:15-20

Yeshua took the unleavened bread, known as matzah, the Bread of Affliction, broke it, gave thanks, and shared it among His Talmidim—His Disciples. This is a part of the Passover Seder, the traditional dinner. 


When He shared the unleavened bread as symbolic of His body, Yeshua was careful NOT to say, “This is my body BROKEN for you.” Rather, He said, “This is my body which is GIVEN for you.” Luke 22:19  

The Passover Lamb must not have any broken bones. (Exodus 12:46) To fulfill this requirement, Yeshua breathed His last before the Roman guard had to break his legs to hasten His death. Thus, the Messiah was taken down from the cross with not a bone in His body broken. 

This is an important sign of fulfilled Messianic prophecy. Many people don’t understand this, and misspeak when serving communion.

Yeshua then took the cup of wine “after they had eaten,” (Luke 22:20) which is called “the Cup of Redemption” in the Passover Seder. It corresponds with the promise of God: “I WILL redeem you with an outstretched arm...” (Exodus 6:6) He declared, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”

The Jewish men gathered with Him at the table fully understood this dramatic claim. Yeshua was announcing a tremendous paradigm shift. The NEW Covenant prophesied by Jeremiah in verse 31:31, was being ratified by His blood!

The familiar Leonardo da Vinci painting of the Last Supper communicates anything but a historically or scripturally accurate picture of a first century Israeli Passover season supper. The Renaissance style architecture and dress is obvious. More to the point, however, the appearance of bread made with yeast rather than matza—unleavened bread—and the fact that the meal is taken in the daytime, rather than after sundown are glaring disconnects from the Bible. Sitting at a table in a grand room is also inauthentic. Reclining around low tables arranged in a “u” configuration, known as a triclinium, with the rabbi seated at the center, in a simple room was characteristic, such as portrayed in this classical painting by Nicholas Poussin.
























The First Passover—A Celebration for All Generations
Exodus 12:21-51

vv. 21-24 “Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, ‘Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb. You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you. And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.” 

This colossal epic event in Jewish history is the dramatic deliverance of the sons of Israel from Egypt. Heroic and legendary, the exodus story is indelibly etched on the history of the world for Gentiles as well. 



By Adonai’s mercy and grace, the Hebrew slaves were to be freed from physical bondage in Egypt—redeemed by the mighty arm of God. Once redeemed, they will begin their long, arduous journey of learning how to live as a redeemed people—free spiritually from all heathen influences—and consecrated to their God. 



In this we see Adonai is forming for Himself a People. This is a new epoch. It will be commemorated forever in many different ways, beginning with the reckoning of time. Exodus 12:2

Forever Israel will remember her Day of Deliverance, and her God with the rhythm of

the seasons. Israel will keep a unique calendar, given to her by her God, thus breaking her ties with Egypt, and the rest of the world, as He begins His work of sanctification—imprinting His Name into her character. She will be set apart from the Nations for God’s glory and purposes.

It’s extraordinary that the first ordinance instituted by God takes place within the family, at home. (Exodus 16) It is the family that forms the first congregation, the first place of worshiping and sanctifying Adonai. It is a theme that will keep the Jewish People connected to their God, their faith, and their distinctiveness as a witness to the Nations throughout time. The weekly Sabbath celebration at the family table is a continuum, passing the Scriptures and blessings, from generation to generation.

Passover also, is a family festival, celebrated in the home. Whereas the traditional Shabbat, or Sabbath celebration has been a point of contention among many Christians, Passover was clearly observed by the early church, as recorded in Paul’s writings (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). Containing rich symbolism and meaning, Passover is a vital commemoration for Jews and Christians alike, now one in Messiah. Galatians 3:28

The Blood of the Lamb was a Sign


We have to look at the significance of the amazing symbolism of the Passover Lamb in light of the fact that this was not an animal sacrifice for sin. Exodus 12:13 tells us the blood of the lamb is a “sign.” 



What a peculiar thing—surely Adonai already knew which were the homes of the sons of Israel—He had kept previous plagues from touching their homes in Goshen. So, who was the sign for? Verse 13 says, “The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live...”

The Lamb at the Center 

The first Passover Seder (traditional Passover dinner) I experienced after coming to faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as a new Believer, was quite a revelation. I wept through nearly the entire service! Besides seeing, for the first time, the glorious truths in the Scriptures, the prayers, and the praises that comprise the traditional liturgy, I saw Yeshua, the Lamb of God at the center!



From that first simple Passover, “eaten in haste” in Egypt, to our contemporary Passover Seder, this feast is rich with prophetic Messianic signs and symbolism:

• Deliverance
• Faithfulness
• Sovereignty
• Redemption
• Mercy and Grace
• Lovingkindness
• Righteousness
• Salvation

No wonder Passover is to be a memorial to be kept throughout all generations! “So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.” vs. 11,14

The Passover Feast has proclaimed through the ages and continues to proclaim the great Redemption Story! ("... to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.") Romans 1:16 

Even before the Exodus from Egypt, YHVH used a lamb to illustrate the paramount role it will play in in His Redemption panorama.

“And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb.” Genesis 22:7-8

Before the time of Yeshua, there were two descriptions of Messiah recognized by the Jewish teachers in the Scriptures: Messiah, Son of Joseph and Messiah, Son of David. The "Son of Joseph" (in Hebrew, Mashiach ben Yosef) was known as the Suffering Servant, derived from Isaiah 52-53, where we find a LAMB once again figured, and can see clearly Yeshua's fulfillment of this prophecy:

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, 

Yet He did not open His mouth; 

Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, 

And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, 

So He did not open His mouth.” 

Isaiah 53:7

By Divine revelation, John who was immersing for repentance to prepare the way for His coming, proclaimed: "Behold the Lamb of God..." when he encountered Yeshua.John 1:29,36

It was at the time of the sacrifice of the Passover lamb that Yeshua laid down His own life as "a ransom for many." Luke 22:7, Mark 10:45

Revelation 13:8 reveals Him as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the cosmos." 

Why the Song of Moses and the Song of Lamb?

Throughout the book of Revelation, Yeshua (who is now returned as the conquering Messiah, Messiah, Son of David!) is also called the Lamb. (Rev. 5:6,8,12,13 6:1,7,9,16 7:9,10,14,17 8:1 12:11 13:8,11 14:1,10 15:3 17:14 19:7,9 21:9,14,22,23 22:1,3)

At the culmination of all war, evil and suffering, a marvelous sight was seen, a "sign in heaven."  Standing on the sea of glass, the victorious in YHVH:  “...sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb..." Revelation 15:1-3


Moses, the first deliverer, through whom Adonai instituted the prophetic Passover, an everlasting ordinance...

What is the Song of Moses?

For most of traditional Christianity, there is little interest in the first five books of the Bible, dismissed as "the law." This narrow view causes us to miss so much treasure given us by our magnificent King!

Consider just the first line of the Song of Moses...

"The LORD (YHVH) is my strength and song, 

And He has become my salvation; 

This is my God, and I will praise Him; 

My father’s God, and I will extol Him."

Exodus 15:2

The word salvation is יְשׁוּעָה in Hebrew, yesh·ü'·äh, Yeshua meaning: salvation, deliverance (by God.) 

The end declared from the beginning! (Isaiah 46:9-11) And again, a testimony to the Jew first, and also the Gentile.

God has revealed His mercy, grace, deliverance, and salvation through the LAMB from the beginning. And at the conclusion of this age, we find the LAMB, Yeshua, at the center: the object of all devotion, the source of all light, and forming the heavenly Temple with YHVH.

"...the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:17

"I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." Revelation 21:22

"And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb." Revelation 21:23

"Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb." Revelation 22:1

How did the Church miss this? If we can celebrate other events not found in the Scriptures, how much more can we benefit from celebrating this rich biblical feast, so vital to the great redemption story? How can we begin to understand the profound meaning behind the terminology and symbolism Adonai uses throughout the New Testament without understanding the foundational Scriptures?

The Traditional Observance of the Passover Celebration and Meaning

The Lamb 



Each of the families of Israel took a lamb without “blemish.” (v. 5) Blemish in Hebrew is tamiym תמים, meaning innocent, wholesome, unimpaired, idiomatically without sin.



We know that Yeshua was without sin, and He is declared the Lamb [of God] in John 1:29 and 1:36, and Revelation 6:9, 7:10, 7:17, 14:4, 14:10, 15:3, 19:9, 21:22, 21:23, and 22:1 among many others.



The lamb was to be sacrificed at twilight (v. 6), Hebrew erev ערב, evening, late afternoon, before night. 

 

Yeshua, “breathed his last” (Mark 15:37) in the ninth hour—between three and four in the afternoon. 

This was likely the same time as the Passover lambs were also being slaughtered in the Temple as it was the evening of the “Preparation Day” (Greek, paraskeuē παρασκευή). John tells us that this was for the Sabbath of Passover (a “high Sabbath.”) John 19:31

Exodus 12:10: “You shall let none of it remain until morning...”



Just as the Passover lamb was not to remain until morning, Yeshua had to be taken down from the executioner’s stake before nightfall. This was due to the onset of the High Sabbath of the Passover (Leviticus 23:7) as well as the Seven Day Feast of Unleavened Bread. John 19:31

The Blood of the Lamb

The blood of the Passover lamb was to be gathered into a container and then applied to the doorposts: “And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin.” (v. 22)



This is a very interesting picture. John 19:29 records hyssop being used to put sour wine in Yeshua’s mouth: “A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.”



Adonai promised Israel that when He saw the blood on the lintel and doorposts, He would not allow death to strike them. “For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.” v. 23 

Powerful Symbolism! To the Jewish People, having kept this feast year after year, Yeshua characterized Himself as the door: “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep ... I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved...” John 10:7, 9



Finally, at His last meal with His Talmidim, or Disciples, Yeshua revealed the profound symbolism contained in two of the common elements of the Passover Seder—the matza, the unleavened bread (Exodus 12:19-20), and the wine, the Cup of Redemption.

The Bread of Affliction

“Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. So you shall observe [the Feast of] Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance. For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether [he is] a stranger or a native of the land.” vs. 15,17,19

Luke tells us, “And when He [Yeshua] had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Luke 22:19

The Greek word for “bread” is artos ἄρτος, which is matzo, or unleavened bread—flat bread made with just flour and water, and containing no yeast or leavening agents. 

In the Bible, leaven is symbolic of sin, pride, and corruption.

Matzo is also called the “bread of affliction,” as it hearkens back to the harsh conditions in Egypt. As the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, Yeshua is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53:7: “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.” How apt a picture He chose!

The Cup of the New Covenant—A New Paradigm!



The traditional Passover Seder includes four cups of wine (or grape juice). The cup after the meal is called the “Cup of Redemption.” Try to imagine how stunned these Jewish Disciples must have been as Yeshua lifted that cup and announced, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” Luke 22:20

This had tremendous significance! Imagine, the Jewish People are in the midst of the Passover season—commemorating the greatest event in their history—where God redeemed them out of Egypt and made them His People ... the only thing greater will be when Messiah comes—a deliverer like Moses. And now, once again they are under bondage. Wouldn't it be a grand time for that deliverance to happen all over again?

And Yeshua proclaims that by His blood, He is instituting the NEW COVENANT promised in Jeremiah 31!

“‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt...’” Jeremiah 31:31-32

L’Dor V’Dor, Generation to Generation, Passing on the Awe of the Lord’s Passover

“And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’ So the people bowed their heads and worshiped.” vv. 24, 26, 27

“...when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’” 

From this Scripture the central format of the Passover Haggadah (the booklet that contains the liturgy and order of service) derives its theme. The youngest child asks four important questions that spark the “telling”—the Exodus narrative:

• Why is this night different from all others?
• Why do we only eat unleavened bread?
• Why do we eat bitter herbs?
• Why do we dip our vegetables twice?

It is counted a privilege to impart the majesty of Adonai, recounting His deliverance:

“This is the LORD’s Passover, YHVH Pesach יהוה פסח—the deliverance by the might and mercy of YHVH, Adonai—when He struck the firstborn of Egypt, but passed over the home of our forefathers!”

Just as the sons of Israel spontaneously worshiped the LORD upon this proclamation in Egypt, so too, is that awe to be imparted, year after year, l’dor v’dor, generation to generation.

Israel’s Deliverance—A Solemn Observance Forever



“It is a night of solemn observance to the LORD for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the LORD, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations.” v. 42

On this fateful night, Adonai shielded the sons of Israel from death—this is the night of Israel’s redemption——and every generation since is indelibly imprinted with the awe of its remembrance.



Who May Share in the Passover?


“And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it. A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. And when a stranger dwells with you [and wants] to 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 a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.’” vv. 43,45,47,48

Adonai did not want the yearly Passover sacrifice to be received as merely a cultural or religious tradition. It was meant to be regarded as a precious and unique event between Israel and her God. Circumcision was a sign of the covenant between Israel and Adonai—setting her apart from the Nations. Only the sons of Israel—the circumcised could eat the Passover.

There was an exception, however. There were those foreigners who chose to join themselves to Israel and her God, known as ger tzeddek, the righteous proselyte—also in the first century, known as God fearers, such as Cornelius, mentioned in Acts 10. 



Neither Jew nor Gentile



“...and he shall be as a native of the land...” (v. 48) When foreigners consecrated themselves to the God of Israel, He made no distinction between natural born or foreigner.

Deliverance OUT OF EGYPT by God’s Mighty Arm!


“And on that same day the LORD brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt...” v. 51

Coming out of Egypt was a Divine deliverance from physical and spiritual bondage for Israel. Enslaved in a land of pagan idolatry, devoid of compassion, mercy, and Godliness, crushed the body and shattered the soul. But God Almighty heard the groans of His People Israel under the tyranny of their slave masters. In His mercy and by His grace He sent a deliverer on a Passover long ago and redeemed them by His mighty Hand and outstretched arm. Exodus 6:6, Deuteronomy 5:15

But wait, there’s more! This magnificent deliverance wasn’t the end of the redemption story. Egypt, like Babylon continues to plague the human soul. Idolatry, corruption, and sin in many forms enslaves and decays inwardly; separating man from His Creator, leaving him hopeless.

Once more ... once for all, Almighty God sent another deliverer on another Passover—Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel, the Lamb of God to set all men free, by His blood. 

Have you been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb?
Then celebrate the Passover this year giving thanks to Almighty God who
“brought Israel out from their midst,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting,
with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for His lovingkindness is everlasting!”
(Psalm 136, traditional Passover liturgy)

Resurrection Redux

So here we find ourselves with another "Easter" about to come upon us. It has a whole different meaning for me today than when I was a child. Then, it meant a Good Friday church service to remember Jesus’ death on that day of the week. There were your best clothes to get out and ready for the Sunday service ahead, maybe even a new suit for that special occasion. And of course lots of eggs to color, hide, and then hunt for at the appointed time.

Sunday of course was the big day. It was church and, maybe even Dad or Grandpa would come on that occasion. After all isn’t it the most highly attended Sunday service of the whole year? And when that was over, it was off to Grandma’s house where the whole family would gather for the traditional Easter ham (something I realize now Jesus would have never eaten). Unfortunately for me then, and multitudes today, Easter Sunday never had any more meaning to it than that... But things are different

now.

As I checked the internet for just the right things to say as introductory material I found, as you might guess, a raft of stuff. My goodness. There’s information on how we calculate the changing date of Easter Sunday. (It couldn’t be simple like Christmas.) There is stuff on how Christianity came to celebrate Easter as a formal holiday. Why, different parts of the world even have traditions unique only to them. There’s been lots of arguing over Easter. And as you might imagine the Jews take it on the chin a time or two. Why, don’t you know, we Gentiles always have it right ... right on down to our Easter eggs. Now that ought to prove something! Well, considering all that I said to myself, “Why not just skip all this and get right to something really interesting?” After all, anyone can check that other stuff out on the internet. So off we go.

When I was a kid and on into my adult years I always took it for granted that it was on a Sunday that Jesus rolled that huge stone away and walked out of the tomb, the tomb in which He had been laid the previous Friday. However, the facts I have since come across have radically assaulted that childhood view most of us have been taught. 

Traditional Christianity places Jesus' death on Friday and His subsequent resurrection on Sunday. But, doesn't that raise a question? We do understand that He was to be buried for three days and three nights. After all, had He not told His disciples in Matthew 12:39-40 that He would be buried for those three days and three nights just as Jonah had spent the same amount of time in the belly of the sea monster?

“An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

The particulars for arriving at the traditional Friday thru Sunday scenario are as follows: The crucifixion it is argued had to be on Friday. This is believed because John 19:31 says the Jews came to Pilate and asked that the bodies should not remain on the crosses. It was the day of preparation and the Sabbath was the next day. Since Saturday is always the Sabbath it had to be on Friday  (the day before / it was the day of preparation) that the crucifixion took place. According to Mark 15:25 it was the third hour or 9:00 AM that He was nailed to the cross.  At 3:00 PM or the ninth hour (Matthew 27:46-50) He died on this Friday before the Sabbath, and was placed in the tomb. But before we go further, a moment's digression on Jewish time keeping, if you please....

The reckoning of Jewish time is different from that which we are familiar with. Our whole day starts at 12:00 AM and runs for 24 hours to 12:00 PM. Our “day” is generally thought of as running from 6:00 AM to 6:00PM and our “evening” from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM.

Jewish time—or more correctly, biblical time—differs in that their whole day starts at sunset or roughly 6:00 PM and runs 24 hours to the next sunset or roughly 6:00 PM. The “evening” starts their calendar day at 6:00 PM and runs twelve hours to 6:00 AM. The remaining 12 hours is considered their “day” and runs generally from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Our day starts with the morning. Their day starts with the evening. Genesis 1:13

Their pattern of evening first, then day was established in Genesis One where God concluded each 24 hour period of creation by stating this formula,  “...and there was evening and there was morning...” then giving the day on which the particular acts of creation were done. This pattern is followed even today in Israel. Each calendar day starts at 6:00 PM with the evening. The latter half of the day concludes with the morning which runs from 6:00 AM. to 6:00 PM.

The traditional church, not in tune with this unique handling of the clock, reasoned that Jesus was placed in the tomb on that Friday day. By Jewish reckoning of time He would have remained there Friday day (3:00 PM to 6:00 PM), Saturday evening (6:00 PM Friday to 6:00 AM Saturday) and Saturday day (6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturday) and Sunday evening (6:00 PM Saturday to 6:00 AM Sunday). It is believed that the resurrection happened on Sunday because of Matthew 28:1-6. There we have the account of the two Marys coming to the grave on Sunday morning and finding the grave empty.

If this had been the course of events, then by Jewish timekeeping Jesus would not have been in the tomb three days and three nights. Let’s look at it one more time.

     Friday 3:00 PM to Friday 6:00 PM is one partial day, not a full day.
     Friday 6:00 PM to Saturday 6:00 AM is one full night.
     Saturday 6:00 AM to Saturday 6:00 PM is one full day
     Saturday 6:00 PM to Sunday 6:00 AM is is one full night
     Sunday 6:00 AM to the empty tomb discovery is one partial day, not a full day

Even if a partial day was to be considered as a full day as some suggest, we have at the most, Jesus in the grave three days and two nights, not the three nights Jesus said He would be. You’ll recall that Jesus had said in Matthew 12:39-40 that He would be in the grave as Jonah was in the belly of the sea monster, three days and three nights. 

So before you consider me too much of a contrarian let's consider another possible scenario.

We know that in the Jewish culture every Saturday (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday) is the Sabbath. Its foundation is found as far back as creation when God rested on the seventh day. Historical precedence for its ongoing practice is most strongly suggested in Exodus 16:23 where the Sabbath was kept prior to the Ten Commandments being given. God seals the deal on Mt. Sinai when in the fourth of ten commandments He instructs His people to keep the Sabbath holy. Most of the Jewish people kept this day sacred right up to the time of Jesus, and were practicing it religiously at the time of His death. 

The question to be raised is, was there only one Sabbath day the week Jesus went to the cross? Because if there were two such days the question of three full days and three full nights would be easily resolved.

Matthew 28:1 says, “Now after the Sabbath (singular in the English), as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.”

A number of English Bibles translate “Sabbath” from the original language as a singular (only one Sabbath day that week). Our NASB does this. However, some translations such as Young’s Literal Translation translate Sabbath in the plural. This would mean that in the week Jesus died there were two or more Sabbaths.

This word is rendered in the plural in Alfred Marshall's Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, Green's Literal Translation, and Ferrar Fenton's Translation. Indeed, even my trusty Nestle Greek Text renders Sabbath in the plural form. We must therefore conclude that there were at least two Sabbaths, not just the one on Saturday following the traditionally believed Friday crucifixion.

What might the second Sabbath be?

The Hebrew Bible delineates TWO DIFFERENT TYPES of SABBATHS:

• One is the seventh day of the week, the day God “rested” in the creation account. It always ran and still does from sunset (the beginning of the Jewish day) on Friday night to sunset (the end of the Jewish day) on Saturday night. Remember, the evening time after sunset was and is the beginning of the next Jewish day.

• The only other type of Sabbath was called a “high day.” These seven Sabbaths are listed in Leviticus 23. They are to be treated as the regular weekly Sabbaths were, but each celebrates a particular event different from the regular weekly Sabbath. The presence of this type of Sabbath, “a high day,” is confirmed in John 19:31. It reads, “Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.” Only two possibilities exist as to the timing of these two different Sabbaths. Either they both fell on the same day, Saturday—as the Friday thru Sunday entombment folks hold—or they fell on separate days in the crucifixion week.

Mark 14 sheds light on this point. The Passover was at hand. During this last week Jesus and His disciples were in Jerusalem and going to partake of the Last Supper. In verses 12 through 16 we have the account of the preparation of that meal. How fitting that the final sacrifice for sin, the death of the Messiah, was to be offered just a day later.

This is where the first of the two Sabbaths or the “high Sabbath” would have come in. This particular high Sabbath is spoken of in Leviticus 23:4-8, discussing the Passover celebration. There were two “high Sabbaths” to celebrate here. Verses 7-8 say,  “On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work. But for seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.” 

Here are two Sabbaths, one at the beginning of the seven day period of celebration and one at the end. This would mean that a Sabbath rest would take place on one of the weekdays of the crucifixion week. Then the regular weekly Sabbath would take place on the upcoming Friday evening. And following that, the second high Sabbath for the week of celebration would take place.

Having seen the difficulty of the Friday crucifixion theory not fulfilling the words of Jesus in Matthew 12:39-40 and now seeing that two Sabbaths did occur in the crucifixion week lets consider another format for the events of the week.

Remember what Jesus had said in Matthew 12:39-40, “But he [Jesus] answered and said unto them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seek after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.’” (Emphasis added)

I believe Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday afternoon, and resurrected on Saturday afternoon—three days and three nights later—exactly as our Messiah said.

The week’s events would look like this:
    

• Tuesday evening: Jesus and the disciples eat the Passover meal together and He is arrested during the night.

• Wednesday: This is the preparation day spoken of in John 19:31, the day before the  “high day” Sabbath, which comes as a result of Passover. Jesus is crucified, dies at the ninth hour and is placed in the tomb.

• Thursday: This is the high Sabbath day, the first day of Unleavened Bread, Matthew 27:62.

• Friday: Spices are purchased by Jesus‘ female followers.

• Saturday: This was the regular weekly Sabbath, not associated with the two belonging to the Passover celebration. Everyone rested as was prescribed. Jesus is resurrected in the afternoon after the ninth hour, but before sunset—the start of the next day. 

• Sunday: The women go to the tomb and find it empty.

Does this make the full three days and full three nights in the grave?
Yes, and only this way:
       Wednesday 3:00 PM to Thursday 3:00 PM
            (one night / one day)
       Thursday 3:00 PM to Friday 3:00 PM
            (one night / one day)
       Friday 3:00 PM to Saturday 3:00 PM
            (one night / one day)

According to an article in the Good News Magazine, “Several computer software programs exist that enable us to calculate when the Passover and God's other festivals fall in any given year. Those programs show that in A.D. 31, the year of these events, the Passover meal was eaten on Tuesday night and Wednesday sundown marked the beginning of the 'high day,’ the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.” “Jesus wasn't crucified on Friday—or Resurrected on Sunday!” The Good News magazine, United Church of God, 2006-MAR-APR, Pages 13 to 15

Obviously more stock can be placed in the Biblical evidence than the above quote. It is interesting, however, to note that many theologians believe that Jesus was crucified  between 29 and 32 CE.

It would be a “hard sell” to get the Christian world to give up Resurrection Sunday, even if they did buy into the above scenario.  After all who wants to give up a good tradition? Don’t we still celebrate Christmas in December even though most know that was not when our Savior was born? But there ARE a couple of things worth pulling out of this study.

One is that perhaps we should have much more respect for the biblical Sabbath. The roots of the Sabbath date back to creation. And while its tradition is imbedded in a God-given Law, we can also now see it should lay claim to the title of “Resurrection Sabbath.” “Resurrection Sunday,” just doesn’t seem to hold much water  anymore. (Uh-oh, there goes one of those of those sacred cows ... up in smoke on the altar....)

And how about the itch some traditionalists have over churches now having Saturday and even Friday services? They argue, “Haven’t we always had Sunday services because that is the day of the week He rose from the grave?” No, Sunday is the day He was first discovered gone from the grave, having risen from the grave, the previous day, I believe.
                      

“Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” Matthew 28:1-6

By the time the women, the first of His followers to see the empty tomb, got to the tomb, Jesus had already risen, on Saturday. (And I wonder if those guards were shaking as much from the continuing presence of the angel, or from the sight of the risen Christ coming out of the tomb?)

The book of Acts probably debunks best the Sunday only worship mantra. Acts 2:46 says, “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.” Looks like any day really is a good day to worship.

Another is that the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, paves the way for the free gift of eternal life to any who claim it. And this is regardless of what view one may take on particular days and events.

How simple and yet how true are the words:

“...whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world,
but that the world might be saved through Him.
He who believes in Him is not judged;
he who does not believe has been judged already,
because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
John 3:15-18  

May this special week be blessed and meaningful to you!
In Messiah's love,

By His Every Word