Subscribe via RSS Feed

The Full Picture of Passover

Indeed, the cost is great. This story of one man and his family is the shadow in which we walk. It is the essence of Passover. The lamb was required so that death would pass-over.

“And when your children say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’ you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.’ And the people bowed low and worshiped.” (Exodus 12:26-27)

But Paul, as we have already read, says this shadow has a reality, a substance which is the Messiah.

A thought obsesses you on your way home, knowing that you’re going to have to face the horrified faces of your children, “The cost, O God, is too great.”

After the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E.13 the Rabbis, predominately Pharisees, convened to discuss what was to be done. Without the Temple, there could be no Passover sacrifice. Without the sacrifice, how could they fulfill God’s requirements? They decided that the unleavened bread of the Passover meal, the matzah, would be their lamb substitute.

In fact, it is stated that a specific portion of this festival bread, the afikomen, is the representation of the Passover lamb. Passover: It’s Observance, Laws, and significance declares, “In our days, the afikomen is symbolic of the portion of Pesach meat consumed by each Jew,”14 and elsewhere, “Some rabbis15 are of the opinion that the afikomen is eaten in commemoration of the Pesach offering.”16

Is it, therefore, merely coincidence that Jesus identified himself as the matzah during His last Passover on earth?

“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’” (Luke 22:19).

We are reminded of Jesus’ words, “I am the bread of life; he that comes to Me shall never hunger…”17 Leaven represents sin in Scripture, and by identifying himself as the unleavened bread, Jesus reminds us of his sinless nature. Like the lamb in our story, he was innocent—no blemish in either could be found.

But many other traditions have developed around the matzah bread as well. The rabbis have set down very specific regulations concerning the appearance of the matzah. If it is to be found suitable for use in the first place, it must be striped, as was Jesus, for the prophet Isaiah says, “And by His stripes we are healed.”18

Likewise, the baking process intentionally makes the matzah appear bruised, as was Jesus. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…”19

Pin It
Page 4 of 6« First...23456

Tags: , , ,

Category: Biblical Studies, Summer 1999

About the Author: Kevin M. Williams, Litt.D., H.L.D. has served in Messianic ministries since 1987 and has written numerous articles and been a featured speaker at regional and international conferences on Messianic Judaism.

  • Connect with PneumaReview.com

    Subscribe via Twitter Followers   Subscribe via Facebook Fans
  • Recent Comments

  • Featured Authors

    Amos Yong is Professor of Theology & Mission and director of the Center for Missiological Research at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena. His graduate education includes degree...

    Jelle Creemers: Theological Dialogue with Classical Pentecostals

    Antipas L. Harris, D.Min. (Boston University), S.T.M. (Yale University Divinity School), M.Div. (Emory University), is the president-dean of Jakes Divinity School and associate pasto...

    Invitation: Stories about transformation

    Craig S. Keener, Ph.D. (Duke University), is F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is author of many books<...

    Studies in Acts

    Daniel A. Brown, PhD, planted The Coastlands, a church near Santa Cruz, California, serving as Senior Pastor for 22 years. Daniel has authored four books and numerous articles, but h...

    Will I Still Be Me After Death?