PEA RIDGE — Spring and Easter
Spring is coming to the Ozarks and Christians will celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Something important is happening this year that may impact Bible believers. For the first time since Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, Jewish rabbis are sacrificing a Passover lamb in Jerusalem, though not on the Temple Mount.
When the Jews were slaves in Egypt, God required each family to select a perfect male lamb, sacrifice it, and put the blood on the doorposts of their homes. God’s death angel passed over homes protected by the blood of the lamb, the oldest male of Egyptian homes died, and Pharaoh released the Jews.
God commanded the Jews to commemorate Passover on the first full moon of spring every year. (Exodus 12:3-7 and Leviticus 23)
At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, John the Baptist declared of Jesus: “Behold!
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
At the end of His ministry, on Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem at the same time that the high priest brought a sacrificial lamb from Bethlehem to Jerusalem. (Zechariah 9:9 and John 12:12-16)
Later that week, on the evening of preparation before Passover: “As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’” (Matthew 26:26-28)
That evening Jesus was arrested and the next day, at the same time that the high priest sacrificed the last Passover lamb and proclaimed, “It is finished.” Jesus declared, “It is finished,” and died on the cross. (John 19:30)
Jesus was buried at sunset at the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jesus rose from the grave on or the Feast of First Fruits or Easter.
At Passover, Jews use matzo-bread which is striped, pierced and broken into three pieces. Themiddle piece is wrapped in white cloth, buried and later found. Stop here and read Isaiah 53.
The blood of a lamb delivered the children of Israel from a life of bondage to Pharaoh, and the blood of Messiah Jesus, our Passover Lamb, delivered us from a life of bondage to Satan.
Passover is the perfect preview of the Messiah’s death, burial and resurrection. Old Testament believers looked forward to it at Passover;
New Testament saints look back to it at communion.
The restoration of the Passover sacrifice may be another sign that Jesus will soon take the Bible-believing church to heaven. After seven year long Marriage Supper of the Lamb in heaven and seven years of tribulation on earth, Jesus returns to earth with His saints or bride as King of Kings to judge the unfaithful and establish His Kingdom.
ALLEN MERRITT Rogers, Ark.
Opinion, Pages 4 on 03/17/2010