On the evening of the
fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho,
the Israelites celebrated the Passover.
Joshua 5:10
It may seem unusual that God’s people would celebrate death. The Passover was a horribly, traumatic event, causing tens or, maybe, hundreds of thousands of deaths. Before the Israelites were given their freedom from bondage, I can imagine the screams of anguish from the “unprotected homes” was difficult to endure. Everyone wanted the carnage to end. But, the Israelites want to remember. Every year since, Israelite families have shared a meal and retold the story of the Lord’s Passover. Knowing human nature, it is likely that over time the meal had become ritualistic. The intent all along was for the Israelites to remember their escape from
It was in this context that Jesus shared a Passover meal with his disciples. Jesus, on the eve of his arrest and crucifixion, redefined the celebratory meal. The familiar became new and, possibly, a little bit awkward to Jesus’ apostles. The unleavened bread was now to represent Jesus’ body given as a ransom for the world. The wine was now to represent Jesus’ blood soon to be shed as a cleansing, atoning sacrifice. Once again… celebrating death. The significance of this event is that in His death we find life.
Pharoah’s heart was so hard that he needed the shock of the Passover to allow God’s will to be done. Likewise, our sin was so great we needed the death of a perfect sacrifice to free us from the bondage of sin. It is through death we are saved. This is the power of God at work and that is something to celebrate.
Dear Heavenly Father, please help us remember and appreciate the gift of your son. We believe he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and, consequently, we have eternal life through his death. We praise you for your merciful kindness. In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
Carl Smith
Stephenville,
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