Entering Into Passover 2020
“Passover 2020 will begin tonight at sundown. Those of the Jewish faith (and some Christians) around the world will observe the Lord saving the Israelites from a plague of the death of the firstborn. He did this through His servant Moses, and it resulted in the Hebrews being released from 400 years of slavery. More than that, however, is that this was a foreshadowing of God sending Jesus to save the whole world by His death and resurrection on the cross. Liberation for the Israelites in that time, and for us today, came through God’s mighty works and His outstretched arm. He did it all!
“Most Christians celebrate Resurrection Sunday (or Easter), but we should all also learn to recognize in the Passover service freedom from sin and death through Christ’s sacrifice. Jesus celebrated Passover. That’s what He and the disciples were doing as they celebrated what we call ‘the Last Supper’. Jesus released incredible revelation at His ‘Last Passover Supper’. He was symbolized eternally in the ‘afikomen’, the middle of three matzahs (Jewish yeast-free flatbread). In the service, the afikomen is broken in half, wrapped in cloth, and hidden until after the meal. Later, when the children find it, they come to the father, and he redeems it for a reward. Jesus took the bread, the afikomen, and said, ‘This is my body… broken for you…’ He then took the third cup, the ‘Cup of Redemption’, saying, ‘This is my blood…’ His perfect, sinless blood would be shed on the cross just hours later, once again redeeming humanity with His outstretched arms.” (Jon Bunn)
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:26-28; NIV)
Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:
- Read Exodus, chapter 12 alone or with your family tonight and share the story that foreshadowed the coming Christ.
- Read John 6:53-58 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-27. In both of these passages, you see Jesus tied to the Passover.
- Let the revelation of all these passages sink in. How wonderful to see His plan of redemption foreshadowed in Israel hundreds of years before Christ.
- Take communion using Matthew 26:26-28 above.
- Intercede for the Jews to “see” Jesus, their Messiah, as they participate in the Passover seder tonight.
A prayer you can pray (From “The Story of Messiah, Our Passover”):
“When the fullness of the time came, God, You sent forth Your Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that You might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). You sent Jesus the Messiah to deliver mankind from slavery to sin. Jesus met the legal requirement for mankind’s redemption. As it is written: ‘… the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him’ (Isaiah 53:6). Messiah was cut off out of the land of the living for our transgressions, having died to pay the wages of sin for us. It is the blood of Messiah, our Passover, that causes You, Almighty God, to distinguish us from all others as Your people. All who have believed this report and have placed their trust in the sacrificial death of Jesus the Messiah, have been redeemed from their sins, and have passed from death to life. Messiah came as the sacrificial Lamb of God to provide redemption for all mankind, as it is written: ‘… the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him’ (Isaiah 53:6). Messiah was cut off out of the land of the living for our transgressions, having died to pay the wages of sin for us. It is the blood of Messiah, our Passover, that causes You to distinguish us from all others as His people. All who have believed this report and have placed their trust in the sacrificial death of Jesus the Messiah, have been redeemed from their sins, and have passed from death to life.” Father, we worship You. Jesus, we thank You. Holy Spirit, lead and guide us into all truth. Amen.
Today’s decree:
Jesus is the Passover lamb, given to take away the sins of the world!
Learn more about Jon Bunn here.
Full Passover Seder here.