The Spring Festivals of Israel – Prophecy Fulfilled
PASSOVER
Historical Events
“And ye shall observe this thing [Passover] as an ordinance to thee and to thy sons forever . . . and it shall come to pass when your children say unto you, What mean ye by this service? that ye shall say, it is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt.” Ex 12:24, 26-7
Passover [Pesach] occurs in the first month of the religious calendar, Nisan, on the fourteenth day, [Lev 23:5].
Pesach began with the children of Israel, or Jacob, enslaved in Egypt, and crying out to God to deliver them. If the children of Israel had had written scriptures to study, they would have known that the Lord would deliver them after they had remained in Egypt 400 years, as God promised Abraham in Gen 15:13. The Lord sent Moses and the ten plagues, and it was only the tenth and most severe plague, which finally opened Pharaoh’s ears to God’s request to “Let my people go . . .“, and it is NOT a wise thing to refuse to listen to and obey the Lord God of Israel. God had promised that He would bring His people out of Egypt [literal translation: Mitzrayim, the world] and into the Promised Land. He intended to keep that promise at EXACTLY the time He had told Abraham He would.
But not before the tenth plague. The eternal God was at work. He hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not let the children of Israel go. And then plague after plague was unleashed with deadly accuracy against the idolatrous land of Egypt. Each of the plagues was directed against an Egyptian deity , until at last, the firstborn of each home in Egypt would perish where a lamb was not slain and the blood was not applied. The plague reached even to the palace of Pharaoh himself. Since the Pharaoh of Egypt was worshipped as a god, a god’s son would die. Finally in desperation, Pharaoh consented to let the children of Israel go. Under Moses, servant of Lord, it is estimated that more than a million slaves with all of their possessions marched past the Sphinx of Egypt into the desert. Howard, Rosenthal, The Feasts of the Lord, p 17.
The Israelites were required to slay the lamb, then sprinkle his blood on the lintels and door posts of their homes. This was the ONLY signal that the Lord would recognize as He personally passed through Egypt and slew the firstborn of every man and beast in the land. Only the households who were covered by the blood of the Lamb escaped the plague of death.
In celebrating the Passover, the head of each household was required to take a lamb of the first year on the tenth day of the first month, Nisan, and set it aside until the fourteenth day [Ex 12:3-6]. In the evening of the fourteenth day, at exactly 3 p.m., the lamb was to be killed. The blood of the lamb was to be sprinkled on the lintel and two side posts of the household door. The lamb was to be roasted with fire, with bitter herbs, and with unleavened bread [matzah], and the entire household was to feast on the body of the lamb. The people were instructed to eat the lamb with haste and to be dressed and ready to leave Egypt at the midnight hour – this would be the fifteenth of Nisan. Passover is immediately followed by the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Detailed Celebration
Preparation – there is a flurry of activity in the days before Passover, where the mother of the house cleans everything – the house, the dishes, the wine glasses – all are washed and swept and made ready. Every bit of leaven found anywhere in the house is removed. Three pieces of unleavened bread are wrapped together in a linen bag with three pockets. The youngest in the house is seated at the right hand of the father.
The mother of the house then ushers in the feast with the lighting of the candles and the blessing thanking God for the special occasion.
The cups of wine
Since wine is a mark of joy, four cups of wine are used in the celebration of the service. To begin the service, the father pours the first cup of wine and asks everyone to rise from the table. The father then lifts his cup toward heaven and recites the Kiddush to set the day apart to God. It was the Messiah, as the leader of the Seder service observed in the Upper Room, who said the Kiddush on the night of the Last Supper.
The Washing of the Hands
One of the family members brings a pitcher and bowl of water and washes the hands of everyone at the table. The ceremony is a symbolic act of purification as they prepare to handle the food. It was here that Yeshua indicated to the disciples how much more He required of them when he washed their feet. He was about to become the suffering Servant of the Lord, and as such, He would be the One to cleanse them.
The Green Vegetable
After the hands are washed, the green vegetable [or karpas] is dipped into the salt water and eaten. The gree vegetable is a reminder that Passover occurs in the springtime. The salt water is a reminder of the tears of pain and suffering shed by the Jewish people in slavery.
The Middle Matzah
Next, the leader removes the middle matzah from the linen bag to break it in half. Half is replaced and half is carefully wrapped in a linen napkin and hidden away in the house while the children cover their eyes. It reappears later in the service to demonstrate a very important truth.
The Four Questions
The youngest at the Seder meal has the privilege of asking the four key questions:
1) Why is this night different than all other nights? On all other nights, we eat either leavened or unleavened bread, but on this night only unleavened bread?
2) On all other nights, we eat all kinds of herbs, but on this night, only bitter herbs?
3) On all other nights, we do not dip even once, but on this night, we dip twice?
4) On all other nights, we eat either sitting or reclining, but on this night reclining?
The Second Cup
Next the second cup of wine is poured, and in response to the four questions, a lengthy narrative of the Passover story begins, starting with Abraham being called out of Ur, God’s promises to the Patriarchs, the story of Joseph an his brothers, the enslavement of the Israelites, the deliverance by the hand of Moses, and the giving of the Law at Sinai. Before the second cup is drunk, the first half of the praise Psalms [Ps 113-118] are recited. [ibid., p 57]
The Dipping of the Matzah
In preparation for the meal, everyone present washes his hands a second time for ceremonial cleansing. Then the upper matzah, and the remainder of the middle matzah are broken in pieces and distributed to everyone. Each person must eat a piece of the matzah dipped in the horseradish and in the haroset [apple mixture]. This was a reminder of the sweetness of God’s redemption in the middle of their slavery.
Each person then puts a filling of horseradish between two pieces of matzah. This is called the “Hillel Sandwich” after the first century rabbi Hillel, who taught that each person must take enough of the horseradish to bring tears to his eyes. This way, each can identify with the Israelites who were slaves in Egypt.
The Dinner
Next the dinner is served. In Yeshua’s day, it would have been roasted lamb with bitter herbs and matzah. Today it is a celebration and a true feast, with a wide variety of dishes served.
The Afikomen
After the meal, the children are sent out to find the broken half-matzah that was wrapped and hidden away. It is know as the afikomen. The children search high and low with great excitement for they know that the one who finds it will receive a reward. When the children find it, you can hear the delight all over the house. Rabbinic law requires that a small piece of the afikomen be broken off and eaten by everyone present at the service as a reminder of the Passover lamb. At this point in the service, the matzah, previously characterized as the bread of affliction, is now transformed and redeemed. This is a perfect picture of Yeshua, who fulfilled the role of the suffering Messiah [recognized by the Rabbis and known as Messiah ben Yoseph]. He suffered affliction while dying go the tree, but was later redeemed when He was resurrected by God the Father. Tin the Passover Seder service, the afikomen is redeemed by the children. The children who find the buried afikomen receive a gift, known as the promise of the father. Through Yeshua’s death on the cross, we receive grace, righteousness, eternal life, faith, forgiveness, as well as the gifts provided by the Holy Spirit [Ruach HaKodesh], such as wisdom, knowledge, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits and many more.
The Third Cup
Next is the third cup of wine, the cup of redemption. It was here in the Passover Seder that the Lord instituted the Lord’s table [Luke 22:20]. Passover is closely associated with the fervent hope for the coming of the Messiah. After the third cup, a child is sent to the front door to hopefully welcome in the prophet Elijah. This tradition is rooted in the Scriptures, in Malachi 4:5.
The Fourth Cup
The last cup of wine is called the Cup of Acceptance or Praise. It was this cup that the Messiah said He would not drink until He drank it with the disciples in the Kingdom. He knew that the hour of His acceptance by His Jewish nation was yet future, and therefore His joy would not be full until then.
The Closing Hymn
At the closing of the service, a hymn is usually sung or recited, as Yeshua did [Matt 26:30]. We do not know for sure what Yeshua sang or recited the night of His last Passover Seder. [Ibid., p 56-59]
The Prophetic Picture that God has Painted
Let’s start with the matzah bread. Why are there three pieces of bread? One rabbinic tradition holds that it represents the three groups of Jewish people, the priests, the Levites, and the Israelites. Another tradition says they are representative of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But rabbinic tradition is unable to explain why the middle one is broken. Neither theory fits the symbolism behind the breaking of the middle piece of bread. The symbolism here is the Trinity, the Father, the Son, the Spirit, and the breaking of the middle piece represents the death of the Son for our sins. After He died, He was literally wrapped in linen and buried, [hidden], and brought back to life at the third cup of wine, that is, He was resurrected the third day. Historically, the afikomen was not a part of the ceremony during Yeshua’s day, it was a later addition to the Passover. The last solid food in that day was the lamb at dinner. Rabbinic tradition holds that the afikomen now represents the lamb, and therefore everyone must eat of it. “This is my Body . . . ” Matt 26:26; The picture is completed when we observe that the matzah is unleavened, where leaven represents sin, it is pierced, and it is striped, representing Yeshua’s suffering.
Another aspect that lends credibility to the influence of the Spirit in the traditions, is the meaning of the word ‘afikomen’. The problem is more difficult since the word is not a Hebrew word. Rabbinic consensus is that the word means dessert, since it is eaten after the meal when dessert would normally have been eaten. Amazingly, ‘Afikomen’ is the only Greek word [the common language of Yeshua’s day] in the Passover Seder. Everything else is Hebrew. It is a form of the Greek verb ikneomai. The translation is electrifying. It simply means – I came. [Ibid., p 61.}
How can a tradition representing Yeshua have gotten incorporated into the Jewish Passover? It is estimated that at the end of the first century there were a million believing Jews. In addition, in 70 C.E., the Temple was destroyed, making the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb impossible, for God had commanded that sacrifices occur ONLY at the Temple. With the Temple destroyed, no Passover lamb was possible, and the Jewish Christians substituted the matzah in the place of the Lamb. And so in answer to the question, ‘Why is this night different?’ the answer echoes back through the ages, “I came.” [Ibid., p 62] The afikomen also speaks of the bread broken by Yeshua during the Last Passover, when He instituted the Lord’s Supper.
Other Spiritual Parallels
Nisan is the first month of the religious calendar. Ex 12:2. Receiving Yeshua into our lives is the beginning of a new Covenant relationship with God. Passover is the first feast, likewise, repenting of our sins and believing in the shed blood of Yeshua, the Lamb of God, is the first step in our walk with God.
The Lamb was hidden for four days. Ex12:3,6. God commanded Israel to take the lamb on the tenth day of Nisan, and set it aside until the fourteenth day. These four days were fulfilled by Yeshua during His last Passover week – He entered Jerusalem, went to the Temple, which was the House of God, and went on public display teaching there for four days. Secondly, the four days speak prophetically of the four thousand years since the creation of Adam that the Lamb was hidden from the people [ a thousand years is as a day, a day as a thousand years – 2 Peter 3:8].
The lamb which was to be slain had to be without blemish. Ex 12:5. Yeshua was the Lamb of God without spot or blemish, 1 Peter 1:18-20.
The lamb was of the first year. Ex 11:4-7. God always distinguishes between His believers and the world. The theme of the firstborn runs as a continuous thread through the whole Old Testament and into the New – the firstborn was set aside for God and had to be redeemed. With this teaching, the Lord is demonstrating that the firstborn of the flesh is set aside for the firstborn of the spirit. God is distinguishing between the birth of the flesh and the birth of the Spirit. Yeshua was the firstborn of Mary and the firstborn of Father God.
It is a male lamb. Ex 12:5. It was through one man’s actions that sin came into the world, and it is by one Man’s actions that sins are forgiven. Since Adam, the first male sinned, Yeshua, a male, must die for those sins.
It is a lamb per household. Ex 12:3-4. There is a progressive revelation of the role of the Lamb in the Bible. First, in Exodus, there is a lamb for a household. Then a Lamb for the nation of Israel, as the chief Priests felt wise. Then, a Lamb for the world, in Yeshua’s death on the cross. In Genesis 22, Isaac asked, ‘Where is the lamb?’ The Lamb he was asking about was Yeshua.
The Passover Lamb was to be killed between the evenings. Ex 12:6. The priests slew the Passover sacrifice at 3 p.m. on Pesach. The Jewish day goes from 6pm to 6 pm, and the daytime starts at 6 am. Yeshua died at the 9th hour of the day, which is 3 pm, the same time the Passover lamb was to die. Yeshua was the real Passover Lamb.
The whole assembly shall kill it. Ex 12:6. As Mel Gibson demonstrated in his movie, The Passion, in which it was his hands which nailed Yeshua to the cross, each one who has ever lived has sinned and is therefore guilty of killing Yeshua, who paid the price for our sins. The whole congregation is responsible.
The blood must be applied to the door. Ex 12:7. Those who believe in Yeshua are the House of God. The only way into the House of God is through the shed blood of Messiah Yeshua, who is the Door [John 10:7-9].
The body of the lamb must be eaten. Ex 12:8-10. Both the body and blood of the lamb speak of the body and blood of Yeshua. It also must be eaten the same night – Yeshua suffered, died and was buried the same night. It must be eaten with unleavened bread. Leaven speaks of sin, unleavened bread represents sinlessness, and Yeshua is the bread of life. It must be eaten with bitter herbs. The bitter herbs speak of the bondage and burdens we carried before we gave our lives to Yeshua, just as the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, a type of the world, as well as the bitter hardships that come into our lives in the world, after we accept the Lord into our lives. Yeshua suffered a bitter death for us, in place of us.
The lamb must be roasted in fire. Ex 12:8. Fire speaks of judgment, refining and purification.
It must not be sodden with water. Ex 12:9. . The gospel of Yeshua must not be watered down.
The head and legs, and other parts of the lamb must be eaten. Ex 12:9. Those who believe in Yeshua must feed on the mind of Yeshua. The legs speak of our walk.
The lamb must be eaten in haste. Ex 12:11. Believers must be quick to leave Egypt, a type of the world.
We must eat it with our loins girded. Ex 12:11. Our spiritual loins are to be girded by the truth of the Word of God.
Shoes must be on our feet. Ex 12:11. We must always be ready to be the feet bringing the good news of the gospel.
A staff must be in our hand. Ex 12:11. The staff speaks of the believer’s authority in the Kingdom of God by the name of Yeshua.
It is the Lord’s Passover. Ex 12:11. When we become believers, we pass from death to life, we pass from judgment to divine protection.
It is a memorial forever. Ex 12:14. God remembers us. We must remember Him. Yeshua said, ‘Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19
It is to be observed at the going down of the sun. Deut 16:2,6. There was a total eclipse of the sun at Yeshua’s death.
It is observed in the place where God would put his Name. Deut 16:2,6. The place where God put His name is Jerusalem. Yeshua was crucified in Jerusalem.
Not a bone of the lamb was to be broken. Ex 12:43-46. Not a bone of Yeshua was broken on the tree in fulfillment of David’s prophecy.
The Egyptians were spoiled at the Exodus. Ex 12:31-36. Satan was spoiled after the crucifixion, when Yeshua entered hell and rose again.
There was to be an explanation of the service. Ex 12:25-28. Yeshua explained the service to His disciples as He celebrated it the last time.
You must be circumcised to eat the Passover. Ex 12:48. The physical was a picture of the spiritual that God really wanted, a heart that is circumcised.
The Passover was to be a Holy Convocation, and no work was to be done. Ex 12:16. A believer finds true rest in ceasing from his own works and resting in the finished work of Yeshua.
The Pesach must be killed outside the gates of the city. [Deut. 16:5] Yeshua was crucified outside the gates of the city of Jerusalem.
There is healing power in the lamb. Exodus 15:26. By His stripes we are healed.
Conclusion
He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53
Yeshua was the prophesied Lamb of God who died for our sins. As we will see, all four of the spring feasts were literally fulfilled within 60 days. The spring feasts prophesied and foretold the details of Yeshua’s first coming. Just as the spring feasts were literally fulfilled in a short period of time on earth, so the fall feasts will also all be fulfilled in a matter of days by Yeshua’s second coming.
