The Passover -
is it for Christians?
What are the differences between the Passover and the Lord's Supper? The apostle Paul referred to "the last supper" of Jesus Christ as "the Lord's supper" (I Corinthians 11:20) in teaching Gentile Christians to observe the symbols of Christ's death. WHEN should the Passover, or the "Lord's supper" be observed? At the beginning of the fourteenth of Nisan (Abib); coinciding with Jesus' famous last supper - or at the end of the fourteenth, on the beginning of the fifteenth, when the Jews celebrated the Passover during the time of Christ? Here is the TRUTH about the Passover and the Lord's supper from the pages of your own Bible!
By Garner Ted Armstrong
When
God commanded Israel to observe the first Passover it was an utterly unique occasion in
all history. The first Passover was a monumental historical occurrence; an absolutely
unique event which had never happened previously, and which has never happened since.
For centuries, Israel had been a nation of
slaves. Knowledge of annual seasons, the weekly cycle, the seventh day Sabbath had become
submerged in a tidal wave of paganism; they were completely ignorant of God's sacred
calendar; Almighty God had to reveal to them the months of the year, the annual holy days
and their deep significance, as well as the weekly Sabbath.
Notice, "And the Eternal spake unto Moses
and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of
months: it shall be the first month of the year to you." God called the name of the
first month "the month of green ears." Its name was Abib (Exodus 13:4) and was
later called Nisan (Nehemiah 2:1; Esther 3:7).
This marked the beginning of the sacred year of
the Hebrew calendar, commencing with the month of spring harvest.
The Israelites were instructed to single out an
unblemished lamb or kid (Exodus 12:3-5) from their flocks, keeping it "...until the
fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel
shall kill it in the evening" (Exodus 12:6).
Much controversy has occurred over the meaning
of the phrase "in the evening" from a Hebrew expression meaning "between
the two evenings." This will be thoroughly explained later.
God instructed "And they shall take of the
blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door posts of the houses,
wherein they shall eat it.
"Eat not of it raw, nor sodden [boiled] at
all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance
thereof.
"And ye shall let nothing of it remain
until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with
fire" (Exodus 12:6-10).
Obviously, since they were to eat the flesh
"in that night" (that is, the night following the slaying of the lamb "in
the evening") the lamb had to be killed a sufficient period of time prior to its
actual eating to allow for its preparation according to God's explicit instructions.
God told Moses and Aaron to instruct the
Israelites that this unusual meal was to be eaten as if in great haste, with trepidation,
as if poised for immediate flight!
It was the usual practice to allow an animal to
hang in a cool place after being slaughtered; the aging and then the butchering of the
meat perhaps coming several days or even a week or more later depending upon the climate.
Thus, the eating of this lamb (or kid of the
goats) within only hours of its slaughtering, was obviously a very hasty meal; something
unusual, symbolizing a meal eaten during a time of emergency.
The Israelites were told "And thus shall
ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hands;
and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Eternal's Passover.
"For I will pass through the land of Egypt
this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and
against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment; I am the Eternal.
"And the blood shall be to you for a token
upon the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will PASS OVER you, and the
plagues shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt" (Exodus
12:11-13).
The girding of the loins was accomplished by
tucking the skirt-like apparel worn during that day into a leathern girdle, or thick belt.
It was always done just prior to running, or walking rapidly. It was an unusual command to
eat the meal with their "shoes on their feet," for shoes were not generally worn
indoors. Such a custom prevails to this day in Middle Eastern and Oriental countries. Foot
gear was worn out of doors, but, upon entering a dwelling, was left outside, or in a
foyer. As is evidenced in the later custom of "foot washing" (in connection with
the celebration of Jesus Christ of His last supper) servants would provide water and wash
the feet of important guests, who would then slip their feet into slippers or sandals, or
perhaps go barefoot on the skins or carpet on the floor of the domicile.
A staff, cane, or walking stick would normally
be left near the door, or perhaps in the foyer. However, they were explicitly commanded to
eat this meal one-handed - with their walking staffs in their hands - as a symbol of great
haste!
Consider all the elements of this meal: It was
to be eaten very soon after the slaughter of the animal (extremely unusual); their canes
or walking sticks in their hands (very unusual); and they were not to take time to visit,
enjoy a drawn-out meal like a family occasion, but were to eat the food quickly ("ye
shall eat it in haste!") all which showed an extremely hastily-eaten meal done as if
in trepidation, prior to immediate flight!
As will be seen later, the chronological events
leading up to and concluding in the famous "last supper" of the Lord Jesus
Christ are positively established. There is no question whatever concerning the time of
the "Lord's supper''; its relationship to the Passover, and the time when the paschal
lambs were slaughtered.
However, because some have assumed the
Israelites did not exit Egypt on the same night of the eating of the paschal meal - after
the "passing over" of the death angel - ; because it is further assumed that the
Israelites spent the entirety of the following day "spoiling" the Egyptians and
it is further falsely assumed that the Exodus commenced the following night, many have
become confused about when the Exodus occurred, and when the paschal meal took place.
For example, those who assumed they were
partaking of the New Testament symbols of the body and the blood of Jesus Christ
(unleavened bread and wine) coincident with the ancient Passover supper began to believe
there were eight days of unleavened bread, not seven! Their confusion stems from their
assumption that the New Testament observance of Christ - His famous "last
supper" -coincided exactly with the ancient Egyptian paschal meal! But, as you shall
see clearly, it did not!
Following this assumption, many have partaken
of the symbols of unleavened bread and wine on the Passover (Lord's supper), and then
wondered about the custom of putting leavening out of their homes on the following day.
Having once eaten unleavened bread in connection with the ceremonies commemorating
Christ's death, they feel "strange" eating anything leavened on the following
daylight part of the fourteenth of Nisan - prior to the actual beginning of the SEVEN days
of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Some have said, "But it doesn't feel
'right' to eat hotcakes the next morning, or a cheeseburger the next afternoon, after we
have already eaten unleavened bread on the night of the Passover!"
Simply because they do not understand the clear
difference between the time of celebrating the ancient Passover in Egypt and Christ's last
supper - a difference of around seventeen to twenty four hours - a vast difference in
ceremony, symbols, and typology, they mistakenly have pangs of conscience from eating
anything leavened on the daylight part of the fourteenth of Nisan - hours before God says
the Days of Unleavened Bread are to commence.
But God said "seven days shall ye eat
unleavened bread!" He further said "In the first month, on the fourteenth day of
the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, UNTIL the one and twentieth day of the
month at even!" (Exodus 12:18). Obviously, if you count inclusively (commencing with
the fourteenth day - meaning at its beginning) you are dealing with eight days!
But if you are commencing the eating of
unleavened bread "at even on the fourteenth, meaning just before the going down of
the sun; meaning that your meal, while it may have commenced just barely before sunset,
continues on into the evening hours, or the BEGINNING of the fifteenth, then there is no
problem whatever! You have SEVEN full days and perhaps a couple of hours - not eight days.
The "problem" for many sincere
persons was in their misunderstanding of the truly New Testament character of Christ's
famous "last supper"!
That there are only seven days of unleavened
bread is perfectly clear. (Exodus 12:15, 19).
That the ancient Israelites were to eat the
paschal lamb and the unleavened bread "IN THAT NIGHT" (Exodus 12:8), meaning on
the beginning of the fifteenth is also clear! To understand the sequence of events on the
very first Passover, one has but to read the scriptures carefully, comparing all relevant
scriptures, and avoid erroneous assumptions. Now, from the pages of your Bible, let's see
what happened during that first Passover; let's come to understand WHEN the exodus
occurred!
Between The Two Evenings!
God instructed the
Israelites, "And ye shall keep it [the paschal lamb] up until the fourteenth day of
the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the
evening... and they shall eat the flesh in that night..." (Exodus 6-8).
Wide divergencies of opinions have obtained
resulting from the use of the Hebrew expression "in the evening" which,
technically, means "between the two evenings." Some, including Lightfoot, took
the expression to mean after the going down of the sun, but prior to full dark. If they
were in error, they had thus placed the slaying of the paschal lamb and the eating of the
Passover meal at the close of the thirteenth, and at the beginning of the fourteenth!
Remember, God begins the days with sunset. Thus, if they were to kill the paschal lamb on
the fourteenth "between the two evenings," and IF "between the two
evenings" meant after sunset but prior to full dark, then the paschal lamb would have
been eaten in the late evening after the thirteenth, just after the beginning of the
fourteenth!
Speaking of the precise meaning of the phrase
"between the two evenings," Kitto's Encyclopedia of Biblical Literature says
"Tradition... interprets the phrase between the two evenings to mean from afternoon
to the disappearing of the sun, the first evening being from the time when the sun begins
to decline from its vertical or noontime point toward the west; and the second from its
going down and vanishing out of sight which is the reason why the daily sacrifice might be
killed at 12:30 p.m. on a Friday (Mishna, Pesachim, v. 1; Maimonides, Hilchoth, Korban,
Pesach., 1.4). But as the paschal lamb was slain after the daily sacrifice, it generally
took place from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. We should have deemed it superfluous to add, that such
faithful followers of Jewish tradition as Sandia, Rashi, Kimchi, Ralbag, etc., espoused
this definition of the ancient Jewish canons, were it not for the assertion which is made
in some of the best Christian commentaries and which is repeated in the excellent article
Passover in Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, that 'Jarchi and Kimchi hold that the two
evenings were the time immediately before and immediately after sunset so that the point
of time at which the sun sets divides them.' Now Rashi most distinctively declares, 'From
the sixth hour (12 o'clock) and upwards is called between the two evenings because the sun
begins to set for the evening. Hence, it appears to me that the phrase between the two
evenings denotes the hours between the evening of the day and the evening of the night.
The evening of the day is from the beginning of the seventh hour (immediately after
noontime), when the evening shadows begin to lengthen, whilst the evening of the night is
the beginning of the night' (Commentary on Exodus 12:6). Kimchi says almost literally the
same thing: 'Between the two evenings is from the time when the sun begins to incline
towards the west, which is from the sixth hour (12 o'clock) and upwards. It is called
between the two evenings because there are two evenings, for from the time that the sun
begins to decline is one evening, and the other evening is after the sun has gone down,
and it is the space between which is meant by between the two evenings' (Lexicon s. v.)...
"Eustathius, in a note on the seventeenth
book of the odyssey, shows that the Greeks too held that there were two evenings, one
which they called the latter evening at the close of the day; and the other the former
evening, which commenced immediately after noon" (Vid. Bochart Hierozoic, Part I,
lib. ii. cap. I, oper., tom. ii. p.559, edit. 1712).
Now, let's examine the irrefutable internal
biblical proof about what time of day is meant by the phrase "between the two
evenings," translated "in the evening" in Exodus 12:6.
God said, "...and they shall eat the flesh
in that night" (Exodus 12:8) proving that the killing of the lamb (or kid) took place
a few hours prior to the going down of the sun. The paschal meal was concluded in the
early hours of the fifteenth of Nisan (within only a few hours after sunset). "SEVEN
DAYS shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day shall ye put away leaven out of
your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day
(obviously counting inclusively; seven days in all), that soul shall be cutoff from
Israel" (Exodus 12:15). To embrace only seven days, the Days of Unleavened Bread HAD
TO BEGIN ON THE FIFTEENTH, and the process of putting leavening out of their houses had to
be completed ON THE FOURTEENTH, prior to the preparation for the paschal meal.
Otherwise, if the original Passover had taken
place just after the thirteenth, just at the beginning of the fourteenth, you have EIGHT
DAYS of unleavened bread!
But the Bible says there were to be only SEVEN
DAYS of Unleavened Bread!
Notice further proof: "In the first month,
on the fourteenth day of the month AT EVEN, he shall eat unleavened bread, UNTIL the one
and twentieth day of the month at even." If you begin counting WITH the fourteenth or
at the end of the thirteenth, including the whole day, look what you have:
Fourteenth Nisan First Day of Unleavened Bread
Fifteenth Nisan Second Day of Unleavened Bread
Sixteenth Nisan Third Day of Unleavened Bread
Seventeenth Nisan Fourth Day of Unleavened Bread
Eighteenth Nisan Fifth Day of Unleavened Bread
Nineteenth Nisan Sixth Day of Unleavened Bread
Twentieth Nisan Seventh Day of Unleavened Bread
Twenty-first Nisan Eighth Day of Unleavened Bread
Do you see? It follows that
the expression "on the fourteenth day of the month at even" means AT THE END OF
THE FOURTEENTH, just as the fifteenth is about to BEGIN, or there would be EIGHT days of
Unleavened Bread.
The first Day of Unleavened Bread is the
FIFTEENTH, not the fourteenth.
But the paschal meal was to be in preparation,
including the putting away of leavening, and the killing of the lamb (or kid) very late on
the fourteenth! Therefore, the Israelite's homes would be unleavened for a full SEVEN
DAYS, plus only a few hours, late on the fourteenth, prior to the beginning of the Feast
of Unleavened Bread.
God said, "SEVEN DAYS shall there be no
leaven found in your houses" (Exodus 6:19).
Notice further proof: "Observe the month
of Abib [green ears], and keep the Passover unto the Eternal thy God: for in the month
Abib the Eternal thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt BY NIGHT. Thou shalt therefore
sacrifice the Passover unto the Eternal thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place
which the Eternal shall choose to place His name there.
"Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it;
SEVEN DAYS shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for
thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt IN HASTE:... and there shall be no leavened
bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there anything of the
flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day AT EVEN remain all night until the
morning."
Here is further proof that the sacrificing of
the lamb was LATE ON THE FOURTEENTH, just before the going down of the sun beginning the
fifteenth - which was the first day of seven days of unleavened bread.
Notice, God said nothing should remain of the
flesh they had sacrificed - when? After the thirteenth, at the beginning of the
fourteenth, perhaps 27 hours BEFORE the fifteenth, or the first day of unleavened bread?
NO! - which they had sacrificed, "THE FIRST DAY [OF THE FEAST - OF THE SEVEN!] AT
EVEN remain all night until the morning!" (Deuteronomy 16:14).
When Was The Exodus?
Much confusion has existed
in the minds of many over just when the exodus from Egypt occurred because of a false
teaching about the "spoiling" of the Egyptians and a misunderstanding over the
command to remain indoors that night of the plague against the firstborn, and the actual
passing-over of the death angel.
Various arguments have been presented
attempting to justify the position that the original Egyptian Passover was identical in
frame of time with the "last supper" observed by Jesus Christ with His
disciples, i.e., at the beginning of the FOURTEENTH of Abib!
The Most important arguments set forth to
justify this belief are:
(1) The Israelites were told not to go out of
their doors "until the morning." Thus, even though the death angel had already
passed over the houses of the Israelites at midnight; even though the death angel had
already slain countless thousands of the firstborn of Egypt; even though Pharaoh called
for Moses and Aaron by night, shortly after midnight, and were URGENT upon the Israelites
that they leave then, it is believed by some that the Israelites staunchly refused to
cross over the threshholds of their doorways until the daylight hours of the following
"morning," meaning the daylight part of the FOURTEENTH!
(2) Communication would have been very
difficult. Perhaps more than TWO MILLION Israelites would have exited Egypt, on foot.
Since no mass communication media existed, it would have been impossible to marshal such a
force, scattered as they were throughout the land of Egypt, then commence a forced
nighttime march within hours after the slaying of the firstborn.
(3) God prophesied that the Israelitish women
would "spoil" (the erroneous phrase "borrow from" appears in the King
James version) the Egyptians of jewelry of all sorts, and would therefore "take wages
from" or "plunder" the Egyptians. It is argued they scarcely could have
done this in haste, only moments after hearing of the death of the firstborn, and that, in
any case, Egyptian women would hardly have given away their personal jewelry within
moments or hours after the death of their own sons, especially to the very individuals
whom they held responsible!
At first blush, these arguments seem cogent.
Especially, if one has reasoned from the
obviously unmistakable fact that Jesus Christ of Nazareth observed His last Passover or
the "last supper'' (referred to by the apostle Paul as "the Lord's supper."
I Corinthians 11:20) after the going down of the sun on the thirteenth, or at the
beginning of the FOURTEENTH!
But this necessitated the assumption that by
the time of Christ, the Jews were observing the Passover ON THE WRONG DAY!
However, such a supposition is devastating to
arguments set forth by theologians who present a strong case for the weekly Sabbath,
offering as supportive evidence the fact that time could not have been "lost,"
because to the Jews were given the oracles of God, the sacred calendar, and the knowledge
of the weekly Sabbath! It is argued that it would have been impossible for a scattered
race, numbering into the millions of human beings, to have all "forgotten" the
weekly Sabbath or the weekly cycle at the same time!
How ludicrous it would have been for Jesus
Christ to have missed the opportunity to straighten out His own disciples, and Christians
for all time, on the fact that the Pharisees and Sadducees were observing the Passover on
the wrong day! But no, Christ told His disciples that these leaders of the Jewish
religious community "sat in Moses' seat" and urged His disciples to obey the
theological edicts of such spiritual leaders, even if they did not emulate "their
works."
It is true that there were chapters in history
when the Israelitish nation, as a whole, abandoned the practice of the observance of God's
annual holy days. It is equally true that, upon restoration of such knowledge, they were
meticulously careful with regard to the date.
No, the Jews did not forget the correct date
for the Passover.
Now, let's investigate each of these arguments
in depth.
(I) "The Israelites were told not to go
out of their doors 'until the morning,' so even though the death angel had already passed
over the houses of the Israelites; even though countless thousands of the firstborn of
Egypt had already been slain, the Israelites would have staunchly refused to cross their
thresholds until the daylight hours of the following morning." But it is clear that
the entire tableau of the paschal supper is rendered completely artificial and unnecessary
if this assumption if true.
Remember, the Israelites went out of Egypt BY
NIGHT!
"Observe the month of Abib, and keep the
Passover unto the Eternal thy God: for in the month of Abib the Eternal thy God brought
thee forth out of Egypt by night!" (Deuteronomy 16:1).
We know, then, unequivocally and without a
shadow of a doubt, that the Israelites first exited their hovels in Goshen to journey from
"Rameses to Succoth" (Numbers 33:4, 5) BY NIGHT!
Remember, God begins the days at sunset. Thus,
the nighttime portion of a day is the first part of the day, commencing the previous
sunset. Now, on what day of the month of Abib did the Israelites depart Rameses?
"And they departed from Rameses in the
first month (Abib), on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow AFTER THE
PASSOVER the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the
Egyptians" (Numbers 33:3).
Thus, it is clear they went out of Egypt ON THE
FIFTEENTH, and AT NIGHT! That means they exited Egypt sometime during the nighttime hours
of the fifteenth of Abib, "on the morrow" following the passing over of the
death angel!
Notice the language of the original Passover
instructions: "And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month:
and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening [of the
fourteenth!]. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on
the upper door posts of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
"And they shall eat the flesh in that
night [AFTER sundown, during the dark hours of the late evening, following the
sacrificing, or killing of the lamb 'at even' meaning late on the fourteenth], roast with
fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
"Eat not of it raw, nor sodden [boiled] at
all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance
thereof.
"And ye shall let nothing of it remain
until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with
fire.
"And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins
girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hands; and ye shall eat it in
haste: it is the Eternal's Passover" (Exodus 12:6-11).
To kill, prepare, and eat a hasty dinner of
roast lamb would require at least a few hours. It would be difficult for hundreds of
thousands to do so in less time, especially when the killing of the paschal lamb involved
some degree of ceremony, such as selecting a killing ground, carefully gathering the
spilled blood in basins, going through the ritual of dipping branches of hyssop into the
basin, carefully painting the door posts and lintels with the blood.
The animals were only to be "field
dressed," not completely butchered; notice that they were to be roast with "the
head and the purtenance thereof" meaning that the animals were not to have been
carefully quartered, or butchered in any fashion, but roast whole.
Since the killing was to take place "in
the evening" or the waning hours of the afternoon, and the roasting to begin soon
thereafter, it would have been but a matter of a couple of hours or so after starting the
roasting fires that the animals would have been ready for hasty consumption.
Here was the enactment of a great emergency!
They were to eat (in the case of males who carried walking staffs) with their shoes on
their feet, their skirts tucked into their leathern girdles as if ready for instant
flight, and to eat one-handed, with their staff in their hand, and partaking of the roast
meat with the other hand! They were to eat it in trepidation, in fear, and in great haste!
Notice further, "And it came to pass, that
at midnight (on the FIFTEENTH!) the Eternal smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt,
from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive
that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
"And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and
all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was
not a house where there was not one dead.
"And he called for Moses and Aaron by
night (note! The death angel had already passed! Now, even though Moses and Aaron had been
included in the command that they were not to go out of their doors until 'the morning'
following the passing of the death angel to insure they were not themselves slain, Pharaoh
calls for these two leaders, as representatives of all the people. They obeyed, for the
danger was now passed-over! They exited their homes, and went to Pharaoh's palace!) and
said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel;
and go, serve the Eternal as you have said.
"Also take your flocks and your herds, as
ye have said, and be gone, and bless me also.
"And the Egyptians were URGENT upon the
people, that they might send them out of the land IN HASTE; for they said, We all be dead
men.
"And the people took their dough before it
was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
"And the children of Israel did according
to the word of Moses; and they borrowed (had borrowed; see Exodus 3:21-22; 11:2) of the
Egyptians' jewels of silver, and jewels of gold and raiment;
"And the Eternal gave the people favor in
the sight of the Egyptians so that they lent (gladly gave) unto them such things as they
required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
"And the children of Israel journeyed from
Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
"And a mixed multitude went up also with
them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
"And they baked unleavened cakes of the
dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were
THRUST OUT of Egypt, and COULD NOT TARRY, neither had they prepared for themselves any
victual!" (Exodus 12:29-39).
Here was the logical sequence to their
enactment of a meal eaten in great trepidation, as if poised for instant flight! For,
within a few hours after midnight, they were IN GREAT FLIGHT! Notice the words of the holy
scriptures! The Egyptians were "urgent" upon them. They were "thrust
out." "Neither could they tarry." "They had prepared themselves no
victuals." They were to eat "in haste."
As you can see from this language, it makes no
sense whatsoever to insist that the Israelites spent the daylight period following the
night of the passing over of the death angel, "spoiling" the Egyptians during a
full day and then begin the Exodus the following night!
Almighty God means what He says!
God did not intend that the Israelites
"playact" in preparing an extremely hasty meal, eating it with their loins
girded as if in preparation for instant flight; virtually eating it with one hand, while
the other clutched a walking stick or cane; eating it in trepidation and fear as if they
were to leave at any moment - and doing all of this in vain, knowing full well they were
going to spend the entire daylight period of the following day, more than twelve long
hours, in "spoiling" the Egyptians!
No, the language used in scripture such as
being "thrust out," and the Egyptians being "urgent" upon them to
leave - the plain fact that they had "prepared themselves no victual" when there
would have been plenty of time to do so had they remained alt during the following day,
PROVES, conclusively, that the Israelites left Rameses during the early pre-dawn hours of
the nighttime on the fifteenth of Abib!
Obviously, the command not to exit their
doorways "until the morning" was lifted after the death angel had passed! The
plague was now over. Moses and Aaron, as a type of the whole nation of Israel, were
hastily summoned to Pharaoh's palace. Though they were indoors, in their own respective
homes, having eaten of the paschal lamb as had all the others, with the blood clearly
sprinkled on the door posts and lintels of their houses, it was now perfectly safe to exit
their homes, since the death angel had now passed over and was gone from the land!
There is a further possibility to be
considered. The expression "brought you out" is figurative, rather than literal;
metaphorical, rather than chronological. While it is most logical, according to all the
language of the Bible, that the initial removal from Rameses to Succoth commenced in the
wee hours of the morning, the expression "brought you out" may well have
included all of God's miraculous manifestations during the plagues, the death angel, and
the whole process of releasing Pharaoh's grip on the Israelites - "bringing them
out" from slavery, rather than referring to a narrow time frame.
The language of Numbers 16:1 is illustrative of
this: "Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover unto the Eternal thy God; for
in the month of Abib the Eternal thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night."
Whichever of the two possibilities is true;
whether the Israelites were on the move from Rameses to Succoth by 2:00 or 3:00 in the
morning, or whether they waited until about 5:00 or 5:30 (whenever the first rays of
sunlight might have appeared at that season), it is very clear they left ON THE FIFTEENTH.
(See accompanying charts.)
(2) "Communication would have been very
difficult."
It is nonsense to assume there was any
difficulty whatsoever with communicating within only a matter of minutes, or at the most
an hour or so, with the entirety of the slave nation of Israel.
When God first appeared unto Moses,
commissioning him to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, it was understood that the
purpose was for the observance of a sacrificial offering to God - the institution of an
annual holy occasion!
God had said, "...I will bring you up out
of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the
Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with
milk and honey.
"And they shall hearken to thy voice: and
thou shall come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the King of Egypt, and ye shall say
unto him, The Eternal God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech
thee, three day's journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Eternal our
God.
"And I am sure that the king of Egypt will
not let you go, no not by a mighty hand.
"And I will stretch out my hand, and smite
Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let
you go" (Exodus 3:17-20). Thus, all the leaders were involved fully.
As Moses was journeying back to Egypt he was
met by Aaron (Exodus 4:27), who was told all that had transpired between God and Moses.
"And Moses and Aaron went and gathered
together all the elders of the children of Israel: and Aaron spake all the words the
Eternal had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people... and
afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Eternal God of Israel,
Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness" (Exodus
4:27-30; 5, 1). The people all knew, in advance, that the exodus could occur at any time.
Following the plague of the frogs, Pharaoh said
"...I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Eternal"
(Exodus 8:8).
The point is, the elders of Israel were fully
informed from the very beginning of Moses' and Aaron's attempts to extricate the people of
Israel from Egypt, even before the outpouring of the first plague! Constantly, reference
was made to the Israelitish request that they may "Journey three days into the
wilderness to hold a feast unto the Eternal!" (see Exodus 10:9, 25).
By the time of the killing of the paschal lamb,
the Israelites had already "borrowed" ("taken wages of" or
"spoiled") the Egyptians.
Remember, the Israelites lived in Goshen. A
policy of "apartheid" or complete segregation between the captive Israelites and
Egyptians was generally in effect. In the main, the Israelites traveled to their places of
work during the day, and retreated to their own hovels and ramshackle dwellings (as would
be befitting slaves) by night.
They had witnessed all the plagues falling upon
Egypt, and had noted, with terror and awe, the incredible difference between themselves
and the Egyptians; that the terrible plagues of lice, boils on cattle, flies, frogs, the
rivers turning to blood, etc., befell the Egyptians in Egypt proper, but did not touch the
Israelites living in the area called "Goshen."
With the systematic organization of the tribes
according to various elders (Exodus 6:9-27); with repeated announcements that at any
moment Pharaoh was going to let them go into the wilderness; expecting such a decree to be
issued from moment to moment for the better part of a week, surely rapid communication
through the elders to the lowliest individual could be accomplished in a matter of very
few minutes, at the most, perhaps an hour or so!
No, the argument that communication would have
required a full twelve hour daylight period following sunrise on the morning after the
passing over of the death angel is superficial, and erroneous.
Now, let's examine the next argument: (3)
"Spoiling the Egyptians would have consumed the entire daylight hours of the day
following the passing over of the death angel."
This assumption is ludicrous, in the light of
clear statements in scripture. Notice well, "And I will give this people favor in the
sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go
empty: But every woman shall 'borrow' (require-ask-take wages of) of her neighbor, and of
her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and
ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the
Egyptians" (Exodus 3:21, 22),
This promise from God was given to Moses while
he was yet in Midian - BEFORE HE RETURNED TO EGYPT! It was given long before the beginning
of the plagues, and was surely communicated by Moses to the people!
Now read Exodus 11:2, 3, "SPEAK NOW in the
ears of the people, and let every man borrow [take wages of] his neighbour, and every
woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.
"And the Eternal gave the people favour in
sight of the Egyptians..."
This was hours BEFORE the Passover; after the
plague of the locusts, and the plague of three days' darkness. The Israelites were plainly
told to "spoil" the Egyptians long before the death angel was to pass over.
It becomes clear, then, that; (I) The paschal
lamb was sacrificed at some time after midday, and prior to the going down of the sun on
the fourteenth. (2) It was eaten after sundown, at the beginning of the fifteenth. (3) The
death angel passed over the Israelites at mid-night, killing the Egyptian firstborn. (4)
Moses and Aaron, no doubt accompanied by a number of the elders of Israel, were summoned
to Pharaoh's palace immediately following the killing of the firstborn. (5) Pharaoh was
urgent upon them to get out immediately. (6) The people had been well-prepared in advance
for just such an announcement. (7) They had "spoiled" the Egyptians well in
advance - there was no need for any delay. (8) Moses and Aaron, and the elders of Israel
who appeared before Pharaoh did so at night, but after the death angel had passed, thus
proving the command not to go out until "morning" had been lifted OR, the
expression "brought you out by night" may be metaphorical, and the bulk of
Israel remained indoors until first light. (9) They left immediately, for their bread was
not leavened, neither had they prepared themselves any victual.
Study the accompanying charts, together with
all scriptural references, to create in your mind a vivid impression of the entire week of
Unleavened Bread, and how the whole process of the Exodus took place.
ABIB 14th: EXODUS WEEK
SUNRISE |
6:00 PM |
The three days of darkness end. Pharaoh calls Moses, |
(Approx.) |
7:00 PM |
says to go, but insists cattle must stay. Moses says |
8:00 PM |
cattle must go. Pharaoh changes his mind, refuses to let | |
9:00 PM |
Israelites go (Exodus 10:21-29).Moses pronounces final | |
10:00 PM |
plague - that of death of firstborn - goes from Pharaoh's | |
11:00 PM |
presence in anger (Exodus 11:1-8). | |
MIDNIGHT |
12:00 PM |
|
1:00 AM |
||
2:00 AM |
||
3:00 AM |
||
4:00 AM |
||
5:00 AM |
Moses gives final command concerning Passover lamb during | |
SUNRISE |
6:00 AM |
morning hours. Explains death angel will pass this night |
(Approx.) |
7:00 AM |
(Exodus 12:12). |
8:00 AM |
||
9:00 AM |
"Spoiling" of Egyptians probably occurred during daylight hours of | |
10:00 AM |
fourteenth, while final preparations for Passover meal being made | |
11:00 AM |
(Exodus 3:22;11:2). | |
NOON |
12:00 AM |
|
1:00 PM |
Paschal lambs (or kids) slain "at even" or in afternoon of fourteenth, | |
2:00 PM |
but allowing sufficient time for preparation - some hours required for roasting, | |
3:00 PM |
for was roasted "whole," like barbecue. Blood was collected, painted | |
4:00 PM |
on lintels and doorposts of Israelites' houses. | |
5:00 PM |
||
SUNSET |
6:00 PM |
Israelites indoors. Preparing to eat Passover. |
(Approx.) |
ABIB 15th: EXODUS WEEK
(First day of Unleavened Bread Annual HolyDay;
Leviticus 23:6)
SUNRISE |
6:00 PM |
Passover meal being eaten, with loins girded, shoes on feet, staffs in |
(Approx.) |
7:00 PM |
hand, with roast lamb (or kid), bitter herbs, unleavened bread |
8:00 PM |
(Exodus 12:9-11) | |
9:00 PM |
Remains of lamb (or kid) to be burned (Exodus 12:10). | |
10:00 PM |
||
11:00 PM |
Death angel smites Egyptians - no house is spared save Israelites | |
MIDNIGHT |
12:00 PM |
(Exodus 12:29). |
1:00 AM |
Pharaoh summons Moses, Aaron, immediately (Exodus 12:31). | |
2:00 AM |
Orders Israelites out of Goshen urgently, Egyptians "urgent" upon | |
3:00 AM |
them, depart "in haste" (Exodus 12:31,33,39). | |
4:00 AM |
||
5:00 AM |
This was a NIGHT to "be much observed" (Exodus 12:42). | |
SUNRISE |
6:00 AM |
"Went out of Egypt with high hand" (Numbers 33:4). |
(Approx.) |
7:00 AM |
|
8:00 AM |
Probably about 3 million Israelites, with huge herds of cattle, goats, | |
9:00 AM |
sheep, journeyed from Rameses to temporary camping place, later | |
10:00 AM |
called "Succoth," meaning "booths" (Exodus 12:37, 38). | |
11:00 AM |
||
NOON |
12:00 AM |
Included in their number were a number of other races who had become |
1:00 PM |
"proselytes" ("A mixed multitude went up also with them" Exodus 12:38). | |
2:00 PM |
They stopped for food, but baked unleavened bread (1st day of Unleavened | |
3:00 PM |
Bread) "for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt, and | |
4:00 PM |
could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual" (Exodus 2:39). | |
5:00 PM |
||
SUNSET |
6:00 PM |
Camping in "Succoth." |
(Approx.) |
ABIB 16th: EXODUS WEEK
SUNRISE |
6:00 PM |
|
(Approx.) |
7:00 PM |
At Succoth for the night |
8:00 PM |
||
9:00 PM |
||
10:00 PM |
||
11:00 PM |
||
MIDNIGHT |
12:00 PM |
|
1:00 AM |
||
2:00 AM |
||
3:00 AM |
||
4:00 AM |
"And they took their journey from Succoth,... and the Eternal went before them by day | |
5:00 AM |
in a pillar of fire, to give them light ..." | |
SUNRISE |
6:00 AM |
|
(Approx.) |
7:00 AM |
|
8:00 AM |
||
9:00 AM |
||
10:00 AM |
||
11:00 AM |
||
NOON |
12:00 AM |
|
1:00 PM |
||
2:00 PM |
||
3:00 PM |
||
4:00 PM |
".. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from | |
5:00 PM |
before the people" (Exodus 13:20-22). | |
SUNSET |
6:00 PM |
|
(Approx.) |
SUNRISE |
6:00 PM |
3rd day of travel - on route from Etham, "In the edge of the wilderness" |
(Approx.) |
7:00 PM |
(Exodus 13:20). |
8:00 PM |
||
9:00 PM |
||
10:00 PM |
||
11:00 PM |
||
MIDNIGHT |
12:00 PM |
|
1:00 AM |
"And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not | |
2:00 AM |
through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, | |
3:00 AM |
lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt | |
4:00 AM |
. | |
5:00 AM |
||
SUNRISE |
6:00 AM |
|
(Approx.) |
7:00 AM |
"But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea: and |
8:00 AM |
the children of Israel went up harnessed (armed) out of the land of Egypt" | |
9:00 AM |
(Exodus 13:17,18). | |
10:00 AM |
||
11:00 AM |
||
NOON |
12:00 AM |
|
1:00 PM |
||
2:00 PM |
||
3:00 PM |
||
4:00 PM |
Making camp at "Etham," at the edge of the wilderness (Exodus 13:20). | |
5:00 PM |
||
SUNSET |
6:00 PM |
|
(Approx.) |
ABIB 18th: EXODUS WEEK
(Fourth day of Unleavened Bread)
SUNRISE |
6:00 PM |
Encamped at Etham. |
(Approx.) |
7:00 PM |
|
8:00 PM |
God tells Moses, "Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn, and encamp before | |
9:00 PM |
Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon; before it shall ye | |
10:00 PM |
encamp by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel They are entangled in | |
11:00 PM |
the land, the wilderness hath shut them in" (Exodus 14:2,3). | |
MIDNIGHT |
12:00 PM |
|
1:00 AM |
||
2:00 AM |
"And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them" | |
3:00 AM |
||
4:00 AM |
||
5:00 AM |
"And it was told the king of Egypt that the people (had) fled, and... he made ready his | |
SUNRISE |
6:00 AM |
chariot, and took his people with him:... he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all |
(Approx.) |
7:00 AM |
the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them" (Exodus 14). |
8:00 AM |
||
9:00 AM |
||
10:00 AM |
||
11:00 AM |
Pharaoh's pursuit begins. | |
NOON |
12:00 AM |
|
1:00 PM |
Israelites journey toward Pihahiroth. | |
2:00 PM |
||
3:00 PM |
||
4:00 PM |
||
5:00 PM |
||
SUNSET |
6:00 PM |
|
(Approx.) |
ABIB 19th: EXODUS WEEK
SUNRISE |
6:00 PM |
|
(Approx.) |
7:00 PM |
|
8:00 PM |
||
9:00 PM |
||
10:00 PM |
||
11:00 PM |
||
MIDNIGHT |
12:00 PM |
|
1:00 AM |
||
2:00 AM |
||
3:00 AM |
||
4:00 AM |
||
5:00 AM |
||
SUNRISE |
6:00 AM |
Traveling toward Pihahiroth |
(Approx.) |
7:00 AM |
|
8:00 AM |
||
9:00 AM |
Pharaoh in pursuit. | |
10:00 AM |
||
11:00 AM |
||
NOON |
12:00 AM |
|
1:00 PM |
||
2:00 PM |
||
3:00 PM |
||
4:00 PM |
||
5:00 PM |
||
SUNSET |
6:00 PM |
|
(Approx.) |
ABIB 20th: EXODUS WEEK
SUNRISE |
6:00 PM |
|
(Approx.) |
7:00 PM |
|
8:00 PM |
||
9:00 PM |
||
10:00 PM |
||
11:00 PM |
||
MIDNIGHT |
12:00 PM |
|
1:00 AM |
||
2:00 AM |
Pursuit continues. | |
3:00 AM |
||
4:00 AM |
||
5:00 AM |
||
SUNRISE |
6:00 AM |
|
(Approx.) |
7:00 AM |
"And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pihahiroth, which is before |
8:00 AM |
Baalzephon: and they pitched (camped) before Migdol" (Numbers 33:7). | |
9:00 AM |
||
10:00 AM |
||
11:00 AM |
||
NOON |
12:00 AM |
|
1:00 PM |
||
2:00 PM |
||
3:00 PM |
||
4:00 PM |
||
5:00 PM |
||
SUNSET |
6:00 PM |
|
(Approx.) |
ABIB 21st: EXODUS WEEK
SUNRISE |
6:00 PM |
"Pitched before Migdol" (Numbers 33:7). |
(Approx.) |
7:00 PM |
"An holy convocation"; no work, no traveling. |
8:00 PM |
||
9:00 PM |
||
10:00 PM |
||
11:00 PM |
||
MIDNIGHT |
12:00 PM |
|
1:00 AM |
||
2:00 AM |
||
3:00 AM |
||
4:00 AM |
||
5:00 AM |
||
SUNRISE |
6:00 AM |
Pharaoh overtakes Israel. "But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and |
(Approx.) |
7:00 AM |
chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by |
8:00 AM |
the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the | |
9:00 AM |
children of Israel lifted up their eyes...and said...Because there were no graves in | |
10:00 AM |
Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? ...it would have been better | |
11:00 AM |
for us to serve the Egyptians...and Moses stretched out his hand over the sea" (Exodus | |
NOON |
12:00 AM |
14:9-21). |
1:00 PM |
||
2:00 PM |
||
3:00 PM |
||
4:00 PM |
"...and the Eternal caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and | |
5:00 PM |
made the dry land" (Exodus 14:21) | |
SUNSET |
6:00 PM |
|
(Approx.) |
ABIB 22nd: EXODUS WEEK
SUNRISE |
6:00 PM |
|
(Approx.) |
7:00 PM |
|
8:00 PM |
||
9:00 PM |
||
10:00 PM |
Strong wind blows apart waters of Red Sea all this night (Exodus 14:21, 22). | |
11:00 PM |
||
MIDNIGHT |
12:00 PM |
God casts light on Israel, but darkness on Egyptians (Exodus 14:20) |
1:00 AM |
||
2:00 AM |
||
3:00 AM |
3:00 a.m., "The morning watch," God troubles Egyptians, they begin to reverse | |
4:00 AM |
direction. | |
5:00 AM |
||
SUNRISE |
6:00 AM |
6:00 A.M. EXODUS TAKES PLACE, Israel escapes through dry sea bed |
(Approx.) |
7:00 AM |
(Exodus 14:26-31). |
8:00 AM |
Pharaoh's army drowned (Exodus 14:26-31). | |
9:00 AM |
||
10:00 AM |
Israel regroups on opposite shore. "Song of Moses" sung by Miriam and women | |
11:00 AM |
(Exodus 15:1-21). | |
NOON |
12:00 AM |
|
1:00 PM |
||
2:00 PM |
||
3:00 PM |
Begin three day's journey into wilderness (Exodus 15:22). | |
4:00 PM |
||
5:00 PM |
||
SUNSET |
6:00 PM |
|
(Approx.) |
The Passover in the New Testament
Much confusion has arisen
over the Passover during Jesus' last moments on earth due to the simple lack of
understanding the plain, irrefutable statements of God's Holy Word.
For centuries, professing Christian tradition
has clung to the completely false practices of a Friday crucifixion, and a Sunday (Easter)
morning resurrection. Thus, the plain statements of scripture, including the personal
testimony of Christ Himself is set aside in favor of pagan holidays.
Jesus said, "... an evil and adulterous
generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of
the prophet Jonas. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so
shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the earth" (Matthew 12:39,
40).
Scholars have attempted to argue this plain
statement away by claiming Jesus spoke in a "Greek idiom" which meant only a
part of a day.
Think about it.
If Jesus was not placed in the tomb until just
before sunset on Friday and resurrected at sunrise on "Easter" Sunday morning,
then He was in the tomb only TWO NIGHTS and ONE DAY!
Friday night, Saturday daylight, Saturday night
are but two nights and one day.
But Jesus plainly said, "AS JONAS was
three days and three nights... so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in
the heart of the earth" referring to Jonah 1:7. Was this an "idiom"? Did
not Jesus mean what He said?
The book of Jonah was written in HEBREW, not
Greek. There was no "Greek idiom" involved which meant only part of the
three-day, three-night period.
There is such an idiom in the Hebrew, which can
include any part of three days. However, when used in conjunction with the expression
"three nights" it totally precludes idiomatic expression, and is to be taken
quite literally!
Jesus said there are "twelve hours in a
day" (John 11:9), speaking of the daylight portion of a 24-hour period. Thus, when He
said He would be in the tomb "three days" and three nights, it is obvious He
meant three twelve-hour daylight periods and three twelve-hour nighttime periods!
Notice the Hebrew expression used by Esther.
"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me,
three days. NIGHT OR DAY..." (Esther 4:16).
Because she was a Jewess, Esther specifically
added "night or day" to make clear what she meant by "three days."
Since Hebrew days began at sunset, it is
obvious that, when the fast ended on ''the third day" (Esther 5:1), this "third
day" must have followed the "third night," completing three full days and
nights, or three 24-hour days!
Notice another Bible example: A young Egyptian
was found in a field by David's men. They brought him to David, and "...when he had
eaten, his spirit (ruach, meaning breath, or living consciousness) came again to him: for
he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights" (I Samuel
30:12).
Later, in explanation, the Egyptian said,
"...my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick" (I Samuel 30:13).
The young Egyptian therefore meant three
complete days and nights, because the Egyptians reckoned the days to begin at sunrise.
(See Encyclopedia Britannica 11th Edition, vol. xi, p.77.)
Thus, when the book of Jonah says "three
days and three nights" it means precisely what it says!
Christ said "even AS Jonah was three days
and three nights" in the belly of the great fish, so would Christ be in the
"heart of the earth" (His tomb) for the exact same period of time! To this, all
relevant scriptures agree!
It is only because men want to cling to their
Pagan traditions that some have attempted to twist and distort Christ's clear meaning!
It is important to understand the paramount
importance attached to the annual "high days," the annual holy days of Israel,
devoutly observed by the Jews during Jesus' day!
Grave error has resulted from the simple
misunderstanding of one cardinal point surrounding the "high day" Sabbath which
fell during the time Jesus lay in the tomb. More on this later, however.
Now, let's trace the activities of Jesus Christ
during the final six days prior to the Passover.
You read of Jesus' approach to Jerusalem
commencing with Luke 19:1-28, where He met Zacchaeus, told him He would stay with him that
night. and delivered the parable of the pounds (Luke 19:1-10). We read, "And when He
had thus spoken [the parable of the pounds] He went before, ascending up to
Jerusalem" (Luke 19:28). At this point, it is necessary to shift to Matthew's account
(Matthew 21:1-7) and read of Jesus' instructions to His disciples concerning the colt He
would ride in His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. All these events took place on the sixth
day before the Passover, which would have been the ninth day of Nisan, corresponding to
our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.
After His cleansing of the temple (Matthew
21:12-16) He returns to Bethany that night (Matthew 21:17; John 12:1).
Notice. Then Jesus six days before the Passover
came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom He raised from the dead"
(John 12:1).
The following day, Jesus spent the Sabbath in
Bethany, and after sunset that evening (which would have been our Friday sunset, the fifth
day before the Passover, which would have been the tenth day of Nisan. The first of three
suppers occurred, very likely at the house of Lazarus. On this occasion, we read (John
12:2-8) of how Mary anointed His feet.
On the next day, Jesus starts from Bethany
toward Jerusalem, is met by a large multitude, weeps over the city, and enters the temple.
(See Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19.)
All of these events took place on the fourth
day before the Passover, the eleventh of Nisan, corresponding to our Saturday sunset to
Sunday sunset.
The following morning, the third day before the
Passover, the twelfth of Nisan, corresponding to our Sunday sunset to Monday sunset, Jesus
returned to Jerusalem, cursed the fig tree as an example to the disciples of the penalties
for the lack of bearing fruit (Matthew 21:18-22) and enters the temple.
"And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus
went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and
overthrew the tables of money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves; and would
not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And He taught, saying
unto them, Is it not written, my house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?
But ye have made it a den of thieves."
This so outraged the priests and the scribes
that they "...sought how they might destroy Him: for they feared Him, because all the
people was astonished at His doctrine.
"And when even was come, He went out of
the city" (Mark 11:12-19).
Probably, Jesus returned to Bethany after
departing Jerusalem on this occasion.
The next day was the second day before the
Passover, the thirteenth of Nisan, corresponding to our Monday sunset to Tuesday sunset.
"And in the morning, as they passed by,
they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
"And Peter calling to remembrance saying
unto Him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have
faith in God.
"For verily I say unto you, that whosoever
shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall
not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to
pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
"Therefore I say unto you, What things so
ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
"And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye
have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your
trespasses.
"But if ye do not forgive, neither will
your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
"And they come again to Jerusalem: and as
He was walking in the temple, there come to Him the chief priests, and the scribes, and
the elders" (Mark 11:20-27).
See also Matthew 21:23-29 and Luke 20, the
entire chapter, and Luke 21:4-38 for additional details of this second day before the
Passover.
It is during this day that Jesus delivers His
two great prophecies, commencing with the first, in the temple (Luke 21:5-36) and
continuing with His second great "Olivet Prophecy" delivered on the Mount of
Olives (Matthew 24:1-51).
We are very plainly told "And it came to
pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings [the Olivet Prophecy and His warnings of
Matthew 25] He said unto His disciples, "Ye know that after two days is [the feast
of] the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified" (Matthew 26:1, 2).
The next day was the "preparation
day," the last day before the Passover, the fourteenth of Nisan, and the day of the
crucifixion!
This day corresponded to our Tuesday sunset to
Wednesday sunset. The events of this one day fill many pages, including the 26th and 27th
chapters of Matthew, the 14th and 15th chapters of Mark, and Luke 22 and 23, together with
John 13 through the 19th chapter.
We begin with the account of Judas' betrayal
and the preparation for the last supper.
"Then one of the twelve, called Judas
Iscariot, went unto the chief priest, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will
deliver Him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from
that time he sought opportunity to betray Him" (Matthew 26:14-16).
Mark's account (Mark 14:10, 11) is almost
identical. At this point, it is necessary to remember that by the time of Jesus Christ the
custom of searching through Jewish homes for the slightest bit of leavening on the
thirteenth of Nisan "in preparation" for the Passover which commenced on the
fourteenth of Nisan, became to be called, in common usage, "the first of the
unleavened."
Also, the term "Passover" had
developed into far broader usage than its original implications.
As you have seen, the original
"Passover" was a unique historical EVENT. It was the "passing over" of
the Israelites by the death angel who slew the first born of Pharaoh.
However, the term became attached to the
ceremony itself, including the killing of the lamb.
Eventually, it became attached to the entire
season, embodying the preliminary search for leavening, the putting of leavening out of
one's home, the paschal supper, or pesach, and all seven days of unleavened bread.
For all practical purposes, because of Jewish
custom, there were eight days during which the Jews observed "the unleavened"
period. Although, as we have clearly seen, Almighty God specified only seven days of
unleavened bread, the events associated with the "preparation" for the Passover
changed general usage of the term until the thirteenth of Nisan became identified as one
of the first days of "the unleavened." This is strongly indicated in Luke's
account of Judas' betrayal. "Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is
CALLED the Passover" (Luke 22:1). In spite of the fact that the feast of unleavened
bread and the Passover were two distinct occasions, general. collective language had long
since come in usage.
The apostle John's lengthy account of Jesus'
famous last supper is unique among the four gospels. In it, John makes it clear that the
events which took place that evening were "BEFORE the feast of the Passover.''
Notice it. "Now before the feast of the
Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world
unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.
"And during supper, [see verse 26, where
the context proves supper was not ended; see also the Critical and Experimental
Commentary, The Ivan Panin Greek Numerics New Testament, the Companion Bible, Scoffield's
Translation, the Revised Standard Text, The Diaglott and other sources] the devil having
now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him;
"Jesus knowing that the Father had given
all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from
supper, [further proof that this event took place "during" the supper] and laid
aside His garments; and took a towel and girded Himself.
"After that He poured water into a basin,
and began to wash the disciples feet..." (John 13:1-5).
When it was Peter's turn, Peter balked. He
challenged, "Lord dost thou wash my feet?" Actually, the force of Peter's words
would be better translated in English, "Lord - you're not going to wash MY
feet'"
Peter was indignant that Christ should stoop to
mere servant's work.
Notice Christ's answer!
"What I do thou knowest not now; but thou
shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto Him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered
him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
"Simon Peter saith unto Him, Lord, not my
feet only, but also my hands and my head" (John 13:3-9).
Jesus then uttered a strange statement - using
metaphor to refer to Judas Iscariot, "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his
feet, but is clean every whit; and ye are clean, but not all. For He knew who should
betray Him; therefore said He, Ye are not all clean" (John 13:10, 11).
After Christ had completed this ceremony, He
left instructions for His disciples to follow.
"... Know ye what I have done to you? Ye
call me Master and Lord; and ye say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master,
have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
For I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE THAT YE SHOULD
DO AS I HAVE DONE TO YOU!" (John 13:12-15).
Now, when would the disciples have had
opportunity to follow that command - to live by that example? Certainly not in that night!
Events swiftly following resulted in Christ's arrest, trial, and crucifixion.
No, the next opportunity for Christ's disciples
to follow His example - to be obedient to His specific command, and to DO AS HE DID would
have been on the following Passover - the following year!
Think, for a moment! HOW MANY of this world's
churches follow this humbling custom of Christ? HOW MANY are truly OBEDIENT to a specific,
plain, clear, COMMAND from the One who is our LORD, and our MASTER?
HOW MANY of them zealously FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE?
I know of one such Church - and there are a few
other groups -and that one is the Church of God, International! We do not
"argue" with plain commands of Christ, we strive to OBEY them! What about YOU?
Christ went on to say, "Verily, verily, I
say unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord, neither he that is sent greater
than He that sent him.
"If ye know these things, HAPPY are ye if
ye DO them!" (John 13:15-17)
As that final supper progressed, Jesus made His
announcement of the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, handed him the sop, and Judas went out in
great anger! (Matthew 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-21; John 13:21-30).
After Judas Iscariot went out, Jesus somberly
instituted the terms and conditions of His "New Covenant" (see Jeremiah 31:31),
substituting the symbolic bread and wine for the ancient paschal lamb, eaten roasted
whole, with bitter herbs and unleavened bread.
Read the account! "And when the hour was
come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.
"And He said unto them, With desire I have
desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer:
"For I say unto you, I will not any more
eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.
"And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and
said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
"For I say unto you, I will not drink of
the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God shall come.
"And He took bread, and gave thanks, and
brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in
remembrance of me.
"Likewise also the cup after supper,
saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
"But, behold, the hand of him that
betrayeth me is with me on the table.
"And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was
determined: but woe unto that man by whom He is betrayed!
"And they began to enquire among
themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing" (Luke 22:14-23).
You may read the parallel accounts in Matthew
26:26-29 and Mark 14:22-25.
For a thorough understanding of the events
during the entire "preparation day," the fourteenth of Nisan, or the day before
the Passover, be sure to study the chart.
Events During the Last
Day Before the Passover Nisan 14th-"The Preparation Day" (John 19:31)
The Day of Jesus' Death
(Corresponds to our Tuesday sunset to Wednesday sunset)*
Judas' plot to betray Christ:
Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10,11, Luke
22:1-6
"Preparation" for Last Supper:
Matthew 26:17-19, Mark 14:12-16, Luke
22:7-13
"The even was come"; plot for betrayal:
Matthew 26:20, Mark 14:17
The last supper; foot washing:
John 13:1-20
Announcement of betrayal:
Matthew 26:21-25, Mark 14:18-21, John
13:21-30
Supper eaten; "New Covenant" proposed: bread and wine
instituted:
Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke
22:14-23
First prophecy of Peter's denials:
John 13:31-38
Strife over greatest:
Luke 22:24-30
Second prophecy of Peter's denials:
Luke 22:31-34
They go to Gethsemane:
Matthew 26:30-35, Mark 14:26-29, Luke
22:39, John 18:1
Third prophecy of Peter's denials:
Mark 14:30-31
Agony in garden:
Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke
22:40-46
Christ arrested:
Matthew 26:47-56 Mark 14:43-50, Luke
22:47-54,
John 18:2-11
Lazarus escapes:
Mark 14:51,52
Trials - all through Tuesday night:
Matthew 26:57;27:31, Mark 14:53;15:19,
Luke 22:54;23:25, John 18:12;19:13
"Sixth hour" (our Tuesday midnight) Pilate's speech:
"Behold your king."
John 19:14,15
Christ led away to be killed:
Matthew 27:31-34, Mark 15:20-23, Luke
23:26-31,
John 19:16,17
Discussion with Pilate about inscriptions:
John 19:19-22
Dividing of garments:
Matthew 27:35-37, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34,
John 19:23-34
"It was the third hour and they crucified Him" (Our 9:00
a.m. Wednesday)
Mark 15:25,26
"The sixth hour" (our Wednesday noon) and darkness:
Matthew 27:45-49, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44,45
"The ninth hour" (our Wednesday 3:00 p.m.) Christ cries
out, dies on stake.
Matthew 27:50, Mark 15:34-37, Luke 23:46,
John 19:28-30
Many subsequent events:
Matthew 27:51-56, Mark 15:38-41, Luke
23:47-49,
John 19:31-37
Christ buried IN HASTE, BEFORE SUNSET (our Wednesday about 6:00
p.m.) BEFORE THE "HIGH DAY" (The first day of unleavened bread, an annual
Sabbath); our Wednesday sunset:
Matthew 27:57-66, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56,
John 19:38-42
* After Bullinger's Companion Bible, Ap.156, 157, 158.
As you will see, they were
making haste to complete the burial of Jesus Christ prior to the beginning of the
"high day" Sabbath, the first day of the feast of unleavened bread! (John
18:31). This "high day", Sabbath, or annual Sabbath fell on the fifteenth day of
Nisan, and corresponded to our Wednesday sunset to Thursday sunset.
This was the first night and the first day
during which Jesus lay in the tomb!
As had occurred from ancient times, the paschal
lambs began to be sacrificed sometime after 1:00 p.m. on the daylight part of the
fourteenth of Nisan, or only about five or six hours before dark, and the commencement of
the fifteenth of Nisan.
There is every reason to believe that the
Passover lambs were being sacrificed at the very moment Christ died, thus completing the
perfect typical picture of "Christ our Passover who is sacrificed for us!"
Dr. Bullinger says, "It follows,
therefore, that the Lord being crucified on 'the preparation day' could not have eaten of
the Passover lamb, which was not slain until the evening of the fourteenth of Nisan (i.e.,
afternoon). On that day the daily sacrifice was killed at the sixth hour (noon) and
offered until about the seventh hour (1:00 p.m.). The killing of the Passover lambs began
directly afterwards. Thus it is clear, that if the killing of the Passover lambs did not
commence until about four hours after our Lord had been hanging upon the cross, and would
not have been concluded at the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.) when He 'gave up the ghost' (i.e.,
expired); no 'Passover lamb' could have been eaten at the 'last supper' on the previous
evening."
It is an irrefutable FACT of scripture that the
"high day" of John 19:31 was the FIRST DAY OF THE FEAST! That day HAD to fall on
the fifteenth of Nisan, according to the scriptures!
Yet, from ancient antiquity, many so-called
"scholars, " attempting to cling to their false theories revolving around
"Good Friday" and "Easter Sunday" have mistaken this "high
day," Sabbath, the annual HOLYDAY, or the first day of unleavened bread, for the
weekly Sabbath!
But it was not the weekly Sabbath, but an
annual holy day, "an high day"!
Notice again, that the Jews said the bodies
could not remain upon the cross "because it was the preparation [day]" and,
"...for that Sabbath day was a HIGH DAY," (John 19:31).
The second day of the feast, the sixteenth day
of Nisan, corresponding to our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset was the second night and
second day in the tomb. The third day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was the weekly
Sabbath, the seventeenth day of Nisan, corresponding exactly to our Friday sunset to
Saturday sunset, and represents the third night and third day in the tomb!
Since Christ was buried very late on that
Wednesday afternoon, exactly three nights and three days later would bring us to very late
on the afternoon of the weekly Sabbath or "the third day" of Matthew 16:21, and
succeeding verses.
The following morning, according to the
scriptures, the women came to the sepulchre "WHEN IT WAS YET DARK," and found
Jesus was already gone.
Notice! "On the first day of the week
cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone
taken away from the sepulchre.
"Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon
Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken
away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid Him.
"Peter therefore went forth, and that
other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
"So they ran both together: and the other
disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
"And he stooping down, and looking in, saw
the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
"Then cometh Simon Peter following him,
and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
"And the napkin, that was about His head,
not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
"Then went in also the other disciple,
which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
"For as yet they knew not the scripture,
that He must rise again from the dead.
"Then the disciples went away again unto
their own home.
"But Mary stood without at the sepulchre
weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
"And seeth two angels in white sitting,
the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
"And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest
thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they
have laid Him.
"And when she had thus said, she turned
herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest
thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing Him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, Sir, if
thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away.
"Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned
herself, and saith unto Him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
"Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I
am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto
my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God" (John 20:1-17).
Luke's account says, "Now upon the first
day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the
spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
"And they found the stone rolled away from
the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
"And it came to pass, as they were much
perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
"And as they were afraid, and bowed down
their faces to the earth, they saith unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
"He is not here, but is risen: remember
how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee,
"Saying, The Son of man must be delivered
into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
"And they remembered His words,
"And returned from the sepulchre, and told
all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest" (Luke 24:1-9).
Again, you see that very early (John's account
says while it was yet dark) on Sunday morning Jesus Christ was already risen! He did NOT
rise on "Easter" Sunday morning; it was not yet sunrise, but still quite dark,
and the tomb was empty!
Notice Matthew's account: "In the end of
the Sabbath (the word for Sabbath is Sabbaton, with a plural ending, and should better be
rendered "Sabbaths," to include both the high day Sabbath, the fifteenth of
Nisan, or the first day of unleavened bread and the weekly Sabbath which fell two days
later!), as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the
other Mary to see the sepulchre.
"And behold, there was a great earthquake:
for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from
the door, and sat upon it.
"His countenance was like lightning, and
his raiment white as snow.
And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and
became as dead men.
"And the angel answered and said unto the
women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
"He is not here: for He is risen, as He
said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
"And go quickly, and tell His disciples
that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall
ye see Him: lo, I have told you.
"And they departed quickly from the
sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word" (Matthew
28:1-8).
Again, notice the angel said "He is not
here, for He IS RISEN!" That was a past act, an accomplished fact, something which
had already happened! The angel did not say "He is rising," but said He had
already RISEN!
Of course! He had actually risen from His tomb
in the very late afternoon of the previous day, "as He said!" (verse 6).
Few have understood the
truly NEW Testament character of the symbols of Christ's last supper! Thousands have
assumed they are "keeping the PASSOVER," as if it is an unbroken festival, a
continuous tradition, to be observed in the same way, and at the same time, down through
the centuries.
Few seem to realize the Passover was
dramatically altered in character following the exodus, and that it was altered again in
the post-exile period.
It's time Christians realized they are looking
entirely to CHRIST for their salvation - that He alone can save!
Christ was pictured by the paschal lamb. For
centuries, the age-old custom looked forward to the sacrifice of a Savior. Since Christ's
death and resurrection, the New Testament observance of the Passover has looked back
toward Christ - toward His death! He BECAME the Passover.
Notice! "For even CHRIST OUR PASSOVER is
sacrificed for us" (I Corinthians 5:7).
Christ has become the Passover. He IS the
Passover. Therefore, when we partake of the symbols He instituted of His broken body and
shed blood, we are not keeping the Old Covenant Passover. We are IMBIBING OF THE SYMBOLS
OF CHRIST'S DEATH!
Notice what He said. "Verily, verily I say
unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your
fathers did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down
from heaven that a man may eat thereof and not die. I AM THE LIVING BREAD which came down
from heaven: if any man eat of this bread (partake of Christ) he shall live forever: and
the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world...
Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood ye have no life in you.
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at
the last day.
"For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood
is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in
him" (John 6:44-58).
This was such a "hard saying" that
many of His disciples LEFT Christ!
They had never heard such language! They were
offended! Christ turned to Peter and asked if he would leave also. Peter said "Lord
to whom shall we go? THOU hast the words of eternal life!" (John 6:68).
When Christ changed the ancient paschal meal;
when He performed a ceremony absolutely UNIQUE in all history, washing His disciples'
feet, passing broken bread and wine among them, He explained this was "My blood of
the NEW COVENANT, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28).
Paul explains, "And they shall not teach
every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall
know me, from the least to the greatest.
"For I will be merciful to their
unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
"In that He saith, A New Covenant, He hath
made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away"
(Hebrews 8:11-13).
Notice that Christ was becoming the mediator of
the NEW TESTAMENT (New Covenant or "New Will") when He instituted the symbols of
His body and blood. When we partake of this completely NEW TESTAMENT ceremony we do not
look back in history beyond the time of Christ. We look to the time of HIS DEATH - NOT to
the ancient exodus and the captivity in Egypt, except in interesting typology or as
interesting history and background. We are not keeping the ancient Passover or the
post-exilic Passover. We are keeping a COMPLETELY NEW TESTAMENT ceremony following
Christ's example, doing as He did; as He commanded.
Some few seem to believe they must be more
"accurate" than Christ and believe they must observe the NEW Testament symbols
of Christ's body and blood at the same moment as the Jews observed the symbols of the OLD
Covenant on the fifteenth.
But Jesus Christ instituted a NEW TESTAMENT
CEREMONY! He had that right He had that authority. He said, "This DO as I have done
unto you!"
He said, "...drink ye all of it; for this
is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins"
(Matthew 26:27.28).
The Greek word for "testament" is
diatheke. It is an Old Testament word, and should always conform to Old Testament form and
usage. The rendering "testament" comes from the Vulgate; testamentum, a Latin
translation. Diatheke occurs in the New Testament thirty times, and is rendered
"covenant" twenty times. It should better be rendered "covenant" here.
Notice Paul's statement: "But Christ being
come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not
made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves,
but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us.
"For if the blood of bulls and of goats,
and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the
flesh:
"How much more shall the blood of Christ,
who through the eternal spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God?
"And for this cause He is the mediator of
the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that
were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal
inheritance.
"For where a testator is, there must also
of necessity be the death of the testator.
"For a testament is of force after men are
dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
"Whereupon neither the first testament was
dedicated without blood.
"For when Moses had spoken every precept
to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with
water, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
"Saying, This is the blood of the
testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
"Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the
tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
"And almost all things are by law purged
with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:11-22).
As the Mediator of the New Covenant, Christ was
referring to the cup of wine He passed among the disciples as symbolic of His blood, which
was to be shed "for the sins of many."
The unleavened bread, He said, was symbolic of
His body. Paul says. "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered
unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread:
"And when He had given thanks, He brake
it, and said, Take eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance
of me.
"After the same manner also He took the
cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as
oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
"For as often as ye eat this bread, and
drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come.
"Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread,
and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the
Lord.
"But let a man examine himself, and so let
him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
"For he that eateth and drinketh
unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
"For this cause many are weak and sickly
among you, and many sleep" (I Corinthians 11:23-30).
God's church has known for many centuries that
the practice instituted by Jesus Christ of offering the symbols of His broken body and
shed blood on the BEGINNING of the fourteenth of Nisan was to be observed!
As you have seen clearly proved, the original
paschal lambs were slain "at even," or late on the fourteenth, and the actual
Passover meal was not eaten until after sunset, during the nighttime part of the FIFTEENTH
of Nisan!
Some few have argued that, even though Jesus
Christ clearly set this example, and that His famous "last supper", took place
on the fourteenth it is somehow closer to true righteousness to wait and observe the New
Testament symbols at the same moment as the ancient Passover, or on the FIFTEENTH!
Church history, and centuries of church
tradition, plus careful biblical scholarship all prove otherwise!
The famous "Quartodeciman
controversy" which raged for centuries throughout the expanding Roman Catholic world
is a major case in point. "Quartodeciman" is merely a Latin term for
"FOURTEENTH!" From Carthage in North Africa to Alexandria in Egypt; from Rome to
Antioch in Syria, fragmented groups of Christians continued to cling to the same customs
delivered to them by Jesus Christ Himself, and by the early apostles. Successive
generations clung tenaciously to the "faith once delivered to the saints,"
absolutely refusing to abandon the practice of observing the New Testament
"Passover" (Lord's supper) on the FOURTEENTH of Nisan!
They were careful to do as Jesus did! They
recognized that when their Lord and Savior commanded, "THIS DO as I have done unto
you!" it represented a command. They recognized that Jesus Christ had set them an
example, that they should follow in His steps.
For this reason they were called
"Quartodecimans," or observers of the FOURTEENTH, not observers of the
"fifteenth" or, "Quintodecimans."
The Church of God, International, humbly bows
before the Eternal God in heaven, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as well as the
legacy of centuries of church custom, practice and tradition, and continues to faithfully
observe the commemoration of Christ's death at the same moment each year when CHRIST
HIMSELF observed it!
After sunset on the thirteenth, as the
thirteenth of Nisan is over, and the fourteenth of Nisan is coming on, God's church
gathers together in a solemn service traditionally called "The Passover," in
commemoration of the events during the last supper of Jesus Christ, and in commemoration
of His death.
As Jesus Christ set us an example, we humbly
submit to the ancient rite of foot washing. At the conclusion of this ceremony, we
solemnly partake of a broken piece of unleavened bread, and sip from a small cup of wine,
reading the appropriate scriptures, enacting, in commemoration, the events of that famous
night.
Even as the apostle Paul said "...the Lord
Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread..." so the Church of God
today continues to observe the richly significant, monumentally important tradition of the
Passover on that same night!
Notice carefully that the correct understanding
of the chronological events of the Passover in Egypt, and the correction of false
assumptions concerning the time of the Exodus have NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO with the time
on which the church has traditionally observed the New Testament Passover from antiquity!
NOTHING is changed! Custom and practice remain
the same! What IS accomplished is a fuller understanding of the truth of Almighty God!
Finally, WHY do not the churches of this world
OBEY the plain commands of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
Surely there is no ceremony during the course
of the year that is any more important than the PASSOVER! It is that one annual festival
which symbolizes, more than any other, the very WAY TO SALVATION! Without the broken body
and shed blood of Jesus Christ; without our deepest repentance, and the acceptance of
Christ's shed blood to atone for our own sins,
we cannot be saved!
By our reaffirmation of our acceptance of His
broken body and shed blood year by year, we continually resubstantiate and reconfirm our
faith in Jesus Christ, and in Him ALONE for salvation! If you truly expect to enter into
the soon-coming, glorious kingdom of Almighty God; if you hope to be one of those who will
live and reign with Christ for one thousand years on this earth (Revelation 20:4; 5:10)
then you need to KEEP THE PASSOVER year by year.
-End-
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This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man's word for anything, including ours, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible. Because your salvation is between you and God, it is through such personal verification that you will gain confidence and come to know for yourself what is truth.
For additional related knowledge and understanding,
may we suggest the following title:
Should Christians Observe Easter or the Passover?
The Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association
P.O. Box 747
Flint, TX 75762
Phone: (903) 561-7070 Fax: (903) 561-4141