Passover

THIS PASSOVER

Passover is a very important memorial for all believers to keep; and if all things were as they were when the commandment was given, it would behoove us to adhere to the letter of the law as to restrictions and patterns. Sadly, all things are not as they were at the giving of this commandment; and while the memorial celebration of Passover is vital – even given as an injunction by Messiah/Christ to all his disciples – the fact is, our celebration of Passover is presently only a rehearsal for a time still yet to come in the Messianic age.

While the commandment surrounding physical circumcision has a big place in the celebration of Passover, it is important to remember that while circumcision of the heart does not replace physical circumcision, it certainly was required for physical circumcision to have any real meaning. I am not going to dismiss the importance of physical circumcision in the male believer’s flesh; that being said, I am going to emphasize the importance of circumcision of the heart, over the physical act, in our dispersion among the nations. We must remember, this is a rehearsal, and not an actual keeping of the commandment of Passover.

While the Messianic/Restoration Movement puts a lot of focus on keeping the Holy Days calendar, the reality is that none of the Holy Days can actually be kept according to Torah without a Temple, Priesthood, and access to Jerusalem. It is rather arrogant and over the top to suggest we are actually obeying the law when keeping the Holy Days calendar; and even more so to suggest that those who are not keeping them are sinning and damned to Hell. As believers, our hearts are in a process of restoration, and YaHWeH, as promised, is writing His Commandments upon our hearts. We have a Spiritual unction to keep the law of YaHWeH in every detail; but it is an unction that will never be satisfied until Messiah/Christ returns and restores all things. Those believers who do not appear to have this unction to return to keeping the laws of YaHWeH, have that desire stifled by bondage to religious doctrines of men, who turn their hearts from the authority of YaHWeH, to the authority of religious men. These brethren need to be edified and encouraged, rather than condemned and rebuked.

Yeshua/Jesus told his disciples to Keep the Passover in remembrance of him (Luke 22:19); he was not telling them to turn the Passover into a communion service of wonder bread and grape Juice. Messiah was giving the unleavened bread and wine during Passover a new - or better still, additional - symbolism. After the destruction of the Temple, Passover would never be the same for his followers, but it certainly would not be done away with, as even early “Church father” like Polycarp would testify. It was not until 321 A.D., when the Sun-god worshipping, anti-Semitic, Constantine arose,that Passover would become a thing of the past, replaced by a Christianization of the pagan celebration of Easter.

When you rehearse the Passover this year, do not hesitate to invite your Christian brethren, without regards to the Physical circumcised state. These brethren are justified by the finished work of Messiah/Christ; and whether you want to believe it or not, they are in the same process of sanctification as you are. Do not try to amaze your Christian guest with your proficiency in Hebrew; but as Paul said, be sure to interpret so they may be edified. Do not use this Holy time as a pretense to attack everything they believe; do not use this time to condemn the name Jesus; and do not use this time to tear them down. It is important that our brethren walk away refreshed by the revelation that comes by keeping the Passover; and let the Holy Spirit do the work in its own time.

In conclusion, enjoy your Passover rehearsal this year, and be thankful you have a Spiritual unction to keep that which we really are not able to presently keep. Be humble about the realities and limitations of our dispersion among the nations, looking forward to the return of our Savior and Messiah, when he shall restore all things, as well as the whole body of Christ.

The Torah Thumper
Jeremiah1616 Ministry
3/19/18 (Aviv 3)