Passover is soon to be here!!!

With less than 72 hours before Jews and Christians around the world start celebrating Passover, I have been reflecting back on this important feast. In the book of Exodus, the Israelites are told to sacrifice a lamb and place the blood of the animal on the doorposts of their dwellings. During the night, any dwelling which did not have the blood of the lamb painted on its doorposts, the angel of death killed all first born humans and animals. It was by faith, the Israelites obeyed this commandment; it was by faith that they escaped the angel of death. In the morning, the Israelites fled as fugitives from Egypt, a land of slavery and bondage. Through faith, they followed Moses through the Red Sea toward their inheritance--the promised land of Israel. Each year, Jews commemorate Passover by eating the Seder meal. Each year, they patiently wait for the return of Messiah.

As Christians, the ultimate fulfillment of this feast happened when Jesus the Messiah became the sacrificial Passover lamb 2000 years ago. Jesus, dying on the cross, allows us to use His blood to cover our sins. Like the blood smeared on the Israelite doors posts which created the letter "chet" meaning "to life", if we accept Jesus' blood to cover our sins, He promises us eternal life. We are strangers in this land, patiently sojourning in a land which is not our own. If we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will also possess our inheritance in the times to come--a new heavens and a new earth. ("Then I saw 'a new heaven and a new earth,' for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be their God" (Revelation 21:1-3).)

So tonight, as Jews and Christians prepare their hearts and minds for the coming Passover, may we pray for all those who are still waiting for Messiah. May we pray for all the lost souls slaves to sin, the burden of which is too heavy to bare. May they find their way out of bondage and into the Light; may they find their hope and joy in Jesus. May they find rest for their weary bodies and take the words of Jesus to heart, for He says, "Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light," (Matthew 11:28-30). Shabbat Shalom!