Greetings Brethren,

We thank God for our vision to see, hear and listen. We are also thankful that we can discern the Truth of the Bible. Thus we pray that all of the believers will be able to see Truth. However one cannot see God if man in the flesh are things are placed in the way of Almighty God.

HERE WE SADLY PROCLAIM THAT MUCH OF WHAT IS TAUGHT, AND PREACHED ABOUT IN THE CHURCH TODAY IS A LIE AND NOT OF GOD.

When Paul said "how can you hear without a Preacher" he was not talking about the contemporary Preacher (who are mostly false prophets). Paul spoke of a time when the New Testament had not been written and the Old Testament had not been put to print. Thus today one can hear and see God without a Preacher. For the record and for the wise, God has not ordained any ungodly Preacher. Those that do not speak for God simply speak for Satan.

Peace and Love,

Carl Patton writing for the FreedomJournal April 18, 2002 in the year of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

FREEDOMJOURNAL SPEAKS

THE ORIGIN AND REALITY OF THE PASSOVER

PART 2: INTRODUCTION: PASSOVER: PILGRIMAGE & THE NEW TESTAMENT

In the name of Jehovah God, Master of the universe, Ruler of the earth.

The Passover is noted as the first (in point in time) and the most important of all the annual Feasts of the Hebrew people. As previously noted the Passover was combined with the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This combined Feast was one of the three Feasts of the Mosaic Law. Also this Feast (as were two other Feasts) required all male Hebrews who were physically able and ceremonially clean to attend (see Exodus 23:17, Deuteronomy 16:16).

The other two Feasts were the Feast of Weeks on Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. These Feasts were known as and the Pilgrimage Festivals. On these days special sacrifices were offered. (See Numbers 28 & 29).

A further description of the Passover is seen in the reign of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 30) and Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:1-19). Here we see the pilgrimage aspects of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. These scriptures reveal the roles of the priests and Levities in the presentation of the blood of the Passover sacrifices. These passages of scripture also reveal the large number of people that gathered in the capital city and the great extravagance of the celebrations.

As we pursue this series we will also note the prominent role the Passover has had on the New Testament accounts of the death of Jesus. All four Gospels give an account of the death of Jesus in relation to the celebration of Passover and Unleavened Bread. (See Mark 14:1-52, Matthew 26:1-46, Luke 22:1-53, John 13:1-38).

The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) locate Jesus' last meal with the disciples and his arrest on the night in which the Passover sacrifice was slaughtered and the Passover meal eaten. (See Mark 14:12-16, Matthew 26:17-19, Luke 22:7-13).

In the Synoptic Gospel we also see the Last Supper as a Passover meal that was reinterpreted by the early church. Meanwhile John links the Passover sacrifices (see John 13:1, 19:14, 31, 42). Thus, in the Gospel of John the death of Jesus is noted in terms of the sacrificial slaughter of the Passover sheep. (See John 1:29, 19:36).

Meanwhile Paul notes the association of the death of Jesus and the Passover sacrifice in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8. Thus, the ritual observance of the Hebrew people regarding the Passover has become a necessary ingredient in the Christian experience.

Thus in order to understand the death and resurrection of Jesus Christians must understand the Passover and its various components.

Cont. Part 3: Passover The Book of Exodus

Return to Passover Page

carl@freedomjournalpress.comcastbiz.net