#1 of 7
My Pastor often remarks, "The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed." Serious Bible students have seen the pictures and typology that God uses in the Old Testament that are brought to realization in the events of the New Testament. Which is one of the reasons that God's word is so amazing--- the never-ending revelation of God's plan that was in operation from the beginning.
Another wondrous example would be the Feasts of Israel. God placed into the Hebrew calendar year seven feasts:
- Passover
- the Feast of the Unleavened Bread
- the Feasts of the Firstfruits
- Pentecost
- The Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)
- the Feast of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
- and the Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot - "Booths")
In Leviticus chapter 23 all seven festivals are listed in chronological order, although they are mentioned throughout both Testaments. God instituted them, they belong to God, and man can only participate in them on God's terms. Many are timed according to cycles of seven--- which is the number of spiritual perfection according to biblical numerology. These are God's special, carefully appointed times that have been orchestrated to reveal something important to us. They were called "holy convocations," which mean sacred times of being "called out" where God meets with man for holy purposes.
Jesus Christ fulfilled the first four feasts in His first coming. We will discuss them one at a time.
Jesus Christ fulfilled the first four feasts in His first coming. We will discuss them one at a time.
PASSOVER
The first of these is PASSOVER. Also called Chag Ha-matzot or Pesach, it is a time for the Hebrew people to celebrate and recognize the One True God that rescued them from slavery and death. Almost 3500 years ago, each family was instructed to kill an unblemished male lamb and paint the wood around the door of their homes with the blood. This would cause the angel of death to passover their homes as it searched for the firstborn children--the tenth plague of Egypt. Then they were to eat the flesh of the sacrificial animal in a special ritual meal. If your family was small, you could share the lamb with another family. Every year since then, the Hebrew people were to observe this event on the 14th day of Nisan (first month of the ecclesiastical year and the 7th month of the civil year (eight on leap) on the Hebrew calendar), also known as Aviv in the Torah-- the same day that the actual Passover happened.
The first of these is PASSOVER. Also called Chag Ha-matzot or Pesach, it is a time for the Hebrew people to celebrate and recognize the One True God that rescued them from slavery and death. Almost 3500 years ago, each family was instructed to kill an unblemished male lamb and paint the wood around the door of their homes with the blood. This would cause the angel of death to passover their homes as it searched for the firstborn children--the tenth plague of Egypt. Then they were to eat the flesh of the sacrificial animal in a special ritual meal. If your family was small, you could share the lamb with another family. Every year since then, the Hebrew people were to observe this event on the 14th day of Nisan (first month of the ecclesiastical year and the 7th month of the civil year (eight on leap) on the Hebrew calendar), also known as Aviv in the Torah-- the same day that the actual Passover happened.
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."--John 1:29
The Passover lamb was a "mikrah," which is a rehearsal for the slaying of the ultimate Passover Lamb, Yeshuah haMashiach (Jesus the Christ). It was Jesus that kept the appointed time (the "mo'ed") to die. In Matthew 26:2 He told His disciples that the Son of Man would be handed over to be crucified two days later on the Passover. For believers everywhere, Jesus the Messiah, the genuine Passover Lamb, would deliver them from the bondage of sin and give salvation from the penalty of death.
It was during the Passover meal in 33AD that Christians call "the Last Supper," that Jesus proclaimed "this is my body which is given for you" and "this cup is the new covenant in my blood which is shed for you" (Luke 22). Interesting note: the cup that Jesus held and identified as the new covenant in His blood is called "the cup of redemption" (instituted in Exodus 6:6). It is the third cup of wine and it is drank after the Passover meal. Perhaps this is the cup that Jesus was referring to when later He prayed if it was possible for God to 'take this cup from me." The fourth and last cup of wine is called the Cup of Hallel which tells of God's promise to gather a people to Himself. Jesus never drank this last cup during the Passover meal because He stated in Luke 22:18 that He would not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God had come.
Jesus is known as the "lamb that was slain." On Passover He was arrested, tried, convicted and crucified. His blood was upon the wood of the cross. Because of this, He has freed His people from the slavery of sin.
It was during the Passover meal in 33AD that Christians call "the Last Supper," that Jesus proclaimed "this is my body which is given for you" and "this cup is the new covenant in my blood which is shed for you" (Luke 22). Interesting note: the cup that Jesus held and identified as the new covenant in His blood is called "the cup of redemption" (instituted in Exodus 6:6). It is the third cup of wine and it is drank after the Passover meal. Perhaps this is the cup that Jesus was referring to when later He prayed if it was possible for God to 'take this cup from me." The fourth and last cup of wine is called the Cup of Hallel which tells of God's promise to gather a people to Himself. Jesus never drank this last cup during the Passover meal because He stated in Luke 22:18 that He would not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God had come.
Jesus is known as the "lamb that was slain." On Passover He was arrested, tried, convicted and crucified. His blood was upon the wood of the cross. Because of this, He has freed His people from the slavery of sin.
"Christ, our passover, is sacrificed for us" --I Corinthians 5:7
"He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth." --Isaiah 53:7
"And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain,"--Revelation 5:6a
"... knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." ...... ......... .....--1 Peter 1:18-19
"And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain,"--Revelation 5:6a
"... knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." ...... ......... .....--1 Peter 1:18-19
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