Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sing the song of Moses to remember God
God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. Exodus 3:15
God wanted to be remembered throughout all generations. He made a way for His people to be saved through the shed blood of a lamb. That blood was to be painted on the doorposts of their houses. And when He saw the blood, He would allow the Angel of death to pass over - leaving the family and oldest son who was appointed to die to remain alive. And then God made a way for the saved people to cross over the Red Sea. And after they learned of His commands, roamed through a desert for 40 years, and delivered to the edge of the Promised Land, God told Moses, "Now write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it [the song] may be a witness for me against them." Deuteronomy 31:19
It wasn't that God was against Israel...it was that the song would remind them at some point in time, how Israel came against God. But, God would be compassionate and receive His people once again...because He is God and His Promise holds true. The song Moses was to record was a song of all God had done, all the people had done, and all God was going to do in the future [very, very, distant future] through the faith and perseverance of His people, and through the outstretched arm of the LORD (see Deuteronomy 32). And when Moses finished reciting all the words to all the people, he said to them; 'they are not just idle words for you - they are your life!'
When Jesus came, He too wanted us do something so that we remember Him. We read that "when the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, ' I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you' and he took the cup and then the bread in order of the Passover meal and, "gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you, do this in REMEMBRANCE of me." Luke 22:15-19 Earlier he had told his followers that He was the bread of life...that he was the way and the truth and the life...that in Him was life and life everlasting. By taking that bread, they were in agreement with Him.
When we look ahead to the word we are given in the last book of the bible, Revelation, Chapter 15, we see a picture of the completion God promised to Israel in the song He told His people to remember Him by.
3And they sing(G) the song of Moses,(H) the servant[a] of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
(I) "Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
(J) Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations![b]
4(K) Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are(L) holy.
(M) All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed."
After this I looked, and(N) the sanctuary of(O) the tent[c] of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came(P) the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright(Q) linen,(R) with golden sashes around their chests. And one of(S) the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven(T) golden bowls full of the wrath of God(U) who lives forever and ever, 8and(V) the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and(W) no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished."
Revelation 16 gives us a glimpse of those plagues. There will be plague of boils, blood, fire, darkness, frogs, hail, and earthquakes. Those were the same plagues poured out onto Egypt in the time before the Exodus of God's people. This is not a coincidence. He has a plan of redemption - in every generation - and we have a choice to either believe in Him or not. And He has made it clear, from the beginning. What I am telling you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. You don't have to ask a great theologian for understanding, or go to the ends of the earth for a sacred teaching. God has made it very near to you in His Word - the bible.
What a picture. God has from the beginning wanted us to remember Him. How are you remembering God today? Have you received His Passover Lamb? Have you received His Messiah - Jesus? I pray that you have so that you too can sing the song of Moses, and the song of the Lamb.
Deuteronomy 32
"Give ear,(A) O heavens, and I will speak,
and let(B) the earth hear the words of my mouth.
2May(C) my teaching drop as the rain,
my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
and(D) like showers upon the herb.
3For I will proclaim the name of the LORD;
ascribe(E) greatness to our God! 4(F) "The Rock,(G) his work is perfect,
for(H) all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and(I) without iniquity,
just and upright is he.
5They have dealt corruptly with him;
they are no longer his children(J) because they are blemished;
they are(K) a crooked and twisted generation.
6Do you thus repay the LORD,
you foolish and senseless people?
Is not he(L) your father, who(M) created you,
who(N) made you and established you?
7(O) Remember the days of old;
consider the years of many generations;
(P) ask your father, and he will show you,
your elders, and they will tell you.
8When the Most High(Q) gave to the nations their inheritance,
when he(R) divided mankind,
he fixed the borders[a] of the peoples
according to the number of the sons of God.[b]
9But the LORD’s portion is his people,
Jacob his allotted heritage.
10"He found him(S) in a desert land,
and in the howling waste of the wilderness;
he(T) encircled him, he cared for him,
he(U) kept him as the apple of his eye.
11(V) Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,
that flutters over its young,
spreading out its wings, catching them,
bearing them on its pinions,
12(W) the LORD alone guided him,
(X) no foreign god was with him.
13(Y) He made him ride on the high places of the land,
and he ate the produce of the field,
and he suckled him with(Z) honey out of the rock,
and(AA) oil out of(AB) the flinty rock.
14Curds from the herd, and milk from the flock,
with fat[c] of lambs,
rams of Bashan and goats,
with the very finest[d] of the wheat—
and you drank foaming wine made from(AC) the blood of the grape.
15"But(AD) Jeshurun grew fat, and(AE) kicked;
(AF) you grew fat, stout, and sleek;
(AG) then he forsook God(AH) who made him
and scoffed at(AI) the Rock of his salvation.
16(AJ) They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods;
with abominations they provoked him to anger.
17(AK) They sacrificed to demons that were no gods,
to gods they had never known,
to(AL) new gods that had come recently,
whom your fathers had never dreaded.
18You were unmindful of(AM) the Rock that bore[e] you,
and you(AN) forgot the God who gave you birth.
19(AO) "The LORD saw it and spurned them,
because of the provocation of(AP) his sons and his daughters.
20And he said,(AQ) 'I will hide my face from them;
I will see what their end will be,
For they are a perverse generation,
children in whom is no faithfulness.
21(AR) They have made me jealous with what is no god;
they have provoked me to anger(AS) with their idols.
So(AT) I will make them jealous with those who are no people;
I will provoke them to anger with(AU) a foolish nation.
22For(AV) a fire is kindled by my anger,
and it burns to(AW) the depths of Sheol,
devours the earth and its increase,
and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.
23"'And I will heap disasters upon them;
(AX) I will spend my arrows on them;
24they shall be wasted with hunger,
and devoured by plague
and poisonous pestilence;
I will send(AY) the teeth of beasts against them,
with the venom of(AZ) things that crawl in the dust.
25(BA) Outdoors the sword shall bereave,
and indoors terror,
for young man and woman alike,
the nursing child with the man of gray hairs.
26(BB) I would have said, "I will cut them to pieces;
(BC) I will wipe them from human memory,"
27had I not feared provocation by the enemy,
lest their adversaries should misunderstand,
lest they should say,(BD) "Our hand is triumphant,
it was not the LORD who did all this."'
28"For they are a nation void of counsel,
and there is(BE) no understanding in them.
29(BF) If they were wise, they would understand this;
they would(BG) discern their latter end!
30How could(BH) one have chased a thousand,
and two have put ten thousand to flight,
unless their Rock(BI) had sold them,
and the LORD had given them up?
31For(BJ) their rock is not as our Rock;
(BK) our enemies are by themselves.
32For their vine(BL) comes from the vine of Sodom
and from the fields of Gomorrah;
their grapes are grapes of(BM) poison;
their clusters are bitter;
33their wine is the poison of(BN) serpents
and the cruel venom of asps.
34"'Is not this laid up in store with me,
(BO) sealed up in my treasuries?
35(BP) Vengeance is mine, and recompense,[f]
(BQ) for the time when their foot shall slip;
for(BR) the day of their calamity is at hand,
and their doom comes swiftly.'
36For(BS) the LORD will vindicate[g] his people
(BT) and have compassion on his servants,
when he sees that their power is gone
and there is none remaining,(BU) bond or free.
37Then he will say,(BV) 'Where are their gods,
(BW) the rock in which they took refuge,
38who ate the fat of their sacrifices
and drank the wine of their drink offering?
Let them rise up and help you;
let them be your protection!
39"'See now that(BX) I, even I, am he,
and there is no god beside me;
(BY) I kill and I make alive;
(BZ) I wound and I heal;
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
40For(CA) I lift up my hand to heaven
and swear, As I live forever,
41if I(CB) sharpen my flashing sword[h]
and my hand takes hold on judgment,
I will take vengeance on my adversaries
and will repay those who hate me.
42I will make my arrows drunk with blood,
and(CC) my sword shall devour flesh—
with the blood of the slain and the captives,
from the(CD) long-haired heads of the enemy.'
43(CE) "Rejoice with him, O heavens;
bow down to him, all gods,[i]
for he(CF) avenges the blood of his children[j]
and takes vengeance on his adversaries.
He repays those who hate him[k]
and cleanses[l] his people’s land."[m]
God wanted to be remembered throughout all generations. He made a way for His people to be saved through the shed blood of a lamb. That blood was to be painted on the doorposts of their houses. And when He saw the blood, He would allow the Angel of death to pass over - leaving the family and oldest son who was appointed to die to remain alive. And then God made a way for the saved people to cross over the Red Sea. And after they learned of His commands, roamed through a desert for 40 years, and delivered to the edge of the Promised Land, God told Moses, "Now write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it [the song] may be a witness for me against them." Deuteronomy 31:19
It wasn't that God was against Israel...it was that the song would remind them at some point in time, how Israel came against God. But, God would be compassionate and receive His people once again...because He is God and His Promise holds true. The song Moses was to record was a song of all God had done, all the people had done, and all God was going to do in the future [very, very, distant future] through the faith and perseverance of His people, and through the outstretched arm of the LORD (see Deuteronomy 32). And when Moses finished reciting all the words to all the people, he said to them; 'they are not just idle words for you - they are your life!'
When Jesus came, He too wanted us do something so that we remember Him. We read that "when the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, ' I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you' and he took the cup and then the bread in order of the Passover meal and, "gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you, do this in REMEMBRANCE of me." Luke 22:15-19 Earlier he had told his followers that He was the bread of life...that he was the way and the truth and the life...that in Him was life and life everlasting. By taking that bread, they were in agreement with Him.
When we look ahead to the word we are given in the last book of the bible, Revelation, Chapter 15, we see a picture of the completion God promised to Israel in the song He told His people to remember Him by.
3And they sing(G) the song of Moses,(H) the servant[a] of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
(I) "Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
(J) Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations![b]
4(K) Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are(L) holy.
(M) All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed."
After this I looked, and(N) the sanctuary of(O) the tent[c] of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came(P) the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright(Q) linen,(R) with golden sashes around their chests. And one of(S) the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven(T) golden bowls full of the wrath of God(U) who lives forever and ever, 8and(V) the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and(W) no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished."
Revelation 16 gives us a glimpse of those plagues. There will be plague of boils, blood, fire, darkness, frogs, hail, and earthquakes. Those were the same plagues poured out onto Egypt in the time before the Exodus of God's people. This is not a coincidence. He has a plan of redemption - in every generation - and we have a choice to either believe in Him or not. And He has made it clear, from the beginning. What I am telling you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. You don't have to ask a great theologian for understanding, or go to the ends of the earth for a sacred teaching. God has made it very near to you in His Word - the bible.
What a picture. God has from the beginning wanted us to remember Him. How are you remembering God today? Have you received His Passover Lamb? Have you received His Messiah - Jesus? I pray that you have so that you too can sing the song of Moses, and the song of the Lamb.
Deuteronomy 32
"Give ear,(A) O heavens, and I will speak,
and let(B) the earth hear the words of my mouth.
2May(C) my teaching drop as the rain,
my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
and(D) like showers upon the herb.
3For I will proclaim the name of the LORD;
ascribe(E) greatness to our God! 4(F) "The Rock,(G) his work is perfect,
for(H) all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and(I) without iniquity,
just and upright is he.
5They have dealt corruptly with him;
they are no longer his children(J) because they are blemished;
they are(K) a crooked and twisted generation.
6Do you thus repay the LORD,
you foolish and senseless people?
Is not he(L) your father, who(M) created you,
who(N) made you and established you?
7(O) Remember the days of old;
consider the years of many generations;
(P) ask your father, and he will show you,
your elders, and they will tell you.
8When the Most High(Q) gave to the nations their inheritance,
when he(R) divided mankind,
he fixed the borders[a] of the peoples
according to the number of the sons of God.[b]
9But the LORD’s portion is his people,
Jacob his allotted heritage.
10"He found him(S) in a desert land,
and in the howling waste of the wilderness;
he(T) encircled him, he cared for him,
he(U) kept him as the apple of his eye.
11(V) Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,
that flutters over its young,
spreading out its wings, catching them,
bearing them on its pinions,
12(W) the LORD alone guided him,
(X) no foreign god was with him.
13(Y) He made him ride on the high places of the land,
and he ate the produce of the field,
and he suckled him with(Z) honey out of the rock,
and(AA) oil out of(AB) the flinty rock.
14Curds from the herd, and milk from the flock,
with fat[c] of lambs,
rams of Bashan and goats,
with the very finest[d] of the wheat—
and you drank foaming wine made from(AC) the blood of the grape.
15"But(AD) Jeshurun grew fat, and(AE) kicked;
(AF) you grew fat, stout, and sleek;
(AG) then he forsook God(AH) who made him
and scoffed at(AI) the Rock of his salvation.
16(AJ) They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods;
with abominations they provoked him to anger.
17(AK) They sacrificed to demons that were no gods,
to gods they had never known,
to(AL) new gods that had come recently,
whom your fathers had never dreaded.
18You were unmindful of(AM) the Rock that bore[e] you,
and you(AN) forgot the God who gave you birth.
19(AO) "The LORD saw it and spurned them,
because of the provocation of(AP) his sons and his daughters.
20And he said,(AQ) 'I will hide my face from them;
I will see what their end will be,
For they are a perverse generation,
children in whom is no faithfulness.
21(AR) They have made me jealous with what is no god;
they have provoked me to anger(AS) with their idols.
So(AT) I will make them jealous with those who are no people;
I will provoke them to anger with(AU) a foolish nation.
22For(AV) a fire is kindled by my anger,
and it burns to(AW) the depths of Sheol,
devours the earth and its increase,
and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.
23"'And I will heap disasters upon them;
(AX) I will spend my arrows on them;
24they shall be wasted with hunger,
and devoured by plague
and poisonous pestilence;
I will send(AY) the teeth of beasts against them,
with the venom of(AZ) things that crawl in the dust.
25(BA) Outdoors the sword shall bereave,
and indoors terror,
for young man and woman alike,
the nursing child with the man of gray hairs.
26(BB) I would have said, "I will cut them to pieces;
(BC) I will wipe them from human memory,"
27had I not feared provocation by the enemy,
lest their adversaries should misunderstand,
lest they should say,(BD) "Our hand is triumphant,
it was not the LORD who did all this."'
28"For they are a nation void of counsel,
and there is(BE) no understanding in them.
29(BF) If they were wise, they would understand this;
they would(BG) discern their latter end!
30How could(BH) one have chased a thousand,
and two have put ten thousand to flight,
unless their Rock(BI) had sold them,
and the LORD had given them up?
31For(BJ) their rock is not as our Rock;
(BK) our enemies are by themselves.
32For their vine(BL) comes from the vine of Sodom
and from the fields of Gomorrah;
their grapes are grapes of(BM) poison;
their clusters are bitter;
33their wine is the poison of(BN) serpents
and the cruel venom of asps.
34"'Is not this laid up in store with me,
(BO) sealed up in my treasuries?
35(BP) Vengeance is mine, and recompense,[f]
(BQ) for the time when their foot shall slip;
for(BR) the day of their calamity is at hand,
and their doom comes swiftly.'
36For(BS) the LORD will vindicate[g] his people
(BT) and have compassion on his servants,
when he sees that their power is gone
and there is none remaining,(BU) bond or free.
37Then he will say,(BV) 'Where are their gods,
(BW) the rock in which they took refuge,
38who ate the fat of their sacrifices
and drank the wine of their drink offering?
Let them rise up and help you;
let them be your protection!
39"'See now that(BX) I, even I, am he,
and there is no god beside me;
(BY) I kill and I make alive;
(BZ) I wound and I heal;
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
40For(CA) I lift up my hand to heaven
and swear, As I live forever,
41if I(CB) sharpen my flashing sword[h]
and my hand takes hold on judgment,
I will take vengeance on my adversaries
and will repay those who hate me.
42I will make my arrows drunk with blood,
and(CC) my sword shall devour flesh—
with the blood of the slain and the captives,
from the(CD) long-haired heads of the enemy.'
43(CE) "Rejoice with him, O heavens;
bow down to him, all gods,[i]
for he(CF) avenges the blood of his children[j]
and takes vengeance on his adversaries.
He repays those who hate him[k]
and cleanses[l] his people’s land."[m]
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Stricken by man and God
http://www.clarrissegill.com/videoclips/amazing_grace.php
AMAZING GRACE - "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our sins; upon him was the punishment that brought us peace, and by his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, EVERY ONE, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:4 - 6
["And those who passed by him derided him and saying, "If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross. So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 'He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires of him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God!' And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.] Matthew 27:39-24
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Chosen People Ministries - The Meaning of Passover
The Meaning of Passover | |
Jesus the Messiah celebrated the Seder with His disciples. Join us as we take a quick tour through a traditional Passover seder and highlight those points that are especially meaningful to believers in Jesus.
Want to celebrate Passover with us? Click here to find a Messiah in the Passover presentation in your area!
The removal of leaven
Before the beginning of the Passover, all leaven, which is a symbol of sin (1 Cor. 5:6-8), must be removed from the Jewish home. The house is cleaned from top to bottom and anything containing leaven is removed. Then, the evening before the Passover, the father of the house takes the traditional cleaning implements: a feather, a wooden spoon, and a bag, and searches the house for any specks of leaven which might have been missed (my mother used to leave it on top of the refrigerator so my father shouldn't spend all night hunting!).Washing the hands
Once the leaven is removed, the family sits around the table and ceremonially washes their hands with a special laver and towel. Jesus also took part in this tradition, but rather than wash his hands, he got up from the table and washed the feet of his disciples, giving us an unparalleled lesson in humility (John 13:2-17).
Once the house and the participants are ceremonially clean, the Passover seder can begin. The woman of the house says a blessing and lights the Passover candles. It is appropriate that the woman brings light into the home, because it was through the woman that the light of the world, Messiah Jesus, came into the world (Gen. 3:15)
Haggadah
Haggadah means "the telling" - the telling of the story of Passover. The story is told in response to four questions asked by the children: why is this night different from all other nights? The father proceeds to tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt, reading from a book called "The Haggadah" and using symbols and object lessons in order to keep the attention of the little ones.
The first cup of wine
The seder begins with a blessing recited over the first of four cups of wine: "Blessed art thou, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who hast created the fruit of the vine." Jesus himself blessed the first cup in Luke 22:17-18.
The second cup of wine
The second cup is to remind us of the Ten Plagues and the suffering of the Egyptians when they hardened their heart to the Lord. In order not to rejoice over the suffering of our enemies (Prov. 24:17), we spill a drop of wine (which is a symbol of joy) as we recite each of the Ten Plagues, thus remembering that our joy is diminished at the suffering of others.
Afikomen
A very curious tradition now takes place. At the table is a bag with three compartments and three pieces of motza. The middle piece of motza is taken out, broken, and half is put back into the bag. The other half is wrapped in a linen napkin and hidden, to be taken out later, after the meal.
The rabbis have devised a series of object lessons to keep the attention of the little ones during the Passover seder. These items are tasted by each person, as each is instructed to feel as if they themselves had taken part in the flight from Egypt.
Karpas - greens
The first item taken is the karpas, or greens (usually parsley), which is a symbol of life. The parsley is dipped in salt water, a symbol of tears, and eaten, to remind us that life for our ancestors was immersed in tears.
Beitzah - egg
A roasted egg is on the seder plate to bring to mind the roasted daily temple sacrifice that no longer can be offered because the temple no longer stands. In the very midst of the Passover Seder, the Jewish people are reminded that they have no sacrifice to make them righteous before God.
Maror - bitter herb
This is usually ground horseradish, and enough is eaten (with Motza) to bring a tear to the eyes. We cannot appreciate the sweetness of redemption unless we first experience for ourselves the bitterness of slavery.
Charoset
Charoset is a sweet mixture of chopped apples, chopped nuts, honey, cinnamon, and a little Manischewitz grape wine (kosher for Passover) just for color! This sweet, pasty, brown mixture is symbolic of the mortar that our ancestors used to build bricks in the land of Egypt. Why do we remember an experience so bitter with something so sweet? The rabbis have a good insight: even the bitterest of labor can we sweet when our redemption draws nigh. This is especially true for believers in the Messiah. We can find sweetness even in the bitterest of experiences because we know our Lord's coming is near.
Shankbone of the Lamb
In every Jewish home, on every seder plate, is a bare shankbone of a lamb. In the book of Exodus, Jewish firstborns were spared from the Angel of Death by applying the blood of a spotless, innocent lamb applied to the doorpost of their homes as God brought the people from slavery into freedom. Today, we believe Jesus is that perfect Passover Lamb, and when we apply His blood to the doorposts of our heart, we too go from death into life, from slavery to sin into the freedom of being a redeemed child of God. As John the Baptist said when he saw Jesus coming towards him, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)
Ah, even through the wonders of modern technology, we still cannot bring you the most memorable part of the Passover... the meal, just like grandma used to make! Just picture it: steaming hot chicken soup with huge, fluffy motza balls; some motza; slices of pungent, home-made gefilte fish with just-ground make-you-cry horseradish; more motza; chopped liver (with lots of schmaltz and crunchy fried onions) on a bed of lettuce; more motza; enough delectable green salad to feed a colony of hungry rabbits; more motza; more crispy fried onions on the side; more motza... and that's just the appetizer!
Next comes the meal... can you smell it? Tender, sweet brisket with cabbage; more motza; home made flanken; stewed chicken, roasted chicken, broiled chicken, boiled chicken, sautéed chicken, baked chicken; more motza; a whole roasted turkey; more motza; fresh-cut green beans with onions; more motza; carrot and prune tzimmes; more motza; sweet potato and raisin tzimmes; more motza; home-made mashed potatoes swimming in butter; more motza... and we haven't even gotten through the appetizer!
Did you save room for dessert? Well, you will have to wait, because now it's time go on with the seder!
The Search for the Afikomen
After the meal is finished, the leader of the seder lets the children loose to hunt for the Afikomen, which was wrapped in a napkin and hidden before the meal. The house is in a ruckus as everyone rushes around to be the first to find the Afikomen and claim the prize as grandpa redeems it from the lucky locator. The going rate is $5.00! Once the leader has retrieved the Afikomen, he breaks it up into pieces and distributes a small piece to everyone seated around the table. Jewish people don't really understand this tradition, but traditions don't need to be understood - just followed! However, it is widely believed that these pieces of Afikomen bring a good, long life to those who eat them.
The tradition perhaps dates back to the time of Jesus. If this is the case, then Luke 22:19 takes on a greater meaning: "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'" For Jesus the Messiah would have taken the middle one of the three pieces of motza, the piece that stood for the priest or mediator between God and the people, broken it as His body would be broken, wrapped half in a linen napkin as he would be wrapped in linen for burial, hidden it as he would be buried, brought it back as he would be resurrected, and distributed it to everyone seated with him, as He would distribute His life to all who believe. As He did this, he was conscious that this middle piece of motza represented His own, spotless body given for the redemption of His people. As the motza is striped and pierced, His own body would be striped and pierced, and it is by those wounds that we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). This middle piece of motza, or the Afikomen, is our communion bread.
Third Cup
The third cup of wine is taken after the meal. It is the cup of redemption, which reminds us of the shed blood of the innocent Lamb which brought our redemption from Egypt. We see that Jesus took the third cup in Luke 22:20 and 1 Corinthians 11:25, "In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.'" This was not just any cup, it was the cup of redemption from slavery into freedom. This is our communion cup.
Fourth Cup
The fourth cup is the Cup of Hallel. Hallel in Hebrew means "praise," and we see in the beautiful High Priestly Prayer of John 17, that Jesus took time to praise and thank the Lord at the end of the Passover Seder, his last supper. The spotless Passover Lamb had praise on his lips as he went to his death.
A place setting remains empty for Elijah the prophet, the honored guest at every Passover table. The Jewish people expect Elijah to come at Passover and announce the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5). So a place is set, a cup is filled with wine, and hearts are expectant for Elijah to come and announce the Good News. At the end of the seder meal, a child is sent to the door to open it and see if Elijah is there. Every year, the child returns, disappointed, and the wine is poured out without being touched. My people wait and hope for Messiah - they do not realize that Messiah has already come. But those of us who believe in Yeshua know that He is the one the prophets spoke of. He is the spotless, unblemished Passover Lamb, whose body was broken for us, whose blood was shed, and who now lives to distribute His life to all of us who apply His blood to the doorpost of our hearts and have passed from death into His eternal life.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Jew and Gentile reconciled through Messiah
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Messiah
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Ephesians 2:11-22
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
- Comfort, comfort ye My people, Speak ye peace, thus saith our God; Comfort those who sit in darkness, Mourning ’neath their sorrow’s load; Speak ye to Jerusalem Of the peace that waits for them; Tell her that her sins I cover, And her warfare now is over. For the herald’s voice is crying In the desert far and near, Bidding all men to repentance, Since the kingdom now is here. O that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way! Let the valleys rise to meet Him, And the hills bow down to greet Him.
- Lyrics by Johannes Olearius (1611-1684)
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Bad News and The Good News
"Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!" Isaiah 30:10 - 11
Yes, that about sums up the response when the topic of Jesus is brought up. I often hear, "Do you always have to bring it back to that?"
I love to connect the Old Covenant with the fulfillment of scripture in the New Covenant. All of the Old was written to point to the coming Messiah. All of the New was written to show that Messiah came - in Jesus. A great footnote for Isaiah 30:10,11 in the New International version of the Bible reads, "Some people in Judah may have sought refuge in Egypt. In their desire to find security, they wanted to hear only good news. They did not welcome the truth from God's prophets. Often the truth makes us uncomfortable." And the uncomfortable truth was that God was not happy with Judah's (aka - Israel's) departure from faith in Him. He had chosen Israel to be the light to the world - bringing others to the way of salvation which was through the God of Israel. As God promised, He still pointed all people to salvation through Israel - but through the Messiah of Israel; Jesus of Nazareth - son of David and Son of God.
So here is some good news found in Isaiah 29:19 for those who don't like to be confronted otherwise, "Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." When is that time? Now. As it is written, "For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of ALL people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:30-32 That proclamation was spoken about Jesus by a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout in the Jewish faith. It is said that Simeon was waiting for the Messiah to come. And when he saw Jesus, he was moved by the Holy Spirit to exclaim, "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed." Simeon prophesied some bad news (the falling of many in Israel) and some good news (the rising of many in Israel). And he predicted that the life of Jesus would be like a sign that is spoken against - that sentiment is fulfilled all the time in today's day and age as even the mention of faith in Jesus alone rolls eyes or is labeled narrow minded and politically incorrect.
The thoughts of many hearts will be revealed by the life and testimony of Jesus. What are your thoughts on the subject of Jesus? What does your heart reveal as you read Jesus' words, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 Go ahead and check your bible - any version, and you will find those words. It was a bold statement, but one that is backed up in over 300 fulfilled scriptures. Google, "Jesus + Fulfilled + Prophecy" and see for yourself. But better yet, read the scriptures. Then you can answer the question if Jesus is either Lord, lunatic or liar.
For an extensive list of over 300 hundred Old Covenant fulfilled prophecies go to:
http://oneheartbeataway.blogspot.com/2007/04/324-messianic-prophecies.html
Yes, that about sums up the response when the topic of Jesus is brought up. I often hear, "Do you always have to bring it back to that?"
I love to connect the Old Covenant with the fulfillment of scripture in the New Covenant. All of the Old was written to point to the coming Messiah. All of the New was written to show that Messiah came - in Jesus. A great footnote for Isaiah 30:10,11 in the New International version of the Bible reads, "Some people in Judah may have sought refuge in Egypt. In their desire to find security, they wanted to hear only good news. They did not welcome the truth from God's prophets. Often the truth makes us uncomfortable." And the uncomfortable truth was that God was not happy with Judah's (aka - Israel's) departure from faith in Him. He had chosen Israel to be the light to the world - bringing others to the way of salvation which was through the God of Israel. As God promised, He still pointed all people to salvation through Israel - but through the Messiah of Israel; Jesus of Nazareth - son of David and Son of God.
So here is some good news found in Isaiah 29:19 for those who don't like to be confronted otherwise, "Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." When is that time? Now. As it is written, "For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of ALL people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:30-32 That proclamation was spoken about Jesus by a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout in the Jewish faith. It is said that Simeon was waiting for the Messiah to come. And when he saw Jesus, he was moved by the Holy Spirit to exclaim, "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed." Simeon prophesied some bad news (the falling of many in Israel) and some good news (the rising of many in Israel). And he predicted that the life of Jesus would be like a sign that is spoken against - that sentiment is fulfilled all the time in today's day and age as even the mention of faith in Jesus alone rolls eyes or is labeled narrow minded and politically incorrect.
The thoughts of many hearts will be revealed by the life and testimony of Jesus. What are your thoughts on the subject of Jesus? What does your heart reveal as you read Jesus' words, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 Go ahead and check your bible - any version, and you will find those words. It was a bold statement, but one that is backed up in over 300 fulfilled scriptures. Google, "Jesus + Fulfilled + Prophecy" and see for yourself. But better yet, read the scriptures. Then you can answer the question if Jesus is either Lord, lunatic or liar.
For an extensive list of over 300 hundred Old Covenant fulfilled prophecies go to:
http://oneheartbeataway.blogspot.com/2007/04/324-messianic-prophecies.html
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