THE PASSOVER Of JESUS MESSIAS
By Pastor G. Reckart & Disciple Herb Cunningham
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| JOH 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink
his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. |
In the year 325 A.D. the founders of the Catholic Church met in the City of Nicaea, Greece. That year they decreed that the Lord's Passover as celebrated by the Apostles and many eastern Churches was to be stopped forever by papacy decree. They changed the name of the Lord's Passover and named it Easter after "EOSTRE" the German goddess of spring. Those Churches who rejected this paganistic intrusion upon the sacred celebration and the disrespect towards the Lord's Passover, disobeyed that decree. Many lost their homes, property, and their Churches.
The Catholic Church then and today considers anyone who practices the Lord's Passover as done by the early ancient Church to be enemies of the authority of the Pope and the Catholic Church Councils and has persecuted many thousands unto death. These were called "heretics" to stir up Catholic hatred against them and a reason to kill man, woman, and child: although History vindicates them as practicing the ancient celebration of the Lord's Supper on the correct day that Jesus himself observed it and commanded it to be observed thereafter as he had done on the correct day and in the correct manner. Most Protestant Churches follow the Catholic creeds and decrees and have never reinstated the Lord's Passover on its correct annual day. The Apostolic Messianic Fellowship and other true Apostolic Churches refuse to follow papacy decrees and the teachings of Catholic and Protestant Churches on this subject.
We follow the New Testament and believe the doctrines and teachings of Jesus, the Apostles, and early Christians. This lesson on the Lord's Passover is an attempt to present the truth on the Christian Passover as Jesus Christ taught it and expected for us to continue observing. Commemorating the Lord's Passover is not a ritual of the Old Testament abolished Law. Those who know the truth of it and celebrate it have eternal life. Those who reject it, can not be saved. We must walk in the light as it is revealed to us.
Jude 1: 3 states we should "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints." Let us now examine the subject of the Lord's Passover Supper to see if we are in the true faith or were switched through decrees, threats, and possible loss of life to follow the Catholic or Protestant Churches in their traditions of men.
Pastor G. Reckart
Disciple Herb Cunningham
1993
ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH THE LORD'S PASSOVER
AFTER THE NEW BIRTH AND ADOPTION INTO CHRISTIAN JUDAISMJohn 6:53-56
53: Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, Verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54: Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55: For my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed.
56: He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, an I in him.
PASSOVER WAS COMMANDED AS AN ANNUAL MEMORIAL
EX 12:1-3
1: And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying.
2: This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
3: Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the 10th day of the month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a house.
EX 12:5-14
5: Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: Ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
6: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7: And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side post and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
8: And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
9: Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire, his head with his legs and with the purtenance thereof
10: And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
11: And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: It is the Lord's Passover.
12: For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt; both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgement: I am the Lord.
13: And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day [14th Nisan] shall be unto you for a memorial:
14: And ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations: Ye shall keep it a feast day by an ordinance for ever.
Num 9:2-5
2: Let the children of Israel also keep the Passover at his appointed season.
3: In the fourteenth day of this month at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
4: And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the Passover.
5: And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.
Num 9:13
13: But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the Passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people! Because he brought not the offering of the Lord in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.
Num 28:16
16: And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the Lord.
The Scriptures clearly sets for that there is a season, a month, a day, and a time when the Passover was to be observed. Passover could not be celebrated at whim at some other time of the year. Even thus, when we get to the Passover of the Jesus Messiah, it must be honored it its season, its month, its day, and at the appointed time. If God would make sure all of these vital ingredients were in unison for the event of Calvary, why should we think then that just any day will do to commemorate it?
THE SCRIPTURES
HAVE ESTABLISHED THE FACTS OF THE LORD'S PASSOVER1. Sacrifice of the lamb.
2. Apply the blood.
3. Unleavened bread.
4. Must be kept on the 14th day of Nisan at evening.
5. Passover is a memorial [annual event] to the Lord.
6. It is to be a feast that is kept forever.
7. It must be kept at the proper time [evening] the Lord commanded.
8. Those who will not keep it in the proper manner or proper season of the year shall be cut off and bear their sins.
JESUS OBSERVED THE OLD PASSOVER
Luke 2:41-42
41: Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.
42: And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
Matthew 26: 17-20
17: Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover?
18: And he said, Go into the city to such a man and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with my disciples.
19: And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them and they made ready the Passover.
20: Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
John 2:13, 23
13: And the Jews' Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
23: Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED AT THE TIME OF PASSOVER
Matthew 26:2
2: Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
Luke 22:15
15: And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer:
JESUS MESSIAH'S LAST PASSOVER
John 2:3-4
3: And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4: Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
Luke 22:1, 8, 14
1: Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
8: And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat.
14: And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
WHEN DID THE HOUR OF MESSIAH COME?
Num. 9:5
5: And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even.
Luke 22: 14-15
14: And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
15: And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer:
Matthew 26:19-25
19: And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover.
20: Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
21: And as they did eat, [the Passover] he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22: And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began everyone of them to say unto him, Lord is it I?
23: And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
24: The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
25: Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
JESUS OBSERVED THE OLD PASSOVER
HE GIVES INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CHRISTIAN JUDAISM PASSOVERMatthew 26:26-28
26: And as they were eating, [the Passover] Jesus took bread, [unleavened] and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat, this is my body.
27: And he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, Drink ye all of it;
28: For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Notice, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament way of observing Passover and instituted the New Christian Passover afterwards to replace it for Christian Judaism.
Luke 22:14-15
14: And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
To determine the hour see Num. 9:5--And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even.
15: And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
Luke 22:17-20
17: And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
18: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
19: And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20: Likewise also the cup after supper saying, This cup is the New testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
Notice Jesus was very careful concerning the hour of the Passover. He did not change the day or the hour, only the manner in which it must be taken.
John 6:47-58
47: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
48: I am that bread of life.
49: Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.[40 years]
50: this is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51: I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.[2,000 years]
52: The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53: Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54: Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55: For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56: He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57: As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58: This is the bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.
Matthew 5:17
17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
CHRIST IS OUR PASSOVER
Did Jesus intend for Christian Judaism to replace the Old Passover and to observed his Passover Memorial on that very day then afterward? We must examine the scriptures to see how the apostles carried out the command, "This Passover Memorial Do In Remembrance of me (BJV)."
I Cor 5:7-8
7: Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
8: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Paul tells us to keep the feast. To identify the feast, examine Luke 22:1, Mark 14:1, and Matthew 26:2.
Luke 22:1
1: Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
Mark 14:1
1: After two days was the feast of the Passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
Matthew 26:2
2: Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
What Is the Truth We Must Know In Order to Observe the Feast correctly and with proper honor?
1Cor. 5:7
7: Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
1Cor. 11:23-26
23: For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you,, That the Lord Jesus the same night [15th of Nisan] in which he was betrayed took bread:
24: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: This do in remembrance of me. [Remember in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 he said keep the feast.]
25: After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26: For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
In I Cor. 5:8 he has told us how often and when and how long to keep the New testament Passover.
1Cor. 5:8
8: Therefore let us keep the Feast. This feast was an annual event, not daily, weekly, at weddings, or on New Years eve.
WHY ARE WE TO KEEP THE FEAST OF THE LORD'S PASSOVER
1Cor. 11:24
24: This do in remembrance of me! Remember Jesus said this himself referring to his Passover Memorial.
The Feast exhibits the Lord's death until he comes [1 Corinthians 11:26].
Ex. 12:13-14, The Lord said!
13: And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
14: And this day shall be unto you for a memorial: and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations: ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Jesus abolished the old ordinance of keeping the Passover. The new ordinance of Passover with the New Testament custom of the Cup representing his blood and the unleavened bread being his body can not be prohibited. Jesus became the Passover Lamb of God. He did not change the time or day of the day of the annual memorial Feast, ...only the elements. We do not sacrifice lambs. We do not dip bitter herbs (lettuce) in vinegar. We do not drink four cups of wine. We do not celebrate it dreaming of natural Israel's still wanting to be saved without Messiah's Passover through ancient rituals and works. We do not partake in remembrance of Egyptian bondage or the firstborn spared from death. We do not hunt through the house to remove leaven. We do not sell all leaven we own as do the Jews to avoid responsibility of removal. But we do as Jesus and Paul taught. We are to keep the new feast in its proper appointed season and on the correct day. And as we keep the annual 14th and 15th of Nisan in the New Testament manner, we call to remembrance the Lord as our Passover lamb, sacrificed for us. Apostolic Messianic disciples will continue to observe the Lord's Passover until he comes as a memorial of his atonement for us.
I Cor. 11:27
27: Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
In I Cor. 5:8 he says we must keep the Feast with sincerity and truth. We must keep the Feast meeting both requirements to be worthy.
COME TO THE LORD'S TABLE WITH SINCERITY
1Cor. 11:28--But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
Num. 9:13--But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the Passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: Because he brought not the offering of the Lord in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.
1Cor. 5:7-Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us
1Cor. 5:8-Therefore let us keep the feast
We must keep the feast in its appointed season. Anyone taking the Passover Feast at the wrong time or with insincerity is taking the Passover unworthily.
1Cor 11:29-33
29: For he that eateth, and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30: For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
Remember the Lord said in Num. 9:13--If a person refuses to keep the Passover in its proper season, that individual continues to bear their sins.
1Cor. 11:31
31: For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. [Are you guilty of the sin of neglected Lord's Passovers?]
Paul said, "let us keep the feast" in the New testament manner of remembrance of the Passover of Christ.
John 6:53-56
53: Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54: Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55: For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56: He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Paul instructed all Christians to keep the Lord's Passover feast! Paul also said in Galatians 1:9; "As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received let him be accursed." The Lord's Passover feast was an essential part of the Gospel Paul preached.
CHURCH HISTORY
Some preachers, discriminating their hate against observing Passover will criticize our using Church history to authenticate Apostolic New Testament truth. But, if you ask them when the doctrine of the three gods being separate and co-equal was adopted from paganism, they immediately point to the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. They run right to the history books to prove their claims. But they deny us the right to prove one of "their traditions" is wrong by using history books. Let's examine all the Nicaea decrees, not just one! Those who are weaned from Rome know the Council of Nicaea was the full birth of Mystery Babylon bringing forth a new Chaldean daughter.
Church history can be traced through the Apostle John and the Book of Revelation.
To set the background for the Churches of Asia examine the following scriptures.
ANTICHRIST REJECT THE APOSTLES' DOCTRINE
1John 2:18-19
18: Little children, it is the last time, and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrist; whereby we know it is the last time.
19: They went out from us, BUT THEY WERE NOT OF US (Never say that the Catholic Church was once Apostolic or is the fallen Apostolic Church. That is a lie); for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
SOUND DOCTRINE REJECTED FOR PAPACY CREEDS
II Tim. 4:1-4
1: I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4: And shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables.
II Thess. 2:7
7: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
Jude 1:3
3: Beloved, When I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
By these scriptures we know antichrist with false doctrine shall attack the Church and turn truth into traditions of men, i.e. fables. Since the Lord's Passover was an original focus of the faith that also must be perverted and altered by men and their traditions.
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