March / April 2024 Volume 106, Number 2

Reflections on Passover and Memorial

In the Beginning – Reflections on Passover and Memorial

While much of Christianity celebrates Good Friday and Easter as the time of the crucifixion and subsequent resur­rection of Jesus, students of the Bible are aware that the Jewish feast of Passover was the histori­cal time of his death and resurrection. This issue considers the scriptural evidence of these most important events…read more

Lessons from the Jewish Feasts – Leviticus 23

The twenty-third chapter in Leviticus sets out for the Israelites, through Mo­ses, the holy days, the times, and the seasons as they were appointed by God. Each of these holy days had a special meaning to the Jewish Nation and provides lessons for Chris­tians today. …read more.

From Exodus Until Memorial – The Lamb of God

The first Passover Lamb delivered Is­rael’s firstborn from death who were under the protection of its blood, and eventually all of Israel. Subsequent Passovers have been annual memorials of that first Pass­over, to remember the deliverance of all Israel (as well as a mixed multitude). …read more.

Hasty Meal and Quick Exit – The Last Night

A fundamental question about the Pass­over revolves around five scriptures and three resulting assumptions: “Ye shall keep [the Passover lamb] until the four­teenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it between the two evenings … And they shall eat the flesh in that night” (Exodus 12:6-8). …read more.

Israel’s Passover Celebrations – Six Occasions

The Old Testament describes six spe­cific accounts of the Passover and its future celebrations in detail, while oth­ers are only briefly referenced…The penalty for missing the Passover was severe — “that person shall be cut off from his people, because he did not offer the Lord’s offering at its appointed time” (verse 13). Some suggest that “cut off from his people” meant exile. …read more.

News and Views – Current Events

Nisan 10 – Selecting the Lamb

Jesus, as all Christians know, was the “lamb of God” (John 1:29, 36). He was foreknown of God to be the redeemer of mankind, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). Jesus would die thousands of years after Adam. Sometimes in the scriptures a “day” represents a thousand years (Psalms 90:4). Perhaps the fact that Je­sus was selected by God to be the redeemer of mankind long before he would come to earth, is reflected in selecting the Passover on Nisan 10, some days before it was to be offered. …read more.

The Resurrection of Jesus – An Open Tomb

Before it began to dawn toward the first day of the week: “Behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. (3) And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. (4) The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men” (Matthew 28:2-4). …read more.

Advantages in Christ – Worthy is the Lamb

Observing the Memorial is one of the few ceremonies that our Lord has asked us to keep. However, we do so not only out of obedience, but also because we realize the privilege of honoring someone so great that even the angels shouted the words of the above text. Because of his loving self-sacrifice, we are privileged to formally honor him each year in the symbolism of the Memo­rial service. …read more.