Easter 2022, Part 2
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Sunday April 24, 2022
Sunday April 24, 2022
Yeshua - The Pesach Lamb
Yeshua - The Pesach Lamb
Yeshua-Jesus & the Passover.
This is an important issue for us to pay attention to, as Yeshua Meshiac, or Jesus the Christ, is the sacrificial lamb that is foretold in the Pesach, the Passover Supper. It should make all of the difference in the world, then, for us to note what the Holy Spirit captures to bring to our attention. Note,what is called out - and why it was captured and recorded for us.
I cannot think of anything more Ironic and perhaps more informative than the God-Man himself, Emmanuel - God with us, the Saving Messiah who is the lamb of God, performing the very last Pesach for his disciples, as part of the fulfillment of His requirements to meet the label of “the lamb of God who is worthy to receive the sins of the world”.
Now as we have reviewed before, the feast of the Passover is the first of the seven holy seasons of the Hebrew scriptures, the Torah.
It is the only holy season, all of which are feasts, which is initiated prior to the meeting with YHWH at Mt. Ararach when the law was given to Israel. Passover or Pesach came before the giving of the law. All of the other feasts & holy seasons were given with the law.
Pesach is the most frequently mentioned feast in Israel, mentioned 50 times in Hebrew Scriptures, 27 times in the New Testament.
As we have reviewed previously, there are 4 names for Pesach or the Feast of Passover.
Hag HaPesach, which means the feast of Passover, Exodus 34:25
25 “You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leaven, nor shall the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover be left until morning.
Next it is called Pesach, coming from the Plague of Death motif found in Exodus 12. Those who had the blood of the slain lamb sprinkled upon the lintel and doorposts of their home were passed over, but those homes that had no blood sprinkled suffered the death of the eldest born son. This passing over or passing through is our term Pesach.
Our third name is Hag He’aviv, meaning, feast of spring. It is the first feast of the spring cycle of holidays/feasts on the Hebrew Calendar. There are 4 feasts that occur in the spring, then there is a long wait, and then we have the 3 feasts of the fall.
The fourth Hebrew name for the festival is Aman Cheruteinu, which means the “time of emancipation. It is not a biblical reference but emerges from the Jewish prayers for the holiday. This name emphasized the result of the first Pesach: freedom from Egyptian slavery.
The Main Objective of the Pesach, is remembrance of what YHWH did for Israel; How He did it; Some will only see ceremony - some will see the picture of the Lamb of God who would take the sins of the world.
So today, I want to examine what is recorded of how the Messiah, Yeshua-Jesus observed this final Pesach of His, which He shared with His disciples, who would later become apostles.
The Messiah’s observance of Pesach is recorded in all 4 of the gospels. Matthew 26:1-5, 17-20, Mark 14:1-2, 12-26, Luke 22:1-2, 7-20, John 13:1-30.
Yshua was following all of the Jewish and biblical practices of observing Pesach. While not all of the 15 listed steps or the other elements and observances are recorded in the gospel, eight of them are recorded for us.
So these have been called out for us as items that are noteworthy - worth paying attention to.
Let’s examine these 8 elements together:
1 - The Preparation
1 - The Preparation
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples,
2 “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him.
5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
then later in Matthew 26:17-19
17 Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”
18 And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.” ’ ”
19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.
In Mark’s account we read:
1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death.
2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”
and Mark 14:12-16
12 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?”
13 And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him.
14 Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’
15 Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.”
16 So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.
and in Luke, Luke 22:1-2
1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.
2 And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.
and further in Luke, Luke 22:7-13
7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.
8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”
9 So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”
10 And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.
11 Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’
12 Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”
13 So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
This was the Pesach when Yeshua-Jesus was destined to die. He would fulfill the feast on this occasion.
Now note that the conspiracy by the Chief Priests against Him was determined that he was NOT to die during the feast. Satan did not want Yshua-Meshiac to die at Pesach. So the plan was to definitely not kill Him at Pesach.
2 “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him.
5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
and
1 After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death.
2 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.”
But Yeshua Jesus was going to make sure they would act on the very night that they did not want to act.
Yeshau-Jesus had made preparations. This was His time.
2 - The Kiddush
2 - The Kiddush
The Kiddush is the sanctification of the Pesach.
Luke 22:14-18 mentions this:
14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.
15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves;
18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
The blessing over the Pesach is recited, that is the “giving of thanks”, and then the first cup of the night is taken.
Note that He indicated how He desired to eat this Pesach with them - fervent desire. The word ἐπιθυμία (epithymia) means a longing, a yearning, a craving. He wanted this before He suffered. It was a special Pesach indeed for Yeshua-Jesus.
The phrase “fruit of the vine” in v. 18 is a technical term applied only to describing the Pesach Wine.
Not only was this Pesach special because it preceded His suffering, crucifixion, and judgement for the sins of all mankind. It was special also, because it was His last with them until rejoined at His second advent, in the Messianic Kingdom - when the Kingdom of God comes.
3 - The Urchatz
3 - The Urchatz
The 3rd Element of the Passover Feast that we see in the Gospels is the Urchatz.
This element which is mentioned here in the Gospels, and which correlates with Jewish Practice, is the washing of the hands.
We find this account in John 13:1-11
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,
4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.
5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”
11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
Normally the hands are washed by a servant. In this instance there are no servants, only disciples. And it seems frankly, that none were willing to demean themselves to lower than the others. Jesus broke with Jewish tradition as he first took the servants role in doing the washing. Second he washed the disciples feet. Now this was not required for the feast - hand washing was. But in polite society, including the Greeks, the Romans, the Hebrews, and the Egyptians, it was always good form to wash the feet at the door. Everyone knew what you were stepping in on the highway, like it or not. Also, it has been mentioned that this is the upper room of their host that they are using … so it tended to be cleaner, less used, perhaps made of wood flooring. Also, during the meal there were times when everyone would recline on the benches all towards the LEFT OR RIGHT, which would put them all in close proximity to the feet of their neighbor.
Christ makes a point about how far the love of the Shepherd must go.
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
How often the kids understand this better than the adults. And those who change diapers better than those who haven’t for a while. It is the essence of servanthood which should be manifest in the life of every Christian, every follower of Yeshua-Jesus.
4 - The Karpas
4 - The Karpas
This karpas is the point in the meal where the parsley or greens are dipped.
We find it in Matthew 26:20-25
20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.
21 Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”
23 He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.
24 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”
25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.”
and again in Mark 14:17-21
17 In the evening He came with the twelve.
18 Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.”
19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” And another said, “Is it I?”
20 He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish.
21 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.”
Yeshua-Jesus announced that His betrayer was in their midst. They wanted to know who it might be … He named no one.
But he gave a hint to those who were paying attention:
23 He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.
And apparently at that point as Yeshua-Jesus dipped his green vegetable into the salt water, Judas did the same. Judas knew that He knew, and apparently John who was closest saw it. Matthew heard it, as did Peter - who passed it on to His disciple John-Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark - but it is not clear that anyone realized what was happening at that point.
5 - The Yachatz
5 - The Yachatz
The next ceremonial point mentioned is the breaking of the middle of the three layers of matzah.
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
The middle loaf of Matzah bread is removed from the middle compartment of the cloth bag called the matzah tash, which has three compartments with a loaf of matzah bread in each. Once removed, the loaf is broken in half, the larger portion hidden for the end of the feast, and afikomen ceremony which reminds of the Paschal Lamb, and the smaller portion is placed back in the middle compartment.
The theme of the Seder is to remind what YHWH did in bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. Remembrance is to enable thinking. Remembrance for remembrance sake is quite meaningless. They are to remember how YHWH was invoking His covenant relationship with Israel to deliver them, as He told Abraham He would, after 430 years in an alien land.
Now, we are to remember Yeshua, the one who is the theme of Pesach, the one who would provide spiritual redemption, the final Paschal Lamb. He who delivers all mankind from an alien land.
The Yachatz preceded the reading of the Haggadah, the Pesach book detailing the storyline of the Exodus and several Psalms to be read.
6 - The Korech
6 - The Korech
Our next ceremony mentioned is the korech, the making of the sandwich with horseradish and an apple-nut mixture.
21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.
23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.
25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him.
29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.
30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.
Yeshua-Jesus uses this ceremony to again identify His betrayer for a second time. Our narrative actually moves from the end of a prior step of the ceremony, a step where our Pesach guests are all to leaning to their left, and while in this leaning position Christ discloses the betrayal and announces that someone will betray Him, and Peter asked John, who was leaning on Jeshuah-Jesus to ask who it might be. For the 2nd time He did not name a name, but gave the clue that we read in verse 26.
26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
Dipping the bread, or if you have a KJV bible, to dip the sop, was to take a small piece of the matzah and dip it into the horseradish mixture, which was intended to bring tears to the eyes - because bitter tears were shed by the Jews while in Egypt. The one who dips is the one who officiates. Yeshuah-Jesus would be dipping 13 times for himself and each of the 12. So again, Christ dipped and gave the bread to Judas Iscariot. Who immediately got up, and left the feast . Just as the horseradish is bitter, so was the betrayal of Judas.
For those who wonder if Judas could have been saved at any point - notice that immediately after the piece of bread, Satan entered him.
7 - The Third Cup
7 - The Third Cup
The seventh element mentioned in the Gospels is the third cup.
In Matthew,
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
In Mark,
22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.
25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
And finally in Luke,
20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
Luke here is the specific one who states that this was the cup after supper, the third cup. It was a symbol of the physical redemption that came as a result of the shedding of the blood of the lamb in Egypt.
The Symbol of redemption of Israel from Egypt was to represent the spiritual redemption through the Messiah.
Remember the key theme of the feast is remembrance. Remembrance is the key to understanding. YHWH set this occasion in place before the law, to show His covenant relationship to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. In every case, YHWH was the sole guarantor of the covenant. That means it depended 100% on YHWH, and not even a smidgeon on Israel.
8 - Hallel
8 - Hallel
The singing of hyms, or hallel, is mentioned.
30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
What was the Hymn that they sang? It was what was sung at every seder, after the meal, Psalms 115-118. Let’s examine the last Hymns sung by our Lord Yeshua-Jesus, before his betrayal, false trials, beating, scourging, and crucifixion where he stood in judgement for the sins of all mankind and suffered
1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth.
2 Why should the Gentiles say, “So where is their God?”
3 But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see;
6 They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell;
7 They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat.
8 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.
9 O Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless those who fear the Lord, Both small and great.
14 May the Lord give you increase more and more, You and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.
17 The dead do not praise the Lord, Nor any who go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the Lord From this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord!
1 I love the Lord, because He has heard My voice and my supplications.
2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.
3 The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!”
5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.
7 Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
8 For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling.
9 I will walk before the Lord In the land of the living.
10 I believed, therefore I spoke, “I am greatly afflicted.”
11 I said in my haste, “All men are liars.”
12 What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me?
13 I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord.
14 I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.
16 O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people,
19 In the courts of the Lord’s house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
1 Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!
2 For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!
1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
2 Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord now say, “His mercy endures forever.”
5 I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me, But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
11 They surrounded me, Yes, they surrounded me; But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
12 They surrounded me like bees; They were quenched like a fire of thorns; For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall, But the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord, Through which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.
29 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
This is the last hymn sung by our Lord prior to His passion.
There is much we have not addressed - and much that is worth studying, as it was the last Hymn that our Lord shared with His disciples.
Perhaps we can dig deeper on these psalms at some other juncture.
End of 1st Service - Easter
End of 1st Service - Easter
2nd Service - Easter
2nd Service - Easter
The Messianic Implications of Passover/Pesach
The Messianic Implications of Passover/Pesach
Isaiah 53, verses 1-9 is the most important and famous Messianic prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures. The driving point of the passage sis that the Messiah, our Yeshua-Meshiac, the Suffering Servant will be the final paschal sacrifice - the final sacrifice, which alone is for sin.
The promise is that someday the sacrificial system in general, and the paschal sacrifice specifically, would come to an end because the Messiah will become that final paschal sacrifice. The final sacrifice which all other passovers pictured, or pointed to, but did not fulfill.
Let’s review the text:
1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
6 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.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
9 And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Verse 1 - 2
Verse 1 - 2
In verse 1, the prophet refers to the arm of Jehovah, revealing that it is the Suffering Servant, not God, who, by His humiliation and suffering, will bring about salvation without money and without price.
1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
Verse 3
Verse 3
In verse 3, the Servant will be despise and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
But the Hebrew word used here for men means men of rank, leaders. The idea is man distinguished - which could be man distinguished from woman, man distinguished from God, or a man or men distinguished from other men - thus men of rank.
Sorrows would be better understood as pain or pains, and grief as diseases. This means that He will be a man acquainted with pain and knowledgeable about diseases. Not only will men NOT be drawn to Him, they will be repulsed at the sight of Him. men will Hide their faces from Him, despise the sight of Him, and give not esteem to Him.
Verse 4
Verse 4
The theme of vs. 4 begins with the summary: Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
Here we have the first mention of the substitutionary suffering of the Messiah, which would occur on our behalf.
He took upon Himself our giefs, and sorrows, or sicknesses and pains. The Hebrew for has borne is נָשָׂא (nā·śā), which in Leviticus means to offer sacrifice. The idea here is that Messiah will bear our suffering in the sense of offering up a sacrifice.
But at first glance, He will be look upon as stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. When He suffers, it will seem as though He deserves it, as if He suffered for His own sins, His own mistakes, as though He is receiving just punishment from God Himself. The same word, stricken is used in other passages for someone being afflicted with most loathsome diseases.
17 But the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
9 And watch: if it goes up the road to its own territory, to Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that struck us—it happened to us by chance.”
5 Then the Lord struck the king, so that he was a leper until the day of his death; so he dwelt in an isolated house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the royal house, judging the people of the land.
Notice that God did not strike Him or esteem Him stricken, but man saw it that way.
Verse 5 - 6
Verse 5 - 6
In verse 5 we encounter the substitutionary death of the Messiah being prophesied.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
Notice the exchange, in each iteration of the verse:
Wounded for our
Bruised for our
Chastisement for our
By His stripe we are
We have four different points that are being made in this single verse, in Isaiaih 53:5:
1 - He was wounded for our transgressions. The word wounded חָלַל (ḥā·lǎl) means to be pierced through. This would not be a superficial wound; it is not a flesh wound. It was to be a violent death.
2 - He was bruised for our iniquities. The word bruised דָּכָא (dā·ḵā) means to be crushed. He would be thoroughly crushed.
3 - The chastisement for our peace was upon Him. This means the punishment necessary to provide peace for us. The suffering of the servant is needed to bring spiritual peace for those who will believe. He took the chastisement for every man or woman from creation to eternity future who has need for reparations due to their sin burden before YHWH.
4 - With His stripes we are healed. This reference is to our spiritual healing, not to our physical healing. Only the spiritual realm is in view here. The Messiah provides Himself in substitute for our spiritual punishment and death, and in return gives us unqualified spiritual life and spiritual healing that we might have eternal life with YHWH.
vs 6, reiterates the substitution:
6 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.
Notice the “of us all” which again destroys the Limited Atonement concept of the Calvinist theologian and interpreter.
The messiah paid for the sins of us all says Isaiah. John the apostle repeats this in 1 John 2:2
2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Now the silent Suffering and Death of the Servant is the theme in Isaiah 53:7-9.
Verse 7
Verse 7
In verse 7 the silence of the Servant is emphasized:
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
He was oppressed, yet when He was afflicted, He opened NOT His mouth.
He was oppressed. He was afflicted. Yet, remained totally silent: just like a lamb that did not bleat when it was led to the slaughter. Just like Isaac did not once object or dissent when his father placed him on the alter in obedience to God. Isaac gave preview to us of what Yeshuah-Jesus would fulfill.
Verse 8
Verse 8
in verse 8, the trial and death of the Servant is foretold:
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
The NKJV does a good job of translating in this verse. If your version says oppression, strike it and write in prison. From prison and judgement He will be taken away.
The expression cut off is used frequently throughout the mosaic law to express or denote capital punishment. We reviewed the concept and some instances last week.
14 You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.
So, we are to understand that the Messiah is to die as a penal sacrifice. He would suffer the penal judgement of the law. Not that he would be guilty - the verse goes on to show that the penal sacrifice is for the transgressions of the people.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
Transgression always refers to the violation of a specific law. It is others who deserve the stroke, the punishment, but it will be the Suffering Servant who will be cut off for the violations.
The concept of substitution is again reiterated here. The Messiah, takes the penal judgement of the Mosaic Law upon Himself.
Verse 9
Verse 9
In verse 9, we are instructed about the burial of the Servant.
9 And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
The grave of the Messiah would be with the wicket, but He would be with a rich man in His death.
It appears contradictory. But the violator of the law, a criminal executed for a crime, was not allowed burial in the family plot, but were instead consigned to be buried with other criminals.
But the Suffering Servant was no criminal - he was consigned to be buried with other criminals, but at His death, He was buried in the tomb of a rich disciple. You have to wonder - did he realize that he was fulfilling prophecy for the Messiah by offering up his family tomb?
This Servant had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
The Fulfillment of Isaiah 53:1-9 in the New Testament
The Fulfillment of Isaiah 53:1-9 in the New Testament
Verse 1 - 2
Verse 1 - 2
That which Isaiah predicted was fulfilled by Yeshua-Jesus in the New Testament, clearly showing that the Messiah is the Suffering Servant and the Lamb of God.
37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him,
38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”
The pharisees led the nation to reject the Messiahship of Yeshua-Jesus.
22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.
42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.
43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.
45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
Now the Hebrew Name of Jesus was Yeshua, whereas the Greek is Jesus, to be true and yet limit confusion I have been calling Him Yeshua-Jesus, which is his name in Hebrew, and His name in Greek. But Jews have a distortion that they use to refer to Him, where they drop the last letter, and call Him Yeshu, which is an acronym that means - may his name be blotted out. They wished that then - and many wish that now. The Talmud refers to Yeshua-Jesus as ha-talui, the hanged one, and ben pandera, the son of pandora from the greek myth. Isaiah still holds true today in every respect.
Verse 4
Verse 4
Isaiah 53:4 is quoted in Matthew 8:17
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”
But as far as the Talmud is concerned Yeshua died because He was a transgressor.
Verse 3
Verse 3
Isa 53:3 predicts the Suffering Servant would be pierced through. John 19:34 says:
34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
Verse 5
Verse 5
We are told He would be crushed, which happened in His flogging:
26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.
Verse 6
Verse 6
Isa 53:6 is the background to what Peter says in 1 Peter 2:21-25
6 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.
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Verse 7
Verse 7
Isa 53:7 is quoted in Acts 8:32
32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
Buyt the fulfillment is mentioned in all 4 gospels
62 And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?”
63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
12 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.
13 Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?”
14 But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?”
61 But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.
4 Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!”
5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.
8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.
9 Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.
9 and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
Verse 8
Verse 8
Isa 53:8 is quoted in Acts 8:33, and is the first point of the gospel message as Paul defines it in 1 Cor 15:
33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”
Isa 53:8 references Yeshua-Jesus imprisonment
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
He was imprisoned by Pilate, and then flogged. After His scourging He was imprisoned and judged in a Judicial Trial. After which, having been found guilty, He was led away to be killed.
Verse 9
Verse 9
Finally, we have the fulfillment of Isa 53:9
9 And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
We see it in Matthew 27:57-60
57 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.
58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him.
59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
42 Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time.
45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
46 Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
50 Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man.
51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.
54 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.
and in John 19:38-42
38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.
A rich man, Joseph of Arimathea requested to remove the Body of Yeshua from the cross. The Romans granted permission for burial before the Sabbath began.
So God arranged for Him to be buried in a rich man’s tomb because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yeshua-Jesus had not outward sin, and no inward sin.
He died a penal substitutionary death.
End of 2nd Service - Easter
End of 2nd Service - Easter
Sunday April 24, 2022
Sunday April 24, 2022
Yeshua - The Pesach Lamb
Yeshua - The Pesach Lamb
Now last week - on Easter, we reviewed how Yeshua-Jesus took His disciples through the Passover-Pesach meal that we call the Last Supper. Part of the goal was to move beyond a seeming mystical last meal, to the actual context of the Passover meal that He was conducting.
In understanding anything - context is everything. Context is the guide through and to all truth. If you get the context wrong, then you misunderstand.
So we examined the very aspects of the Passover-Pesach ceremony that are cited in the Gospel, and why they were cited.
Then in our 2nd service we looked at the Prophecy of Isaiah 53:1-9, examined the prophecy to understand what the meaning was. Then we looked at the many passages in the New Testament that quoted from Isaiah 53:1-9.
Next I’d like to look at the final piece that ties it all together: How Yeshua-Jesus is specifically portrayed as the Pesach lamb in four New Testament passages.
First Portrayal as the Pesach Lamb.
First Portrayal as the Pesach Lamb.
We find our first portrayal in John 1:29, where John the Baptist introduces us to Yeshua-Jesus.
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
And here we see that Yeshua-Jesus is the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World.
In this reference, John has identified Yeshua-Jesus as both the Pesach lamb of Exodus 12, and the Lamb of God of Isaiah 53.
Though in our hindsight it would seem incredibly easy to see, yet it is John the Baptist who is the greatest of all prophets because he both recognizes in the prophecies who God is, and proclaims this understanding. The Lamb of God of Israel, the fulfillment of the need for substitutionary atonement for Israel is also called to provide substitutionary payment for all mankind.
Second Portrayal as the Pesach Lamb.
Second Portrayal as the Pesach Lamb.
Our second passage is also in John 1:35-36, where Yeshua-Jesus is again identified as the Lamb of God
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.
36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
This time, the disciples of John jump ship, as it were, and move from following the proclaimer who was to identify the Meshiac of Israel, to following the Meshiac Himself.
Third Portrayal as the Pesach Lamb.
Third Portrayal as the Pesach Lamb.
Our Third passage is 1 Peter 1:18-19 where Peter is portraying Yeshuah-Jesus in a specific way.
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
While Peter is invoking the image of Yeshua-Jesus as the Pesach lamb, the emphasis is on the lamb who is without blemish and without spot.
Fourth Portrayal as the Pesach Lamb.
Fourth Portrayal as the Pesach Lamb.
Our Fourth passage is found in Revelation 5:6
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Here we have the portrayal of the Lamb as though it had been slain. That is - the offering of the Lamb is to stand before God in the midst of the throne - as though slain.
Why is the offering of the Lamb to stand before God as though slain? Because the sacrifice wasn’t complete? Because the sacrifice was not sufficient? Because it was not accepted by God?
No - rather because the sacrifice was sufficient and complete and was accepted by God. Indeed the sacrifice of the Lamb was and is so profound that it must be on display in the throne room of God as the most important judicial event in all of history.
Other Passages
Other Passages
Other passages add that the Messiac-Christos is indeed our Pesach, our Passover.
For example in 1 Cor 5:6-7, we read:
6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
Now this is a double reference, in that we have a reference to the Passover, as well as a reference to Feast of Unleavened Bread. As we understand that Yeshua-Jesus is a fulfillment of each of the spring feasts in terms of His first advent - His first coming, we should recognize both.
Yeshua-Jesus is our Peschal-Passover Lamb: the substitute for our punishment due because of our personal sin. He was also the sinless humanity portrayed in the feast of unleavened bread. Yeshua-Jesus was perfect humanity, fitting to be our representative in the great court case of heaven, and He was so without sin. No sin was in Him. He is also the means, the cause of sin being swept from our house - our soul, our life. As we are joined with Yeshua-Jesus in His resurrection, so too we are joined with His sinless eternal life.
His life causes a constant sweeping of sin from our life. We are to constantly purge out the old leaven, that we may be a new lump. This has to do with our utilization of 1 John 1:9, the confession of our sins to God the Father, that we might move forward in forgiveness and cleansing from unrighteousness.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
It is intriguing to me, the descriptions that believers in Yeshua-Jesus are attracted to, and the ones that don’t seem to attract attention. I Corinthians 5: has a perfect description that I never hear anyone call themselves, or call each other for that matter. It is an amazing term of endearment - well, maybe it should be. You can be my focus group to see if it works.
It is meaningful. It has significance. It broadcasts truth that people can relate to.
You and I should be:
A New Lump
It speaks of freedom from sin. It is a biblical term. It inspires us to do something - to confess sin; to get in fellowship; to rebound? That is an athletic term, by the way, that means when you go down, you get back up.
Be A New Lump for God!
I can hear the Hymn now: How firm a foundation, ye Lumps of the Lord, is Laid up for ye, who have purged leaven afar!
Another one comes to mind: Let my Lump, shine in the nighttime. Let it shine all day through. Let it shine - shine for Jesus. Let it shine, shine on me and you.
Yeah - I think that Christians sometimes pick the terms that feel the most flattering.
Now the 1 Cor 5 passage is about not allowing immorality to be portrayed in the assembly as if it were a good thing. A heinous situation was celebrated by this fresh out of paganism congregation, that was operating in the midst of one of the most pagan cities in the Roman empire. So they treated the sinful relationship that was openly in their midst as if it were a point of praise to the congregation - but Paul has rebuked the entire assembly. They were not rebuked simply because someone sinned in their midst. They were rebuked because sin was celebrated instead of cleansed. This begs the reference to the feast of unleavened bread.
We are certainly called to a functional holiness once we are saved. This is an outworking of the word of God and the Spirit of God, changing us, transforming us - but all should know that the power of sin is broken. The hard part is not the breaking of the power of sin - indeed Christ has done this. That is actually were most Christians stumble - they operate under the illusion that sin has a hold on them, and must be broken or mastered.
It is not an experience, or a second blessing, or a new plateau which is needed to bring us deliverance from sin’s power - it is growth in understanding what Christ actually accomplished in His atoning sacrifice, judgement on our behalf, and in His resurrection and ascension and cession before God. Why? Because the work has already been done. Christ did the work.
Additionally, as we studied very recently, the ability to walk without sin is based on walking in the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Back to our review of the Lamb:
Set Aside the Peschal Lamb
Set Aside the Peschal Lamb
part of the biblical practice, was that the Lamb which was designated to be used as the Peschal Lamb, was to be set aside on the 10th day of the month of Nissan. It was then to be tested until the 14th day, to be sure it was without defect.
5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats.
Lev 1:3, 23:12
3 ‘If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord.
12 And you shall offer on that day, when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to the Lord.
Now Yeshua-Jesus, as the Pesach Lamb of God was Himself set aside on the 10th day of Nissan, as the day that the triumphal entry occured.
Many mistakenly understand this as the day of the final offer of Yeshua-Jesus as the Meshiac - but that is not the case. The true significance of the day, is that it was the day that the Pesach Lamb was set aside. This was the day that the Lord Yeshua-Jesus set Himself aside.
From the 10th of Nissan to the 14th of Nissan, Yeshua-Jesus was tested 4 times by the Pharisees, by the Sadducees, by the Scribes, and by the Herodians. He responded to their questions, their accusations and He silenced them all. They failed at discrediting Him in Public, before Romans or before Jews. He answered all of their questions - every objection. He proved that He was without sin.
Because Yeshua-Jesus was without sin … without spot, He could proceed to the cross to be the final Pesach sacrifice.
The Pesach Lamb Sacrifice
The Pesach Lamb Sacrifice
Yeshua-Jesus was the Pesach Lamb in every respect.
Described as the Death of the Lamb of God
The Final Pesach Lamb
Died as a Pesach Sacrifice
His blood shed during crucifixion - the blood of the Lamb of God.
Yeshua-Jesus died on the 1st day of Pesach, Nissan 14 (Friday)
The time of the Pesach Sacrifice
He was crucified at 9 0’clock in the morning
The Pesach Sacrifice in the temple was at 9 o’clock in the morn
The specificity of the Pesach Sacrifice
Not a bone of the Pesach in the temple was broken
Not a bone of Yeshua-Jesus was broken, per John 19:36
36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”
Instructions for the treatment of the Pesach Sacrifice:
Instructions for the treatment of the Pesach Sacrifice:
In Exodus the Israelites are instructed prior to the Exodus from Egypt, right prior to the outpouring of YHWH’s Judgement, prior to YHWH’s demonstration of the absolute impotence of the Egyptian Gods. YHWH alone saves … YHWH alone delivers from sin.
46 In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones.
Next we see, post Exodus and Delivery by the hand and power of YHWH, that the deliverance is to be marked, to be remembered, and to be re-enacted for all generations - until the Lamb of God Himself will come, who alone can be the true Pesach offering.
12 They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it.
In Psalm 34, we have an acrostic psalm written by King David that is a wisdom psalm and a psalm of praise, for the Lord’s protection of the righteous - of believers. John is quoting verse 20.
20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.
Now this is acknowledged by all as a messianic fulfillment. But it is not universally accepted that Psalm 34 is a Messianic psalm.
Some people try to reconcile this by referring to a “double fulfillment”. While this might seam reasonable to some - it opens a black hole in fulfillment that you can fly a C-5 Galaxy plane through. In other words, it isn’t an interpretive method that is taught or supportable when subscribing to the literal normal method of interpretation - what we call a “hermeneutic.”
So, it may seem that this quotation is problematic. But the Rabbis and the scholars had several ways to quote from the Old Testament - and one of these is to make a summary quote. This would be a reference to all of the scriptures about not letting the bones be broken. This is how verse 20 slides in with the other two verses. This quotation method is straightforward, common, and does not require us to violate principles of normal interpretation.
In essence we are taught that the Pesach Lamb is not to have its bones broken. Then we learn in Psalm 34, that YHWH will protect or guard the bones of the righteous one who functions within the Davidic Covenant with YHWH. We might say that this most acutely applies to the son of David, the pinnacle of the line of David, He whom the entire line was preserved to produce - the God-Man Elohim, God with us, Yeshua-Jesus.
So, we see that John is pointing out that Yeshua-Jesus fulfilled the role of the Pesach Lamb, and that He was preserved by God the Father, demonstrating that through the worst situation imaginable,
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.
Even as YHWH was faithful in His covenant role with David, So too would He remain faithful to the son of David, Yeshua-Jesus, and so too will He remain faithful to those who are baptised into Yeshua-Jesus, as all believers have been.
END PESACH LAMB
END PESACH LAMB
Errata and Sweep Up
Errata and Sweep Up
Now I want to review something that came up last week - in terms of our understanding of how the final week of Christ played out.
Now there are many interpretations of the final week - and I can’t for the life of me, determine why there is so much confusion - other than we have a strong historic Catholic teaching on the matter, and many people just plain ignore what the gospels tell us, or don’t understand that it is incredibly harmonious - it all fits together and reinforces a common understanding. Also, we aren’t used to thinking it through from a harmonized perspective, we are used to reading individual accounts - not necessarily all 4 together.
Also, there are some common misunderstandings that have been propagated. Even a number of popular bible study tools and aids propagate these misconceptions and misunderstandings.
First I want to examine a false distinction that many of the commentators make.
They want to make some believe that the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins the day after the Passover. This helps them set up their divergent timeline.
So let’s look at the evidence:
Feast of Unleavened Bread vs. Pesach
Feast of Unleavened Bread vs. Pesach
When did the Feast of Unlevened Bread begin, and when did Pesach-Passover begin?
17 Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”
18 And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.” ’ ”
19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.
20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.
21 Now as they were eating, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
22 And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, “Lord, is it I?”
Mtt 26 Observations:
Mtt 26 Observations:
Mtt 26:17 - on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus.
The festival has begun It is the first day of the festival The disciples are asking about the upcoming Passover, or Pesach Seder
Mtt 26:20 - when evening had come, He sat down with the twelve
Passover evening had begun, after sunset As the evening had passed, this was now the 2nd day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (days change at sunset)
OR … the Matthew 26:17 event happened after sunset, making the 1st day of unleavened bread AND the evening of Passover.
Mark presents it slightly differently:
12 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?”
13 And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him.
14 Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’
15 Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.”
16 So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.
17 In the evening He came with the twelve.
18 Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.”
Mark 14 Observations:
Mark 14 Observations:
Mark 14:12 - on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples asked him where He wanted the Passover Pesach Seder prepared.
This was the 1st day of unleavened Bread
Mark 14:17-18 - in the evening He came with the twelve, they sat and ate the Pesach.
It is either a new day, and the 2nd day of unleavened bread, OR the events all happened after the silver trumpets.
7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.
8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”
9 So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”
10 And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.
11 Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’
12 Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”
13 So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.
Luke 22 Observations:
Luke 22 Observations:
Luke 22:7 - the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed came.
The day of Unleavened Bread is also the Passover
Luke 22:14 - the hour had come, He sat down and the twelve with Him.
It is either "the hour" of the feast, OR, "the hour" that signified Passover - Pesach could begin.
(“when the hour [of the Passover] came”).
Kittel, Gerhard, In Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume, 1355. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.
The Day of His Death
The Day of His Death
Yeshua_ The Life of Messiah from a Messianic Jewish Perspective - Vol. 4 (1. The Day of His Death)
The first question pertains to the day on which Yeshua died. When did He die.
Some who do not understand the Jewish reckoning of time incorrectly conclude that the crucifixion occurred on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
The Gospels, however, clearly indicate that Yeshua was killed on a Friday and placed in the tomb before sundown. Let’s lay out some facts - I think all of your questions will be answered by the end.
The term Sabbath need not be interpreted other than normally, which is from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday.
Scripture emphasizes this, and John 19:31, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, and Matthew 27:62 clarify that Yeshua died around three o’clock on Friday afternoon.
He was then placed in the tomb before the Sabbath began, which, by Jewish reckoning, was when three stars appeared in the night sky.
In the Hebrew Bible, the only time the term Sabbath is used of a day other than the seventh day of the week is of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Otherwise, it is used of the sabbatical year
Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum informs us of the following:
Yeshua_ The Life of Messiah from a Messianic Jewish Perspective - Vol. 4 (1. The Day of His Death)
Besides the Gospels, ancient Jewish records such as the Talmud confirm that the day the Messiah died was a Friday during Passover: “On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged . . . A Florentine Ms. adds: and the eve of Sabbath.”[298] This Talmudic quote refers to Yeshua’s trial and execution, and the Florentine manuscript mentions twice that He was executed on the eve of the Sabbath, which is Friday. Furthermore, twice it mentions that it was at the Passover, which is why Yochanan stated that the Sabbath was a high Sabbath:
So, we read from John:
31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
Yeshua_ The Life of Messiah from a Messianic Jewish Perspective - Vol. 4 (1. The Day of His Death)
Finally, the Talmudic quote reveals the exact charge against Yeshua, claiming that He practiced sorcery, seduced Israel, and estranged them from their God. This reflects what occurred when Yeshua was officially rejected on the grounds of being demonized (Mt. 12). Interestingly, the rabbis of this period never denied that He performed real miracles. In this particular quote, they admit that He did. Still, the main import of this quote is that Yeshua died on a Friday before the Sabbath, and during the week of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Teaching that His death occurred on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday violates the clear statements of the Gospels and also other historical documents.
Here is a letter written to Christianity Today by Harold Hoehner, addressing the issue of the day of Christ’s death.
I read “The Day He Died” with interest . . . The new publication mentioned by Roger Rusk entitled New and Full Moons by Herman H. Goldstine is a welcome tool.
However, I disagree with Mr. Rusk’s conclusion that the crucifixion was on a Thursday for the following two basic reasons.
First, all the Gospels state that the day following crucifixion was the Sabbath . . .
Second, the Gospels indicate that the visit of the women to the tomb was on the day after the Sabbath—the first day of the week, namely, Sunday . . .
I feel that Rusk’s theory is unacceptable on three grounds.
First, he builds his theory on the basis of one verse that is troublesome to the Friday view, namely, Matthew 12:40 . . .
Let alone the Jewish custom to count parts of days as whole days, Rusk leaves out the other important Scriptures, namely
(1) I Corinthians 15:4, where He rose on the third and not the fourth day;
(2) John 2:19-22, where Jesus spoke of the temple being destroyed and raised up in three days, not on the fourth day;
(3) although the Pharisees stated that Jesus said that he (sic) would rise in three days . . . Pilate granted the Pharisees’ request by securing the sepulcher until the third day, not the fourth day.
Thus a Friday crucifixion fits better with the evidence.
Second, Rusk needs to give an unnatural meaning to the phrase “day of preparation” as being the preparation for the Passover, that is, the day before the Sabbath.
Other Scriptures would point to the day of preparation as being Friday (Matt. 27:62 . . .) as well as Josephus (Ant. xvi. 6. 2 [163]).
Third, to conclude, as Rusk does, that since Nisan 15 was considered a day of convocation and hence a Sabbath is to beg the question. There is no evidence that Nisan 15 was a Sabbath, which occurred on Friday in A.D. 30, and hence there were two Sabbaths back to back (Friday, Passover Sabbath and Saturday, the regular Sabbath) is substantiated by the plural use of Sabbath in the Greek in Matthew 28:1 is fallacious reasoning. The term Sabbath is frequently . . . in the plural form in the New Testament when only one day is in view (cf. Matt. 12:1-12 where both the singular and the plural forms are used—especially v. 8).
Yeshua_ The Life of Messiah from a Messianic Jewish Perspective - Vol. 4 2. The Three Days in the Tomb
the Babylonian Talmud states: “When the time is undefined part of a day is reckoned as a whole day.”[311]
Understanding the Jewish frame of reference helps reconcile Yeshua’s seemingly contradictory statements, and three conclusions can be drawn. First, the resurrection was to be on the third day,and although Yeshua was in the tomb in the early hours of the third day, later on that same day, He was resurrected. Therefore, He was resurrected on the third day. Friday was His first day in the tomb, Saturday the second, and Sunday the third.
Second, the resurrection was to be after three days, and since Yeshua was in the tomb part of Sunday, it counted for all of Sunday. Therefore, from a Jewish point of view, counting one full day and the two partial days as whole days, Yeshua was not only resurrected on the third day, He was also resurrected after three days.[312]
Third, the Jewish expression three days and three nights is also reconcilable, for it is a figure of speech referring to any period of time that touches three days and is used in the Hebrew Scriptures several times (Gen. 42:17-18; I Sam. 30:12-13; I Kgs. 20:29 [seven days]; II Chron. 10:5, 12; Esth. 4:16, in comparison with 5:1).
Yeshua_ The Life of Messiah from a Messianic Jewish Perspective - Vol. 4 2. The Three Days in the Tomb
All this is to say that the Gospels were written by Jews using the Jewish frame of reference to reckon time. In keeping with their frame of reference and terminology, Yeshua was buried on Friday before sundown and before the Sabbath began. He was resurrected sometime after the Sabbath, on Sunday, the first day of the week. From a Jewish perspective, the Sabbath had already ended and the first day of the week had already begun as of sundown Saturday.
Yeshua_ The Life of Messiah from a Messianic Jewish Perspective - Vol. 4 G. Map of Yeshua’s Final Week
(1) On the first day of this week, He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. This became known as His triumphal entry. In the days to follow, Yeshua made daily trips from Bethany to the Temple area, where He taught, allowing everyone to examine His teachings.[317] At night, He returned to Bethany.
(2) On the night of the Passover, He entered Jerusalem and made His way to the Upper City, which included modern-day Mount Zion (the biblical Mount Zion was the Temple Mount). It was there that He held His last Passover in the upper room with His family of disciples. The map shows an approximation of where that upper room may have been, but it could have been anywhere in the Mount Zion area.
(3) After the Passover meal, Yeshua went to the west side of the Mount of Olives at Gethsemane.
(4) There, He was arrested and forced to walk up to the Upper City, where the homes of the high priests were located. He under-went the trial before Annas and then Caiaphas, who condemned Him to death on the basis of a charge of blasphemy.
(5) From there, He was taken to the Antonia Fortress, where He underwent the first stage of His Roman trial before Pontius Pilate. However, Pilate, learning that He was from Galilee, sent Him to Herod Antipas, who was staying at the Hasmonean Palace. There, Yeshua underwent the second stage of the civil trial. Herod sent Him back to Pilate at the Antonia Fortress, where He was flogged and eventually condemned to death.
(6) Then, He began His slow walk along what is known today as the Via Dolorosa from the Antonia Fortress to just outside the second wall, to a place called Golgotha. Based upon Messianic Jewish history as well as archaeological evidence, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre marks the actual spot of Yeshua’s death and burial.
