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![]() Passover and Easter are very important events for Jews and Christians alike. There is much in common...more than is often realized. Jews have a greeting "chag Pesach kasher vesame’ach" that simply means: This presentation is timeless. We present a wide range of topics for your consideration that look at that look at possible reasons for the Coroinavirus pandemic and at how Christians can cope. We hope it provides good information and proves to be a blessing. Core Scripture: Exodus 12:1-24
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The Old New
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The Prayer of Faith
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The Plagues
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Passover A Jewish Passover or Pesach typically takes on standard formats, but is essentially a feast that is called a Seder. The order of service is as follows: Kaddesh: Urechatz: Karpas: Yachatz: Maggid: Rachtzah: Motzi Matzah: Maror: Shulchan Orech: Barech: Hallel: Nirtzah: There is a custom that can differ between families and the term used is the afikomen. The numerical analysis of these holes and stripes equate exactly to the stripes and holes made on Jesus, “By His stripes we are healed”. These things cannot be mere coincidence! Boiled eggs (Beitzah ) are often consumed. It symbolizes the festival sacrifice that was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem and then eaten as part of the meal on Seder night. As you know, an egg could speak of a new life that is hidden inside but the outer shell must be broken to reveal it. The lamb bone is not broken. Interestingly, not one of Jesus’ bones was broken |
Inspecting the lamb ![]() | ![]() Matzos A typical Passover meal (right) | ![]() |
Conclusion I know that this message is long, but I wanted to cover a lot of territory to lead to this. We celebrate Easter, looking back to Calvary to remember what Jesus did for us. It included receiving that cruel scourging to provide healing for us. That is all over and we now look forward to the time He will return, that I believe is not far off now. Jews remember the events preceding the Exodus that included protection from death on that first Passover. They also look forward to something new when they say at the conclusion of the Passover meal, L’Shana Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim (next year, Jerusalem). After they crossed over into their new life, the first promise that God made was in Exodus 15:26, stating that He is רָפָא (rāpāʾ). It appears more than 60 times in the Old Testament, so it indicates that God is serious about this. It embraces emotional, spiritual and physical healing. There are derivatives of this word, namely רְפֻאָה (rĕpūʾâ) remedy,רִפְאוּת (ripʾût) healing and מַרְפֵּא (marpēʾ) healing and health. God does not have the answer to this pandemic—He is the answer. Whether it is God who causes disease or not, there are some that cannot be healed without divine intervention. No natural remedy could be found anywhere in Egypt, but God’s remedy was simple. It was not a pill or a vaccine. His medication was blood. This is why I have said that we should pause and think carefully before praying and ask simple questions as to the real reason for this pandemic. When we know how and what to pray about, then we can confidently “claim those healing promises”. A pastor in India contacted me asking about our welfare and I thank him for this. He said and I quote: “I strongly believe that God has given us an opportunity to seek His face and to re-dedicate our lives afresh.” There is an increasing number of people starting to ask such questions and it is up to us, or perhans some of us to provide answers. I called my ministry Bashan Ministries at the Lord’s bidding, left the denomination to which I once belonged and was studying for my doctorate totally cut off and isolated from the church life I loved. It was a difficult time in some ways and was a very lonely time, but in that 5 year solitude The Lord got me to look at myself, at the church, at ministry as such and at the way things were going—but this time without looking through “church eyes” and the programming we are all subjected to. One evening He came into the room and asked me to study the life and ministry of John the Baptist and from that encounter, I adopted the ministry motto of “Preparing the way”. He told me that I was like a modern day John the Baptist and I have to say this carefully to avoid misunderstanding. I am not alone in this. There are others... If... we are living in the last of the last days as I believe we are, then the Lord’s return is imminent. If so, then it is likely that a forerunner ministry will emerge as John did to tell God’s people—not the heathen—God’s people to get ready for it. Perhaps we are coming into a time when a shaking is occurring; a sorting out of the real from the pretend; separation of sheep from sheep, then sheep from goats and a gathering of the wheat and chaff together for the sifting spoken of in scripture. Time will tell. My friends, in these troubled times, my recommendation is to do what he said, to apply that passover blood—and stay under it. understanding and for the course of action He tells you to adopt. Apply it. Pray for your leaders, because they need help and because we are commanded in scripture to do so, regardless of politics. Do all that you can in the natural, including eating right and applying good hygiene and as you do what that pastor said, to remember our Passover. That’s why this night is so special. Tomorrow... is another day. In closing—L’Shana Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim (next year, Jerusalem). Robert |
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