The PASSOVER – A MEMORIAL OF REDEMPTION: OUR BLESSED REDEMPTION IS DONE!

“For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in THE CROSS of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is CRUCIFIED unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a NEW CREATURE. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God” Galatians 6:13-16.

There is this very simple reason to CELEBRATE and COMMEMORATE the crucifixion and death, the burial and resurrection, and the ascension and enthronement, of our risen Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ – it’s for this truth, about our restoration to Dominion that was once lost in EDEN now found by the CROSS for our REDEMPTION.

“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 . . . 17 And ye shall OBSERVE the FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye OBSERVE this day in your generations by an ORDINANCE for ever . . .24 And ye shall OBSERVE this thing for an ORDINANCE to thee and to thy sons for ever. 25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the LAND which the Lord will GIVE you, according as he hath PROMISED, that ye shall KEEP this SERVICE. 26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, WHAT MEAN YE BY THIS SERVICE? 27 that ye shall say, It is the SACRIFICE of the Lord’s PASSOVER, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and DELIVERED our houses. And the people BOWED the head and WORSHIPPED . . .” Exodus 12:14-28.

The PASSOVER feast was instituted by God, but first celebrated or observed in Egypt. And it’s done by an act of faith and faithfulness toward God for the deliverance, emancipation and redemption of the Israelites from the horrors and bondages that was in the then Egypt [Hebrews 11:24-29; Exodus 12:1-36]; and to uniquely set apart as a MARKED out people and to ENACT and AUTHENTICATE His good and goodness toward His people, indicating of the deliverance from the bondage of slavery into their promised BLESSEDNESS.

PASSOVER was a divine contact and ORDINANCE for deliverance, victory, protection, peace, restoration and covenant to set His people free from Egypt, a place of bondage, suffering, death, torture, rigour and absolute hopelessness (Exodus 1:1-22). It was a foreshadow of what Christ has done for us now, as the PASSOVER Lamb sacrifice – crucified – for our REDEMPTION from the clutches and bondage of darkness into His marvellous light (Colossians 1:13-14; Galatians 1:3-5).

That’s the essence of the communion services that’s been held as often as allowable to be made happen. Jesus recall and instituted it again with the disciples. Ensuring that it becomes a MEMORIAL – Memorable. Hence the PASSOVER is the MEMORIAL of our REDEMPTION. Amen.

Genuine Bible love can be known. The outworking of genuine Bible love that is known is as enjoined in this Scripture:

“By this we KNOW love, because He LAID down His life for us. And we also ought to LAY down our lives for the brethren” 1 John 3:16.

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 GREATER love hath no man than this, that a man LAY DOWN his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” John 15:12-14.

PASSOVER is expressing the genuine Bible LOVE – Laying your life down for the good of others as Jesus did.

SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:

“Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 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: 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” 1 Corinthians 5:6-8.

“Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the PASSOVER must be killed. 8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the PASSOVER with my disciples? 12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 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: 16 for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 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” Luke 22:7-20.

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 THROUGH FAITH HE KEPT THE PASSOVER, AND THE SPRINKLING OF BLOOD, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned” Exodus 11:24-29.

Further Scriptural Reading Text: Exodus 12:14-28.; Acts 12:1-4; 1 Corinthians 10:16-18; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; 1 Peter 1:18-21.

REV. CHUKIE MORSI