Few weeks ago, a man approached me outside the MRT station and asked me to do a “survey” on Christianity. Recognizing it as a common tactic of a certain Korean goddess-worshiping cult, I declined, but he was quite persistent and I decided to stop to talk Bible with him for a while.
We talked about a few things but he focused mainly on the Passover. He insisted that the Passover is not the Holy Communion, as “misunderstood” by Christians, and we must to celebrate it like how it was celebrated in the Old Testament– only once a year on a specific date.
I have no doubt he is wrong, but do not have time to start a debate. I wished him well and went home to read up on the subject.
The Passover meal, along with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is formally instituted as a feast in the Law as commanded by God in Exodus 12.
So this day (Passover) shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.
(Exodus 12:14)
These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; seven days you must eat unleavened bread.
(Leviticus 23: 4-5)
As we can see, the Passover
… serves as a memorial of God saving His people from Egypt.
… is to be observed permanently.
… is celebrated on a specific day.
But that was just a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who is the true Passover Lamb.
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.
(1 Corinthians 5:7)
… knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
(1 Peter 1:18-19)
At the Last Supper, which was a Passover meal, Jesus taught His disciples what it means to partake of His flesh and drink His blood… or what is now commonly known as the Holy Communion.
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.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
(Luke 22:19-20)
As we can see, the Holy Communion
… serves as a memorial of Jesus saving His believers from eternal damnation.
… is to be observed permanently, as the New Covenant is an everlasting covenant (Jeremiah 32:38/ Ezekiel 36:26).
Sounds familiar?
But instead of feasting on the flesh of a physical lamb and smearing real blood on doorposts, we now eat bread and wine that symbolize the flesh and blood of the true Passover Lamb.
(to be continued…)
In My Words... 