Passover and Firstfruits
have always been feasts of major importance throughout biblical history
among the people of God.
When the LORD instituted
these feasts, they were regarded as God’s set (appointed) times. Pesach
(Passover) was instituted to remind Israel of deliverance from God’s judgement
upon the firstborn male of every household in Egypt that did not have the
blood of the Pesach lamb on the doorposts. Firstfruits was instituted for
the purpose of giving thanks to God for the harvest that was to be reaped
after Israel had entered the land of promise. These appointed times of
the LORD held within them a much greater purpose directly connected to
the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).
PASSOVER FULFILLED IN YESHUA
In the celebration of Passover,
the lamb was slaughtered on the 14 of Nisan immediately before sundown.
After sundown on the 15th of Nisan, the Passover meal is eaten. The 15th
of Nisan is the 1st day of unleavened bread. According to the prophetic
statement of Yeshua (Jesus) in Matthew 26:2, it was on the 1st day of unleavened
bread that he was crucified.
Based upon the phrase in
Genesis 1:5 “...and the evening and the morning were the first day”, the
Hebrew orientation for the beginning of a new day is at sundown or 6 pm
in the evening. The first 12 hour cycle starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am.
The second 12 hour cycle starts at 6 am and ends at 6 pm sundown. When
Yeshua (Jesus) was with his disciples celebrating Passover, it was in the
evening during the first 12 hour cycle of the 15th day of the month
Nisan. (Nisan being the first month of the Hebrew calendar.) Following
the evening celebration, Yeshua (Jesus) was betrayed and arrested within
the same 12 hour evening cycle. During the second 12 hour cycle, Yeshua
(Jesus) was executed by crucifixion.
On the 1st day of unleavened
bread, Yeshua (Jesus) became the true Pesach lamb that was slaughtered.
Not only was he slaughtered, but in every way he fulfilled the purpose
of the Pesach lamb. Let us look at certain features and requirements pertaining
to the Pesach lamb, and how Yeshua (Jesus) became the fulfillment of the
greater purpose of Passover.
Exodus chapter 12 furnishes
us with the information regarding the lamb. The lamb was without blemish
or defect. Yeshua (Jesus) fulfilled this requirement because he was without
sin (I Peter 2:22). The slaughtered lamb’s bones were not to be broken.
Yeshua (Jesus) fulfilled this in that none of his bones were broken. It
should be noted that the two criminals that were crucified next to Yeshua
(Jesus) had their legs broken. However, in the case of Yeshua (Jesus),
the soldiers did not brake his legs because they found him already dead
(John 19:31-36). The blood of lamb on the doorposts was the means of delivering
God’s people from the destroyer entering their homes. Yeshua (Jesus) brought
fulfillment to this by the shedding of his own blood. For the blood of
Yeshua (Jesus) covers the believer and provides deliverance from God’s
wrath upon sin.
