The Parable of the Four Sons of Passover/Pesach

This year, 22nd -30th April 2024 is the week of Passover/Pesach and Unleavened Bread/Chag Ha Mazot

This is the beginning of the Hebrew spiritual new year of 5784 which is the calendar set in by our Heavenly Father as given through Moses to the children of Israel. Ex. 6 and Lev. 23.

If you are new to the site there are several earlier posts giving details of the spring Appointed Times of the Lord. In Hebrew called The Moedim.

 

One of the highlights is the Pesach/Passover Seder. This is more than just delicious foods like matzah ball soup, fish and brisket. The main purpose is to retell the story of the Israelites redemption from the slavery of Egypt, this is done through the reading of the Haggadah; Hebrew for The Telling. This booklet gets its name from Exodus 13:8 where the Israelites are exhorted to “tell” their children about God and His works.

Part of the seder included in the Haggadah is asking what is termed:

The Four Questions – Mah Nishtanah  מה  נשתנה .

Mah nishtanah halaylah hazeh mikol halaylot.

(Pronounced: Mah Nishtanah Ha-lailah ha-zeh mee-kol ha-leilot.)

Mah Nishtanah – are the first two words in a phrase meaning:

‘Why is tonight different from all other nights?’ 

It is usually asked by the youngest guest at the gathering. This question may have been asked by John at the meal shared with Jesus/Yeshua and the other disciples. Then the seder leader replies by asking what differences they notice, there are variations on the questions; however, the youngest person then replies that there are four ways in which they notice a difference about this night of Pesach/Passover:

First Difference:

 She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim chametz o matzah, halaylah hazeh kulo matzah?

On all other nights we eat bread or matzah, while on this night we eat only matzah.

This is because they left Egypt in haste and their dough/bread did not have time to rise, and as they carried it on their backs it became flat and baked hard in the sun.

Second Difference:

 She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim she’ar yerakot, halaylah hazeh maror?

On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables and herbs, but on this night we have to eat bitter herbs.

This is as a means of recalling the bitterness of bondage and slavery in Egypt.

Third Difference:

She-bechol halaylot ain anu matbilin afilu pa’am echat, halaylah hazeh shtei pe’amim?

On all other nights we don’t dip our vegetables in salt water, but on this night we dip them twice.

The first dipping is into the dish with salt water to remind them of the bitter sadness and salty tears that were shed during their years in bondage to the Egyptians.

The second dipping is in the cheroset, the mixture of sweet fruit and nuts. This reminds them to rejoice in that the sweetness of their freedom came from their miraculous deliverance from slavery by Gods’ intervention.

Fourth Difference:

 She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim bain yoshvin u-vain mesubin, halaylah hazeh kulanu mesubin?

On all other nights we eat while sitting upright, but on this night we eat reclining.

The fourth “question” refers to the ancient custom of eating while reclining on one elbow. It symbolizes the concept of freedom and refers to the idea that Jews would be able to have a celebratory meal while relaxing together and enjoying each others’ company. This question became part of The Four Questions after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. Originally the fourth question, mentioned in the Talmud (Mishnah Pesachim 10:4) was: “On all other nights we eat meat which has been roasted, stewed, or boiled, but on this night we eat only roasted meat.”

This original fourth question referred to the practice of sacrificing the Paschal/Passover lamb at the Temple, a practice that ceased after the Temple’s destruction. Once the sacrificial system was abandoned, the rabbis replaced the fourth question with one about reclining during the Passover seder. They also added the roasted egg as a reminder of the roasted meat they could no longer enjoy as there was no longer a Temple in Jerusalem.


Another interesting part of the traditional readings included in the Haggadah includes the parable of the four sons and/or daughters, who have differing responses to the same story.

The questions are included in the Haggadah as part of the Maggid- מַגִּיד (Hebrew for narrate,) – which is designed to satisfy the needs of four different types of people and their relationship to the Word of God/Torah.

(A maggid, also spelled as magid, is a traditional Jewish religious itinerant preacher, skilled as a narrator of Torah and religious stories; a title most commonly held by preachers who flourished in Poland and Russia during the 17th and 18th centuries.)

The Four sons/daughters are typified from scripture as:

The Wise son,

“When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and statutes and judgments (precepts) which the LORD our God has commanded you?”

Deut. 6:20

The Wicked/Rebellious son,

who says:

 ‘What do you mean by this service?’ Exod. 12:26.

 

The Simple son /The stupid son,

“saying

‘What is this?’

and

The One Who Doesn’t Know How to Ask.

A little more on each of the 4:

The wise child,

in Hebrew chakham,

is the one who wants to know the technical details; he/she inquires about why the Israelites/Jews practice the customs of Passover/Pesach. The seder leader describes this child as wise because he/she wants to know more about the traditions of their people. The seder is for him/her, a time of education and of historical importance, helping him/her to understand who he/she is and his/her heritage. Deut. 6:20.

The wise son, or daughter, reflects a verse in Deuteronomy, not Exodus. What does this child ask?

What are the testimonies, statutes, and ordinances that Hashem our God has commanded you?” (Deut 6:20).

In response, says the Haggadah, the father is to instruct the child regarding the laws of Pesach/Passover, down to the final detail which is that: “After the Passover offering, no dessert is to be eaten.”  

The wicked child, in Hebrew rasha, is the child who excludes themselves and learns the penalty for doing so. This child is rebellious and wants no part of the Peasch/Passover traditions; and asks why the Jewish people other than him/her practice the customs of Pesach/Passover. The seder leader responds by describing this child as wicked, since he/she thinks Passover/Pesach customs are meant to be observed by other Israelites but not him/her. He/she is rebellious and is uninterested in the family history and is disrespecting the parents, wanting the blessings, but not wanting to keep the commandments of Torah, this child is a hypocrite. The harsh response is an attempt to bring the child to repentance.

 The wicked son speaks up in Exodus 12:26, asking:

“What is this service to you?”

When he says to you, the father is to answer,

“It is for this that Hashem acted for me when I came out of Egypt” Exod 13:8.

The Haggadah comments: “For me, but not for him. Had he been there he would not have been redeemed.” Perhaps the rebuke will bring this son to repentance.  

The simple child, in Hebrew tam,

is one who needs to know just the basics; they are somewhat bewildered by the Pesach/Passover seder, its meaning, and its format and observances. The seder leader responds by explaining to him/her about Gods’ favor toward the Israelites during their time of slavery in Egypt and why it is very important to remember Gods’ salvation with humility and gratitude.

The simple son says only, “What is this?” and the answer is simple too: “By strength of hand did Hashem bring us out from Egypt, the house of bondage.  Exodus 13:14. And for the son who doesn’t know how to ask, the father initiates his instruction, as it is written, “And you shall relate to your son that day, saying ‘It is because of this that Hashem acted for me when I came out of Egypt’” Ex. 13:8. 

Then the fourth son/daughter

who is the child who is unable to ask, the one who doesn’t even know enough to know what he/she needs to know or ask. In Hebrew Avudraham. This child, the – she’eilo yodea lishol, is simply told about the Passover/Pesach story in accordance with the biblical command given in Exodus 1:8 and thou shalt tell thy son….forth out of Egypt. Exod 13:8.

The story of the 4 sons/daughters is intended to commend the wise child and to encourage us to remember the Hebrew/Israelite/Jewish beginnings, the genesis of our faith. We are to study Torah and all the old Testament and respect the Hebrew/Jewish/Israelite way of life; for if we neglect this, we have failed in our responsibility to our heritage.

The children are listed in order of their intellectual capacities:

The wise child, understands the importance of their heritage and sees it as a means of preserving the knowledge of the Lord God of Israel for posterity and future generations.

the wicked child, who is also wise but whose insolence leads them to be rebellious and act wickedly;

the simple child, who has at least enough intelligence to ask; and finally

the one who does not know how to ask (Avudraham).

The Four Children: Wise, Rebellious, Simple, and Quiet

Modern day educators understand that children are individuals and learn differently from each other. In order to teach effectively, a teacher must figure out what the student wants to learn, how they learn best, where they are at emotionally, and adjust their instruction accordingly.

The educators (rabbis) in the Mishnaic period, who lived about 2,000 years ago, also understood this. Here’s what they had to say about teaching children at the seder:

The wise child asks a very detailed question. This child seems to want to know everything there is to know about the Passover seder.

The Haggadah advises the parent to answer the wise child with lots of details about Passover. In answer to “the wise son’s question,” the father explains why we keep God’s commandments. Deut. 6:20–25. 

Why are so many and varied  mitzvot  related to the Exodus? What is so significant about this historic incident that warrants its pervading every facet of daily life?

“You may not eat after partaking of the Paschal sacrifice.” Why?

Because it is the symbol of spiritual liberation.

The offering of the paschal lamb represents our rejection of paganism with all its inherent materialism and self-indulgence. Therefore, the taste of spiritual liberty must be allowed to linger, and we are to savor it as long as it can last. There are many pleasantries that initiate desires and tempt us, and we must be aware that pleasant-tasting foods might cover up the taste of our precious spiritual freedom, and therefore must be avoided. Physical pleasures may be so seductive that we are always at risk of sacrificing our spirituality for them. We so need to be constantly reminded of the teachings of the Exodus. 

The authors of the Haggadah describe the rebellious child as someone who feels excluded or who excluded themselves. Some commentators note, though, that although this child feels like an outsider they are still sitting at the table. In answer to “the wicked son’s question,” the father explains why we offer the paschal sacrifice. Exod. 12:26–27. The rebellious person, however, does not ask in order to know; their mind is closed because they have already made their decisions. They prefer earthly pleasures to spiritual strivings, and their attitude is, Who needs all this ritual anyway? This can hardly be considered a question, but is rather a statement of defiance, disrespect and rebellion.

There is little value in trying to reason with a person like this, because they do not want to listen. So to this person the leader of a modern day Haggadah might say, “There were the likes of you in Egypt, who refused to follow Moses into the desert. There were also those who did leave with Moses but relapsed into paganism with the worship of the Golden Calf. And there were those who complained about the manna, saying, ‘We wish we were back in Egypt, when we had fish, onions, garlic, and melons’. Numbers 11:5. There were those who said, ‘Let us appoint a new leader and return to Egypt’  14:4.Had you been there, you might have grudgingly exited from Egypt along with everyone else, but you would have willingly traded the hard-won, precious liberty for physical indulgences. You are far more interested in feeding your stomach rather than nurturing your mind. Yes, you might have left Egypt, but you would not have been redeemed. You would have maintained a slave mentality well into the life of freedom.”

We should seek to liken ourselves to the wise person, who constantly seeks to gain knowledge, so that we may always progress in our walk, growing spiritually.

The simple child asks a simple question and receives a basic answer. Sometimes we are so excited about a topic that we give our children more information than they are ready for, or are interested in. The authors of the Haggadah are reminding us not to overwhelm our children with more information than they are ready for. In answer to “the simple/stupid child’s question,” the father explains why firstborn animals are offered to God. Exod. 13:14–15.

In contrast to the wise child — who understands the value of spiritual freedom and therefore their only question is “in what way is the Exodus related to so many varied  mitzvot?” — the simple child is overwhelmed by all the ritual of Passover. They do not reject it like the depraved/rebellious child, but in their bewilderment sincerely ask, “What is all this for?” and they deserve an answer.

The answer provided, that “God delivered us from the Egyptian bondage with a mighty hand,” refers not only to the coercion of Pharaoh, but to the fact that even many of the Israelites had to be coerced to leave Egypt. Scripture tells us that Moses had to convince the slaves that liberty was preferable to enslavement, and not all Israelites accepted his message. The Leader of the Haggadah would therefore explain to the simple child that even today there are many people who may adapt themselves to contentment, and whose primary goal in life is to be comfortable.

These people may reject the message of being set free from the bondage of the things that drive us physically; and that striving for spirituality, even though it may interfere with one’s comfort, is the primary goal that makes man worthy of being created in the Divine image. The simple child, because they are sufficiently aware to ask, may accept an answer and be willing to find out more about the spiritual life.

The quiet child doesn’t speak up or ask a question. Perhaps the child is too young to ask, is shy, or doesn’t have enough background knowledge to ask a question. Finally, the father explains to “the son who does not ask,” why we eat only matzot during the festival. Exod. 13:8. As for this child who is unable to ask, you must introduce the subject for them.

Perhaps the Haggadah deliberately provides caricatures of four types of children to teach us something about the care we must take when we answer questions. Each person at the seder is coming from a different place. This one is older and more experienced. That one has never been to seder before. That other one was sick and did not expect to make it to seder, but is there. That one never learned to read Hebrew, but knows French.

By telling us the story of the four children, each with a distinct question and each with a distinct answer, the Haggadah is telling us to accept each person where they are and to begin from there. The questions that are asked must be addressed, and the questions that are not asked must also be addressed.

Simple explanations encourage simple thinking; even simple questions often have complex answers, and ignorance is not the same as stupidity. And, always beginning the discussion for a child will prevent the child from learning how to ask. Too often, our categorizations of children become self-fulfilling prophesies, because of the power of our responses to influence future behavior.

There is a profound message here for our times. We are all confronted with people who scoff at the Torah, indeed the whole Bible. We often have to decide if and how to respond. The book of Proverbs teaches us that our primary responsibility is to improve the critic by our response. The central failure in the wicked child is their close-mindedness. The heart of rebellion is the utter foolishness to think that their understanding is perfect. Thus they are the complete opposite of the wise son who is wide open to the instruction of others.

Here as the Appointed week of Unleavened bread is still in progress, we should ask ourselves.

What sort of son/daughter are we?

What is wisdom and why is it important? 

Each one of us contains aspects of each child; each one of us is sometimes wise and sometimes wicked, sometimes simple and sometimes silent. We are the four children. As such we ask questions and we provide answers, different answers for different needs.

Passover symbols point to a surprising and intriguing indication of God’s supernatural hand in developing Pesach/Passover observance through the ages.

The story of Passover/Pesach is a story of redemption; it is a story we are meant to make very personal to us. Looking at the ancient symbols of Passover/Pesach is an opportunity to experience the story of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua’s death, resurrection, and the promise of His return in light of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim and mishpachah!

Peace to friends and family.

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are very precious in His sight.

Not sure ..you can be…

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,

SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.

You Can’t Drink Grapes

….. they have to be crushed!

Paul described his life in 2 Timothy 4:6  For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;

In this verse, Paul turns back from instructing Timothy to reflecting upon his own life. The “drink offering” refers to is a cup of wine a Israelite priest poured out beside the altar following the offering of a ram, lamb, or bull in the temple Numbers 15:1–10; 28:4–7.

On another occasion, Jacob set up a pillar of stone in the place where the Lord God had spoken with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.

Genesis 35:14. So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God had spoken with him–a stone marker–and he poured out a drink offering on it and anointed it with oil.

Just as the drink offering symbolized the end of the offering at the altar, Paul’s life was near its end. He wrote these words while imprisoned by the Romans; he had already made one courtroom appearance, 2 Timothy 4:16, and didn’t expect to be given another opportunity and believed he would be executed before too long. Paul used the metaphor of dissolving or departing, from the Greek word analyseōs, which referred to a ship which has untied itself from the dock and is about to set sail. It’s the same word he uses in Philippians 1:23, saying his desire was to die or “depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” The same concept of “departure,” using other Greek terms, was often used as a metaphor for death, such as those of Jesus/Yeshua Luke 9:31 and Peter 2 Peter 1:15.  

The pouring out of a drink offering is a metaphor for the blood Messiah Jesus spilled on the cross. Jesus/Yeshua spoke to this directly in Luke 22:20. 

Being poured out is an act of our will.

It is not a fleeting emotional response based on feelings.

Like Paul, we must come to that place in our relationship with our Heavenly Father that we tell Him we are ready to be offered as a sacrifice for Him.

Just as Jesus/Yeshua did, we are to know the fellowship of His sufferings.

Phil. 3:10-17 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.

Messiah accepted the consequences as they came, without any complaints, in spite of what was ahead. Paul and the disciples /apostles did the same.

For the joy that was set before him and us Heb. 12:2. This verse says that Yeshua/Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him, meaning the glory of completing His mission to be our salvation through sacrifice and returning to God, His Father. Heb. 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Where Adam brought death, Messiah brings life. By His death and resurrection, He leads the way and brings many sons to glory. God’s desire is to bring many sons to glory.

As with David’s encounter with the lion and bear, God will send us a crisis in private where no other person can help, allowing circumstances to surround us that will challenge and test our faith in Him.

Looking from the outside our life may look fine, however the change is taking place internally in our will.

After experiencing the crisis in our will, our choice of action will confirm that change has taken place because, we will take no thought of the cost when it begins to affect us externally in the natural.

If we refuse to deal with our Heavenly Father on the level of our will first, then we will only stir up sympathy for ourselves.

Psalm 118:27 the LORD is God; He has made His light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.

The expression bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar refers to the ritualistic offering of animal sacrifices unto the LORD upon the altar.

The psalm declares that the LORD is God and has given us light.

He offers the final scene picturing a sacrifice offered in love to God for rescuing him.

 This is prophetic of Jesus/Yeshua the Messiah, who is both the Light of the world and our Passover/Pesach sacrifice.

At the end of Psalm 118, the triumphant Messiah appears in an apparent moment of defeat, but Messiah Jesus/Yeshua triumphed because He suffered well. Isaiah 53:10-12, Philippians 2:5-11, Hebrews 12:1-2.

He willingly and faithfully suffered for the LORD’s sake, it is to be our path to triumph as well; and by following Messiah’s example of entrusting Himself wholly to His, and our, Father no matter what. Even unto death, Matthew 20:26-28Luke 9:23-26Romans 8:17-18, 2 Timothy 2:12, 1 Peter 4:12-1319, Revelation 2:10-11.

Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah, was bound with cords.
Matthew 27:2

He was nailed to the cross – the altar upon which He was the appointed feast of passover’s sacrifice.

Matthew 27:15-16Luke 23:17-18

John 20:2526Colossians 2:14.

Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.

As well as the good news that we can be freely forgiven of sin and join our Father in heaven, the gospel we preach needs to include the fact that we must be willing to be placed on the altar and go through the fire. This means we must be willing to experience what the altar represents: burning and purification, cleansing and separation, for only one purpose. The death of the flesh life, the dying to self, and of our own ways, including the total destruction of every desire and affection that does not have its roots in, or is not focused on the Father and His kingdom purposes. We are not the ones who remove it, our Father does when we bind ourselves, making the sacrifice of self to the horns of the altar.

We do the submitting. We choose His way.

Then our Heavenly Father does the removing, and we should be sure to not wallow in self-pity once the fire is lit and the purification begins.

When we come out on the other side of the fire, nothing will be able to depress or move us; because the flesh life will no longer be in control. The carnal man, the old man is dead.

When another crisis comes along, we will see that things cannot affect us in the way they did before.

Romans 6:3-11 6. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin 

1Pet. 4:12. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

So think it not strange that they are allocated to us and remember that He has promised to be with us through them.

Is. 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

It is time to stop playing with our salvation and tell our Father that we are prepared and ready to be poured out as offering and in its process, our Father will show Himself to be everything we have dreamed of and believed He would be.

As this year, we are in the season of the Pesach/Passover and Yeshua/Jesus ‘tied Himself to the altar of the cross’, and willingly laid down His physical life.

He became the lamb of sacrifice, so the angel of death will pass over us.

He became the poured out wine, He was crushed;

His self life squeezed and what came forth was the resurrection life of God.

His humble, obedient, selfless act, of allowing all of Himself to be crucified; gave us life, as His blood poured out like wine. And we are recipients of, all sins forgiven and wiped away; allowing us to receive eternal life and restored relationship with His and our Heavenly Father.

This is the gospel and we must not forget or allow circumstances and physical experiences to cause us to doubt or become discouraged. Even the disciples who had been with Him physically got discouraged because we read about it in

Luke 24:18–21 18.

Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

The facts they drew from His statement were wrong. We were hoping…

Their focus was incorrect and their hope was in another perceived outcome based on their personal circumstances.

Anything that has even a hint of depression and dejection spiritually, is wrong.

If I am depressed or burdened, I am to blame not God, or anyone else; it is my fault.

Dejection and depression etc., come from one of two sources.

I have either satisfied a lust or, I have not had it satisfied.

I get what I wanted and then felt bad because it was wrong. Or

I didn’t get what I wanted and am miserable with my selfish desires.

Lust means, I must have it now, it demands immediate gratification. The addict who has to get a fix, the alcoholic who has to have to have a drink etc.. The individual cannot wait, it is a driving, overwhelming desire, fueled by unclean spirits. Lust is the appetite of demons/ unclean spirits expressed through and in human flesh and the body.

Spiritual lust causes us to demand an answer from God instead of seeking God Himself who gives us the answer.

What have we been hoping or trusting God would do?

Is today the third day and just like the disciples thought, He has still not done what we expected or wanted?

And are we then justified in being depressed, dejected and blaming Him? Whenever we insist, demanding that God should give us an answer to our prayer we are off track.

The purpose of prayer is that we get hold of God, not of the answer.

It is impossible to be well physically and to be dejected, because dejection is an indication, a sign of sickness; this is also true spiritually. Whatever is wrong in our relationship with the Father, it is always our fault, we are to blame. We look for miracles, signs, visions and dreams from heaven. We look for earth shaking events, longing to see God’s power manifested. Even the fact we are dejected is proof we do this, yet we never realize that He is at work all the time; in all the day to day circumstances and in and through everyone around us. It is not always about us and we can become so self-centered, focusing only on what is happening to us and forget everyone is dealing with their own issues, test and trials.

If we will only be obedient to do the task that He has placed close to us then we will see Him.

When Job prayed for his friends in Job 42:10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

The key here is, in our times of testing we are to focus on the Father and what He has called us here to do. Out of our own need we are to minister to others, pray for others, help others, and by focusing on Him, the revelation will come that His sovereign will is declared in everyday life.

Everything we desire apart from Him has to be crushed, tied to the horns of the altar and burned up in selfless sacrifice. The lusts of our flesh must be put to death, crucified daily. What we hoped for apart from Him, needs to be poured out as an offering in true submission to the call on our lives and the realization of the enormous cost of our freedom and salvation; not just at Pesach/Passover season, but to daily die to the old man and walk in resurrection life of the new creation we are in Messiah. Trust Him because He controls everything and His purposes will be fulfilled in His way and timing.

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim and mishpachah!

Peace to friends and family.

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord, Deliverer and soon returning King; and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are very precious in His sight.

Not sure ..you can be…

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,

SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.

Gateways To Life

As this year the Hebrew and Gregorian calendars are not in sync., we are between the two calendar dates for Passover/Unleavened Bread and First Fruits.

This gap in the dates, gives us an opportunity to focus on the single most miraculous event in time and eternity.

It is an event that we should remember all year, not just as the seasons make their turn.

Gethsemane and Calvary are in truth

the Gateways to Life /Chaim

and why Messiah said

I am the Way the Truth and the Life.

Derek, Emet and Chaim.

It is impossible for us who are bound in human flesh, to understand Messiahs agony, however, we don’t have to misunderstand it.

Matthew 26:36 – 38

It was the agony of God and man in the person Yeshua/Jesus as He came to face to face with sin; and on the cross He experienced total separation from His Father because as He became sin – as the sin offering – the Holiness of God could not look upon that sin.

It is not possible for us to experience Gethsemane and Calvary. We cannot learn about them through personal experience because they represent something totally unique.

They are the gateway,

the door, the dalet

into life for us.

It was not death on the cross that He was facing, that caused Yeshua/Jesus to agonize over when He was in Gethsemane; because He stated that His purpose was to die. He knew that was why He came.

It was not a shock to Him, He was completely aware of His Heavenly Fathers’ plan and the process He was to complete. Most likely His concern was that He might not get through this struggle as a Son of Man. He was confident at getting through it as the Son of God because Satan couldn’t not touch him there; the previous temptations had proved that. The pressure was the adversary’s assault against Him, with the focus that our Lord would come through for us on His own; solely as the Son of Man.

If Messiah had done that He could not have been our Savior. Hebrews 9:11–15

And we should read the account of Gethsemane and His agony in the light of His earlier temptations in the wilderness. The devil departed from Him until an opportune time. Luke 4:13. In Gethsemane was an opportune time, but satans attack was overthrown once again. The adversarys’ final assault against our Savior was in the garden of Gethsemane as the Son of Man.

The agony in Gethsemane was the agony of the Son of God in fulfilling His destiny as the Savior of the world. The veil is pulled back here, to reveal all that it cost Him to make it possible for us to become Sons and Daughters of God; HIs children, His Family. We should also remember that the Jews have a priority over the Gentiles, in that the Messiah Himself, Jesus Christ/Yeshua Hamashiach, came first as a Jew to the Jews. We are told in Romans 9:5, of whom are the fathers, and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

and reminded again in Romans 1:16-17 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek/heathen/gentiles. 

HIs agony was the basis for the simplicity of our salvation.

The cross of Yeshua/Jesus was a triumph for the Son of man, and not only a sign that our Lord triumphed; but that He had triumphed to save the human race.

Because of what the Son of Man went through, every human being has been provided with a way of access into the very presence of God.

Our gateway to God, our Heavenly Father.

1 Peter 2:24.

It cost him everything.

The cross of Calvary is the revealed truth of God’s judgment on sin. It was not a martyrs death, it was the ultimate triumph and shook the very foundations of hell.

There is nothing in time or eternity more absolutely certain and undeniable, than what He accomplished on the cross. It changed everything for ever.

He made it possible for the entire human race to be brought back into a right standing relationship with the Father. He made redemption the foundation of human life, that is, He made a way for every person to have fellowship, communion and an intimate relationship with the creator of the universe.

That cross was not something that happened

TO Jesus/Yeshua, He came to die.

The cross was His purpose in coming.

The great divide was restored by a great collide.

He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8.

The incarnation of Yeshua Messiah would have no meaning without the cross.

We must be sure not to separate

God was manifested in the flesh

from 

He made Him to be sin for us.

1Timothy 3:16; 2Corinthians 5:21.

The purpose of the incarnation was redemption.

The Most High God came in the flesh to take sin away, not to accomplish something for Himself.

Not only is the cross the central event

in time and eternity…

it is the answer to all the problems in both.

The cross is not a cross of a man, but the cross of the only creator God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords; and it can never be fully understood through the human experience.

The cross is our Heavenly Father God, Adonai Elohim Melech haOlam, displaying His nature. It’s the Gate through which any and every individual can enter into oneness with Him. However it is not a gate we pass right through, it’s the one where we enter His presence and where we abide – in the life/chaim that exists and is found there.

The heart of salvation is Messiahs cross and the reason it’s so easy for us to obtain, is that it cost the Father so much!

It was the place where a Holy God and sinful man merged with a tremendous collision.

It is why the Way to life was opened, and we must remember, all the cost and pain of that collision was absorbed by the heart of our loving Father God.

The great division was restored by a great collision…. and the result was NOT

chaos, devastation and total destruction

but peace, healing and total restoration.

Colossians 1:20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.

Let our prayer this week be for the eyes of our understanding to be enlightened, that we may know Him and power of His cross and resurrection…

Phil 3: 10-17 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death;

Ephesians 1:18-23 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 

 

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim and mishpachah!

Peace to friends and family.

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are very precious in His sight.

Not sure ..you can be…

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,

SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.

A Greater Exodus?

Many may question why on this years calendars,

the Gregorian and the Hebrew,

have different dates for the Passover/Pesach week.

The Hebrew Calendar and Gods Appointed Times/Feasts, are always on the exact same date every year, whereas on the Gregorian calendar the months in which they fall are different.

This year, Sunday 24th March is/was Palm Sunday with Good Friday on March 29th followed by Resurrection Sunday on 31st of March. However Passover/Pesach according to the scriptures is always in the month of Nisan on the 14th day which is 22nd of April on the Gregorian calendar that is used today.

 In Leviticus 23:1–2, the Lord told Moses, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations—My appointed times are these:’” 

Pope Gregory influenced the changes to the biblical dates in an effort to remove everything Jewish from Christianity and the roman catholic churches initiated new doctrines out of which every western denomination evolved.

Gregory XIII was the pope from 1572 to 1585, who promulgated the Gregorian calendar and founded a system of seminaries for Roman Catholic priests. The Gregorian calendar, a solar dating system now in general use. It was proclaimed by Pope Gregory XIII as a reform of the Julian calendar. He issued a papal bull, “Inter Gravissimus” and decreed that 10 days be skipped when switching to the Gregorian calendar on February 24, 1582 that established it as the new and official calendar of the Catholic world. The original goal of the Gregorian calendar was to change the date of Passover and called it Easter. It also gave us the leap year.

The Pesach/Passover, Appointed Time, set in by the Father is always in the month of Nisan which begins on 9th April.

Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread
(Exodus 12:14–28; Numbers 28:16–25; Deuteronomy 16:1–8)

4These are the LORD’s appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times. 5The Passover to the LORD begins at twilight on the fourteentha day of the first month. 6On the fifteenth day of the same month begins the Feast of Unleavened Breadb to the LORD. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 7On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you are not to do any regular work.8For seven days you are to present an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the seventh day there shall be a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work.’

Pesach/Passover according to scripture begins with the feast of the firstborn on nisan 14 (Monday 22 April)

The feast of unleavened bread begins 15th Nisan (23rd april) and

feast of first fruits which is also 1st day of counting the Omer to Pentecost/Shavuot on Nisan 16th (wed 24thapril )

Passover continues through the week and ends 22Nisan (tues 30th Apr).

Passover/Pesach is the remembrance of the children of Israels exodus and deliverance from Egyptian bondage as slaves, freed from cruel servitude. The Lord came down and delivered His people and by the sacrificial blood of a perfect lamb placed on their dwellings. The death angel passed over them and their deliverance was assured.

This was a type and shadow of the sacrificial death of Messiah, the perfect Lamb of God, whose blood has been applied to our house/our very being, and we are delivered from the devil/the cruel taskmaster of this world/ redeemed from sin and death and set free into newness of life. This is mainly what christians celebrate today not realizing the original passover is significant.

There will also be a greater exodus to come when Messiah returns and executes judgment over the sin in this worlds systems; and the demonic realm that inspires it. We will be delivered finally from the sin and death that is rampant in this world as He comes to take those of us still here to be together with Him.

The Passover/Pesach, did not begin with Messiahs death just 2000 years ago, and is not the only thing we are to remember at this appointed season. For those unfamiliar with the Pesach/Passover, according to the directions in the Torah, we must begin with reading

Exodus 6:2,3 I am the Lord I appeared to Abraham and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to them.

Moses and Aaron were commissioned by YHVH to go before Pharaoh and deliver the message to let my people go.

Note the divine name

YHVH יְהוָ֔ה

was already known in a cognitive sense by the pre Moses fathers. But this passage and the accompanying revelation of YHVH’s

4 verbs of redemption YOD HEY VAV HEY

is intended to indicate the direct experience of the power and glory not seen by the forefathers.

The 4 verbs/action words of redemption are in the Exodus itself and are the 4 cups of Passover/pesach.

1 I will free

2 deliver

3 redeem

4 take you

That is the basis of the annual remembrance of His redeeming power; the action which was ultimately fulfilled with Yeshua Messiahs sacrificial death as the Passover lamb whose blood secured their salvation from death (angel). Followed by the:

free, deliver, redeem, take you out of bondage

as slaves to Egypt -(a type of the world)

and Pharaoh/type of the devil/adversary.

The combined destiny of sin and death, without the sacrificial blood,

(the wages of sin is death); Romans 6:23

(the life is in the blood) – Leviticus 17:11

(a life for a life) Deut. 19:21.

We lose the fullness of meaning in what we call communion, because we only have 1 cup – the cup of redemption which is the third cup.

So when Messiah references the cup. I shall drink, and the cup Messiah Yeshua took during the meal are far more significant than we realize.

Our exodus will be complete when we exit this earth, either when we transition as He calls us home, or when He returns and He will drink the cup with us in the kingdom to come.

God waits to judge, until the iniquity of sin is full; and these are judgments against

the kingdom of darkness,

the adversary and

the fallen angels.

I will take them out from under the burdens

I shall rescue you from their service

I shall redeem you with an outstretched arm and great judgments

I shall take you to me for a people

I shall be an Elohim to you and you’ll know that I am Yahweh

I shall bring you to the land and give it to you as a heritage.

The arm is Yeshua/Messiah and great judgments will come in the end days.

2 God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD.

3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty,but by my name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to them.

4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners.

5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.

6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.’ ”

The four I wills in vs 6-8

I will take you out 1st cup of sanctification

I will rescue you 2nd cup of judgment

I will redeem you 3rd cup of redemption

I will take you 4th cup of praise

This is the cup He will drink with us anew in the kingdom on His return.

Exodus 3:15
God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers–the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob–has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

It is here that Yahweh tells Abraham His name is YHVH.

And God speaks to Moses and says to him, “I [am] YHWH, יְהוָ֔ה

We are now at the 4th I will of Exodus 6:6-8.

I will take you as My people.

He is bringing us out from under the worlds/Egypts burdens.

Our Heavenly Father/Yahweh is bringing everything together as He did at Mt Sinai, where He personally came down to make covenant with the sons of Israel; and He will personally come down to complete His plan of the ages.

The Nail Pierced Hands of Messiah

Reveal The Love-Filled Heart Of Our Heavenly Father.

For those new to the site there is more on this Appointed Time and this Season of the Lord, links are below:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/palm-sunday-nisan-the-appointed-time-of-the-lamb/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/not-passing-over-passover-week/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/unleavened-bread-matzot-week/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/first-fruits/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/a-lot-can-happen-in-a-week/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/even-more-can-happen-in-and-around-the-same-week/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/midweek-mannabite-secrets-of-the-seder-plate/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/unleavened-bread-matzot-week/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/more-than-one-palm/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/sonset-sunrise-sunset-sonrise-apocalypse-of-the-tamid/ 

https://www.minimannamoments.com/13-for-supper-and-only-4-cups/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/pesach-emunah-for-his-am-segulah/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/pesach-emunah-for-his-am-segulah-part-2/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/afikomen-mysterious-and-hidden/

Shalom aleikhem

chaverim and mishpachah!

Peace to friends and family.

Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.

Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are very precious in His sight.

Not sure ..you can be…

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,

SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.