Changes

Passover (view source)

Revision as of 22:18, February 18, 2008

3 bytes added , 22:18, February 18, 2008

m

typos

Line 1: Line 1:

[[Image:Jesus Mary and lamb.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The lamb and Jesus Christ as our sacrificial lamb are enduring symbols of the Passover]]

<small>''This article is about the Biblically commanded feast from a general and [[Christian]] perspective; for Passover in [[Judaism]] see [[Pesach]]''</small><br>

−

'''Passover''' ([[Hebrew]] פֶּסַח ''pesach'' "to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare") is a [[Bible|Biblical]] festival, one of seven of [[God|God's]] commanded [[Holy Days]]. Its name is derived from the night of the [[Exodus|Tenth Plague]], when the Angel of Death saw the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of the houses of [[Israel]] and "passed over" them and did not kill their firstborn. "Pesach" is also the name of the sacrificial offering (a lamb) that was made in the [[Temple]] on this holiday. Passover is the oldest continually observed feast in existence today, celebrated for some 3,500 years. Even today, more ~~Jewish~~ people observe Passover than any other high holy day,<ref>Boshart, David Holt [http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/feasts/passover.htm "Passover"]. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref> and according to the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey (NJPS), more than 80% of Jews have attended a Passover celebration.<ref>Rich, Tracey R. [http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm "Pesach: Passover"] Judaism 101. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>

+

'''Passover''' ([[Hebrew]] פֶּסַח ''pesach'' "to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare") is a [[Bible|Biblical]] festival, one of seven of [[God|God's]] commanded [[Holy Days]]. Its name is derived from the night of the [[Exodus|Tenth Plague]], when the Angel of Death saw the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of the houses of [[Israel]] and "passed over" them and did not kill their firstborn. "Pesach" is also the name of the sacrificial offering (a lamb) that was made in the [[Temple]] on this holiday. Passover is the oldest continually observed feast in existence today, celebrated for some 3,500 years. Even today, more [[Jew]]ish people observe Passover than any other high holy day,<ref>Boshart, David Holt [http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/feasts/passover.htm "Passover"]. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref> and according to the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey (NJPS), more than 80% of Jews have attended a Passover celebration.<ref>Rich, Tracey R. [http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm "Pesach: Passover"] Judaism 101. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>

==The Passover story==

Line 11: Line 11:

Throughout His life and ministry Jesus observed the Passover<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202:41-42;%20John%202:13,23;%206:4;%20Mat.26:1-2,%2017-20;&version=9; Luke 2:41-42; John 2:13,23; 6:4; Mat.26:1-2, 17-20] [[King James Version]] BibleGateway</ref>. He also knew it depicted His suffering and death and told His [[disciple]]s this.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mat.26:1-2;&version=9; Mat.26:1-2] [[King James Version]] BibleGateway</ref> On the night of the 14th He sat down with His disciples to observe the Passover meal. During this supper He said to His disciples, "This do, in remembrance of me."([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022.19;&version=9; Luke 22:19])

−

Jesus and the Passover has been at the root of many serious misunderstandings between ~~the~~ Christianity and Judaism. Because of the persecution directed towards the Jews by the Romans, it was safer for Christianity to present iteself as a separate religion rather than as a sect of Judaism.<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/sabbath.htm#move ''Why and When the Weekly Sabbath was Moved''] "The weekly Sabbath: is it to be Saturday or Sunday?" ReligiousTolerance. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref> Towards the end of the fourth century, the Church Council of Laodicea removed all connections between Jesus and the celebration of Passover. For their part, Judaism rarely, if ever, acknowledges the most famous and influential Jew who ever lived.<ref>Cowen, Rabbi Jaimie [http://www.richmond.com/faith-values/10135 ''Jesus and Passover''] Faith & Values. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>For many centuries Jews observed Passover in secret, as many Christians and anti-Semites believed that Jews used the blood of Christian babies in the making of unleavened bread, and were fearful of the consequences.<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_blib1.htm ''The Blood Libel Myth''] "Blood libel, host desecration, ritual murder, & other largely anti-semitic fables" Religious Tolerance. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>

+

Jesus and the Passover has been at the root of many serious misunderstandings between Christianity and Judaism. Because of the persecution directed towards the Jews by the Romans, it was safer for Christianity to present iteself as a separate religion rather than as a sect of Judaism.<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/sabbath.htm#move ''Why and When the Weekly Sabbath was Moved''] "The weekly Sabbath: is it to be Saturday or Sunday?" ReligiousTolerance. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref> Towards the end of the fourth century, the Church Council of Laodicea removed all connections between Jesus and the celebration of Passover. For their part, Judaism rarely, if ever, acknowledges the most famous and influential Jew who ever lived.<ref>Cowen, Rabbi Jaimie [http://www.richmond.com/faith-values/10135 ''Jesus and Passover''] Faith & Values. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>For many centuries Jews observed Passover in secret, as many Christians and anti-Semites believed that Jews used the blood of Christian babies in the making of unleavened bread, and were fearful of the consequences.<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_blib1.htm ''The Blood Libel Myth''] "Blood libel, host desecration, ritual murder, & other largely anti-semitic fables" Religious Tolerance. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>

[[Image:Angel of death.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The Angel of Death passed over]]

Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary notes about the sacrificial lamb and Jesus Christ:<ref>[http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?b=2&c=12&com=mhc ''Commentary on Exodus 12:1-20''] "Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary" Hosted at Christ Notes. Accessed 18 February 2008</ref>

Line 18: Line 18:

*It was to be a male of the first year in its prime ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2012:5;&version=9; Exodus 12:5]). Christ offered up Himself in the midst of His days.

*It was to be without blemish (Exodus 12:5) denoting the purity of the Lord Jesus - a Lamb without spot ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Pet.1:19;&version=9; 1 Peter 1:19]).

−

*It was to be set apart four days before ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2012:3,%206;&version=9; Exodus 12:3,6]). It is very observable that, as Christ was crucified at the Passover, so He solemnly entered into [[Jerusalem]] four days before (commemorated by Christians as [[Palm Sunday]] on the very day the paschal lamb was set apart.

+

*It was to be set apart four days before ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2012:3,%206;&version=9; Exodus 12:3,6]). It is very observable that, as Christ was crucified at the Passover, so He solemnly entered into [[Jerusalem]] four days before (commemorated by Christians as [[Palm Sunday]]) on the very day the paschal lamb was set apart.

*It was to be slain, and roasted with fire ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2012:6,9;&version=9; Exodus 12:6,9]), denoting the extreme sufferings of Jesus. The wrath of God is as fire, and Christ was made a curse for us.

*It was to be killed by the whole congregation between the two evenings. Christ suffered at the end of the world ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb.9:26;&version=9; Hebrews 9:26]) by the hand of the multitude ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2023:18;&version=9; Luke 23:18]) and for all His spiritual Israel.

Line 38: Line 38:

At the end of the second century, Victor, the [[bishop]] of Rome began to threaten other Church leaders in an

attempt to get them to abandon Passover completely in favor of the Roman Easter celebration. Polycrates, the bishop of [[Ephesus]], wrote to Victor:

−

<blockquote>''We for our part keep the day [14th of Nisan = Passover] scrupulously, without addition or subtraction. For in Asia great luminaries sleep who shall rise again on the day of the Lord's advent, when He is coming with glory from heaven and shall search out all His [[saint]]s – such as Philip... there is John, who lent back on the Lord's breast… there is Polycarp, bishop and [[martyr... All these kept the fourteenth day of the month as the beginning of the Paschal Festival [Passover], in accordance with the [[Gospel]], not deviating in the least but following the rule of the Faith. Last of all, I too, Polycrates, the least of you a... and my family has always kept the day when the people put away the leaven [Feast of Unleavened Bread]. So I, my friends, after spending sixty-five years in the Lord's service and conversing with Christians from all parts of the world, and going carefully through all Holy Scripture, and not scared of threats. Better people than I have said: "We must obey God rather than men".''<ref>[[Eusebius]] (c.324 AD) "The History of the Church from Christ to Constantine" (transl. G. A. Williamson; reprint; Hippocrene Books; 1983) ISBN 0-8802-9022-6</ref></blockquote>

+

<blockquote>''We for our part keep the day [14th of Nisan = Passover] scrupulously, without addition or subtraction. For in Asia great luminaries sleep who shall rise again on the day of the Lord's advent, when He is coming with glory from heaven and shall search out all His [[saint]]s – such as Philip... there is John, who lent back on the Lord's breast… there is Polycarp, bishop and [[martyr]]... All these kept the fourteenth day of the month as the beginning of the Paschal Festival [Passover], in accordance with the [[Gospel]], not deviating in the least but following the rule of the Faith. Last of all, I too, Polycrates, the least of you a... and my family has always kept the day when the people put away the leaven [Feast of Unleavened Bread]. So I, my friends, after spending sixty-five years in the Lord's service and conversing with Christians from all parts of the world, and going carefully through all Holy Scripture, and not scared of threats. Better people than I have said: "We must obey God rather than men".''<ref>[[Eusebius]] (c.324 AD) "The History of the Church from Christ to Constantine" (transl. G. A. Williamson; reprint; Hippocrene Books; 1983) ISBN 0-8802-9022-6</ref></blockquote>

The dispute continued until the [[Council of Nicea]] in 325 AD, ordered by the (pagan) Emperor Constantine to resolve various controversies that existed in the Church – including whether the Passover or Easter should be celebrated. In his order from the Council of Nicea he said:<blockquote>''Constantine, August, to the churches… When the question arose concerning the most holy day of Easter, it was decreed by common consent to be expedient, that this festival should be celebrated on the same day by all, in every place... it seemed to every one a most unworthy thing that we should follow the custom of the Jews in the celebration of this most holy solemnity, who, polluted wretches having stained their hands with a nefarious crime, are justly blinded in their minds. It is fit, therefore, that, rejecting the practice of this people, we should perpetuate to all future ages the celebration of this rite, in a more legitimate order, which we have kept from the first day of the Lord’s passion even to the present times. Let us then have nothing in common with the most hostile rabble of the Jews.''<ref>Boyle, Isaac "A Historical View of The Council of Nicea" (T Mason and G Lane, New York; 1839)</ref></blockquote>

Fox

6,786

edits