A PASSOVER MESSAGE

While Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, Passover remembers the central Christian event — His suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection. For Christians, it’s the story of how Christ died to save humankind from sin and bring the gift of salvation.?

Many Christians all over the world celebrate this great event in earthly fashion, by hosting parties, drinking and hosting egg hunts. I am not saying that we cannot have fun, since this time is also a great time for families to come together, but let us make sure that the focus is not on the earthly things, but rather on the reason for the season, CHRIST.?

Before we do egg hunts, let us celebrate the victory of the cross and the fact that death was defeated for all of humanity. Let us first tell our children the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus and what it means. Let us first spend time in God’s Word, take communion and worship. Let us not go back in time by practicing heathen and worldly things. Remember, Passover, or if you want to call it Easter, is not about the bunny, it is about the Lamb.?

Let me make it easy for you by giving you a short summary of Passover, and all you need to do is to read and discuss this with your kids and family.

?he chief priests and Jewish elders felt threatened by Jesus, so they plotted to arrest him. For 30 pieces of silver, one of Jesus’ 12 apostles, Judas, agreed to betray him.?

Eating his Last Supper with His disciples, Jesus said, “One of you will betray Me.” Anxiously, they asked, “Lord, is it I?”?

After the meal, Jesus and His disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane. He asked His disciples to pray with Him in his time of need, but they fell asleep. A troubled Jesus asked God if He could escape His fate. He said “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”?

As Jesus prayed, Judas arrived with a group of armed men and as was arranged, identified Jesus with a kiss. Jesus was arrested and the apostles, afraid for their lives, fled.?

Jesus was bound, handed over to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, and charged with treason. Pilate saw no reason to convict Jesus. But the crowd shouted, “Crucify Him!” Pilate literally washed his hands of the problem and turned Jesus over.?

The guards spit on Him and whipped Him. They taunted Him, mockingly dressed Him in a royal robe, and crowned Him with thorns. Ridiculing Him, the people said, “Hail, King of the Jews.”?

Jesus then was made to carry His own cross up the hill of Golgotha, the place of execution in Jerusalem.?

He was stripped; His hands and feet were nailed to the cross. The initials above his head stood for, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Dying and in despair, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”?

Then, breathing his last, He said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”?

As evening approached, Jesus’ grieving friends gently lowered His body down from the cross. Wrapping Him in a shroud of linen, they placed His body in a tomb carved out of rock and protected the entrance with a large stone.?

On Sunday morning Mary Magdalene and the women who came to anoint His body went to the tomb and saw the stone was rolled away. An angel told them not to worry and that Jesus had risen.?

Bewildered and frightened, the women fled. Suddenly Jesus appeared and said, “Do not be afraid.” He instructed them to tell the apostles that He was alive. When the apostles saw Jesus, they couldn’t believe it was Him. To prove it was actually Him, he encouraged them to touch His wounds, and they broke bread together.?

This remarkable story has helped shape history for more than 2,000 years. Jesus died for the sins of the world, for you and me, so that we can be set free from the hold sin had on our lives. On the 3rd day Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death for all of humanity so that we can have eternal life with our Father. Hallelujah!?

My brothers and sisters in Christ, may you have a blessed Passover with your family and friends, and while doing so, why not reach out to those in need, feeding them first and foremost with God’s Word, and secondly with a meal.?

God bless you,?

Founder & Managing Director

Jaco van As