Passover: Jesus the Lamb of God

Yeshua is His name in Hebrew. Yeshua Hamashiach and He is the Lamb of Yahweh. "And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!" John 1:36.

Now, why is Yeshua referred to as a lamb? And why a Passover Lamb. Why isn't He referred to as the Easter Lamb? Passover is not translated from Easter. It is translated from the Hebrew word Pesach. Well, Easter is a whole other story. Let's learn what the Bible teaches us about Passover.

{Josefa de Ayala ca. 1670-1684}

 Let's go along the History (His Story) Timeline...

Specifically, Yahweh's Appointed Times on His Calendar.. 

What's with Passover Anyway?

 

The Exodus...

 

{Free Clip Art: Sweet Publishing}

You may already know that this Feast of the Lord's celebrates the deliverance of the Hebrews out of Egypt. Have you learned that the application of the passover lamb's blood on door posts was a foreshadow of our Savior, Yahweh's Lamb, willingly shedding His blood for the redemption of our sins?

I hadn't heard the term "foreshadow" when growing up. I also don't recall learning of this in a church we attended for over a decade. Maybe it's because we didn't focus on or learn about Passover and it's depths and richness and meanings... but rather we listened to a traditional message about what was done at the cross... but under the name of Easter. This is not said to offend, but to state a fact.

Yeshua's Birth.... 

So... Why Bethlehem? 

 

{Free clip art courtesy of: Sweet Publishing.}

Have you ever wondered why Yahweh Providentially chose Bethlehem for the town in which our Savior was to be born? It hadn't crossed my mind; I just knew that that's where He was born.

Let me take you on a brief journey. The setting is Bethlehem and it's lambing season. The Sadducees are busily selecting lambs to set aside specifically to choose from for the Passover sacrifice; a lamb without spot or blemish. It had to be a lamb out of Bethlehem. And, do you know, that this was a foreshadow of our Savior? Our Savior, the Lamb of Yahweh was born in Bethlehem... perfect without spot or blemish. Just as the prophets had prophesied. 

Now had you ever learned this before? I hadn't. Our pastor was talking on this not too long ago and it just amazed me. Everything in Scripture is there for a reason. How many times have I read about Him being born in Bethlehem without a clue as to why?

So, it is possible that this infers that He was born around the time of the lambing season vs. The Feast of Tabernacles. Either way, the lambing season or the Feast of Tabernacles, the important matter is that He was born and fulfilled the prophecy at the cross.

The Timing of Yeshua's Crucifixion... 

 

What Was Happening Months Before Yeshua was Crucified?

 

{Free clip art courtesy: Sweet Publishing}

Our pastor has also been teaching us about the Hebrew culture and why things were happening the way they were as events lead up to Yeshua's crucifixion.

As our pastor walked us through passages of Scripture in John 7, the events came to life (so to speak). Understanding was finally taking place for us. 

John 7 opens up with people heading to the Feast of Tabernacles- so we're six months prior to Passover. So, it's fallish out. Usually the Feast of Tabernacles falls in September/October.

Take a moment to open up your Bible so you can better join me. You'll see that Yeshuah would not walk with the Jewry because Jews sought to kill him. But you know, despite people wanting to kill Him, He was obedient to Yahweh in going to the Feast of Tabernacles (which is one of Yahweh's Feasts). 

See, the people at this feast recognized that the Sanhedrin wanted to kill Yeshua. And when Yeshua calls the Sanhedrin on it, they told Him He had a demon. It went like this:

"Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
²⁰ The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?" KJV

What?! Boy they sure didn't like when Yeshua pointed out to them that they weren't keeping Yahweh's Law/Instructions. Why, they had a lot of clout and their man-made traditions/laws were more important to them than keeping Yahweh's Instructions (it's maybe something to question about ourselves, too....). But, um, yeah... they didn't like being challenged or corrected. These leaders decided they would be out to get Him.

At the very same time, the Sanhedrin admire Him. They are amazed at His teaching and His knowledge when He teaches in the Temple. Do you know why they were marveled? It's because He wasn't trained.

Even the crowd picks up on this....

"Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?
²⁶ But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?" KJV

Can you just see this scene mounting? What would it have been like to see the Sanhedrin in such conflict? Here they have been calling Yeshua a deceiver while at the same time they are admiring him for his understanding of what the Scriptures say.

Then the people started to wonder if He could be the Messiah because they were taught that no one would know where He came from; yet they knew where Yeshua was from. Some of the people in the crowd were beginning to pause and ponder just a bit.

v 27. "Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is." KJV

Well now, isn't that interesting? Why were the leaders teaching the people that no one would know where the Messiah would come from? The prophets prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:3-5), of the tribe of Judah, of the House of David (I have come to appreciate those long lineages listed in Scripture!).

How frustrating this must have been for Yeshua! He wants them to see and they just won't do it!

"²⁸ Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
²⁹ But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me." KJV

I wonder, if I were in the crowd at this time, would I have *gotten it*? I am so thankful that when I don't *get things* right away that He teaches in Scripture, He is soooooo patient with me and gently leads me. And I'm continually thankful for the opportunity to learn! 


Our pastor does word studies (imagine how our family loves this!) and he shared that the word "from" comes from the Greek word para which means, "side by side" and it can mean "out of". However, in John 7:28 it means "out of the side of the One who sent Me."

So, with tension rising and the crowd stirring with questions, one would think that this would be the time for Yeshua to be captured. But Scripture tells us...

"³⁰ Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come." KJV

His hour was not yet come. Another reminder that Yahweh Has a calendar of appointed times. Yeshua's birth, Yeshua's crucifixion, Yeshua's burial (Feast of Unleavened Bread), Yeshua's resurrection (First Fruits), the celebrations of His Feasts. 

It's rich! It's rich! It's rich!

Are you learning a lot, too? Isn't it exciting to understand what's going on? I didn't used to understand the whole issue that the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Sanhedrin had. And I didn't used to know that Passover was the Lord's Feast and how and why it's something for followers of Yeshua the Messiah to keep. 

This is our family's third year keeping Passover and each year we learn something(s) that we had not previously learned. 

I can't wait to share more!

Blessings!