WHY THE BIBLICAL HOLY DAYS ARE A GUIDE TO SALVATION
The Biblical Days are not arbitrary, they convey the salvation plan of God to us. Note the first one - the Passover; it conveys the message of God passing over our sins because of the blood of the Lamb.
John 1:36, “And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, Behold the Lamb of God!” (NKJV)
The first Holy Day is the one commemorating the covering, or forgiving, of our sins to begin the salvation process. Note the layout of the Holy Days:
Leviticus 23:5-6, “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at nightfall, is the Lord's Passover; 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread; for seven days let your food be unleavened bread.” (BBE)
Passover was on the fourteenth at sunset and Unleavened Bread days starts on the next night, the fifteenth. Since both used Unleavened Bread, people referred to them as one entire period or season.
Luke 22:1-7, “Now the feast of unleavened bread was near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were looking for a chance to put Him to death, but they went in fear of the people. 3 And Satan came into Judas Iscariot...7 the day of unleavened bread came, when the Passover lamb is put to death.”
Something very special happened on the night of the fourteenth among Jesus and His disciples.
THE LAST SUPPER COMRADESHIP IS SOMETHING VERY SACRED
That evening of the fourteenth brought Christ and His disciples together for the last meal before His gruesome sacrifice and death. It was about twenty hours before He would die on the stake simultaneously with the official lamb at the temple dying. Christ is the real sacrifice for all mankind. The lamb was just a symbol. When did the disciples have this special supper or New Covenant Passover meal?
1 Corinthians 11:23-24, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on THE SAME NIGHT in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (NKJV)
They kept the evening portion of the fourteenth because Jesus was going to be on the stake pouring out his life for us during the day time portion at the time of the evening or late afternoon sacrifice. It was required that they all take part in all activities such as foot washing.
John 13:6-8, “Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, are You washing my feet?’ 7 Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.’ 8 Peter said to Him, ‘You shall never wash my feet!’ Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
It was a loving farewell meal for all of them and by extension us as well.
John 15:9-10, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 ‘If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.’”
John 16:6-7, “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 ‘Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.’”
Jesus explained that when He goes to the throne of God in heaven then He would send a helper and comforter to all believers. This comforter, or advocate, is for all of us believers.
John 17:20-21, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 ‘that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.’”
All believers for all times become part of the final and very meaningful goodbye meal with the Messiah. This service is vitally important to God the Father. We must respect His Son's sacrifice.
WE MUST HONOR THIS NEW COVENANT PASSOVER SERVICE
Even more than the regular Passover service it is required. PASSOVER is the only Holy Day with a make up date for those who somehow could not keep it. God not only requires US to commemorate the service but to do it spiritually.
1 Corinthians 11:24-27, “...and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.’”
What does an unworthy manner mean to us? No one is worthy, but it is how we approach the evening service. We need to be in a repentant and humble attitude. We must appreciate the sacrifice of both Father and Son as best we can.
1 Corinthians 11:28-29, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.”
Paul warned theout of control Corinthians that they were suffering because of their lack of order and respect during the New Covenant Passover service. This final farewell meal to Christ meant a lot to God and it must be meaningful to us as well.
Matthew 26:28-29, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.”
This final toast of wine with the future Apostles meant a lot to Jesus.
TIMING AND BURIAL AND THIS TOTAL EXPERIENCE MEMORIAL
The Jewish nation, after they sacrificed the lamb near the end of the fourteenth, dressed and cooked it and ate it a few hours later on the evening of the fifteenth with Unleavened Bread.
John 19:31, “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”
That high day Sabbath was the first day of Unleavened Bread Holy Days starting at sunset, about 6 P.M. Israel then celebrated the Passover meal recalling their escape from Egypt, the land of sin and bondage. Jesus obviously could not eat the Passover meal at the regular time, for He was the real dying Passover Lamb. He created an additional service which commemorates more than just His death on the stake. It has believers remembering everything. We commemorate the total experience of the Messiah. This includes:
His foot washing service to teach us humility and service.
His final meal to bond us to Jesus and each other.
His betrayal which was hurtful emotionally and shows value of Loyalty.
His mistreatment and kangaroo court revealed the enormity of His bodily sacrifice.
His death and tremendous sacrifice for all mankind.
ISSUES
SHOULD WE BE WARY OF THOSE WITH CONTRARY PASSOVER DOCTRINES?
