The Passover

Exo. 12:26-27 

And it will come to pass if your children say to you, ‘What is this service to you?’ 

you shall say, ‘It is a slaughtering of the Passover to YHWH, for He passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt
when He smote the Egyptians, and He saved our houses.’ And the people kneeled and prostrated themselves.  

The observance of Passover is the first annual service YHWH commanded our fathers to perform. Performing this service is the first thing He instructed them to do as a nation.  

Predating the weekly Sabbath, the redemption of the firstborn, and tied with the annual week of unleavened bread, Passover plays a unique role in our relationship with YHWH. It is meant to teach our children and us what YHWH has done for us. 

The word Pesach can refer to the animal–lamb or goat–used in the service. It also refers to the action of YHWH passing over our houses in the land of Egypt. 

The “Pass over” teaches us of the eternal nature of YHWH. 

In his first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul taught the followers of Yeshua to observe the feast with additional significance. He taught that Yeshua also represented the Passover lamb. 1 Co. 5:8, 7. 

Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 

For indeed the Messiah, our Passover, was slaughtered.” 

YHWH is our Redeemer in all three of our modern concepts of time. He redeemed us from Egypt. This points backward in time to a specific event. We would call this the past tense.  

Through His Messiah, YHWH redeems us from slavery to our sinful inclination. This points to the ongoing reality of His mighty hand in the life of the reformed sinner. This has been true since Abraham’s (Isa. 29:22), and Jacob’s (Gen. 48:16) day. He passes over our shortcomings if we trust in Him. We would call this the present tense.  

In the last days, He will redeem us from our enemies. Isa. 31:5 

Like hovering birds, so will YHWH of hosts defend Jerusalem.
Defending, He will also deliver; Passing over, and the escape. 

This points forward in time to a specific event. We would call this the future tense. 

Before we eat the Passover meal (consisting of a household-sized slaughtered lamb or goat, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs), we must exercise extreme caution. Not anyone can partake. Only those who have circumcised their hearts, and only males who have been physically circumcised, can serve YHWH in this way. 

YHWH instructed Moses to teach His people about circumcision concerning eating the Passover. Exo. 12:44, 48. The apostle Paul taught the Corinthians to examine themselves before partaking in the Passover meal. 1 Co. 11:27-29; Cf. 1 Co. 11:24; Luk. 22:19, 7-15.