.jpg)
Celebrating certain events with feasts and festivals like the Israelites did must of helped them remember what God had done for them in the past. It would also give them opportunity to teach the next generation of what He had done for them, ensuring their heritage carried on and would not be forgotten.
There were three main annual festivals and feasts they were instructed to celebrate. They were the Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Weeks (Penecost). The first reminded them of the night of their escape from Egypt when the angel of the Lord 'passed over' their homes, preserving their firstborn sons from death. That is, the homes that had sprinkled the blood of the passover lamb on the side posts and lintels of their doors.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread commemorated their actual escape - moving out. They did not put yeast in their bread as there was no time for that. God had so instructed so they could be up and out of there in a flash and still have ready food to eat. The Passover and this Feast of Unleavened Bread were celebrated for a whole week.
The Feast of Booths, better known as Pentecost, was where they had to make booths, which kind of reminds me of a tent. These were to remind the Israelites of their wilderness wanderings. And all the reasons why they had had to wander in the wilderness for all those forty years. It was how they had had to live, that is, in tents and what that entailed. It was like 'camping' and maybe fun for the kids to do this. However, it had a message of warning and caution imbedded to not hold God and His promises and gifts in contempt.
Also, to recall all He had done for them! Think back, "your shoes never wore out," "you were fed manna from the sky" and so much more! God's provision for them had been massive!
These memorials would remind and reset their memory of how God had overwhelmingly rescued them from Egypt. They could freely celebrate with joy and rejoicing. What's more, all were called to celebrate together.
Then no regular work was to be done (see Leviticus 23:708). Therefore, no one had the excuse they could not attend the event. So besides reminding them of all God had done for them in the past, it would bring people together with one focus thus promoting unity. The former dependance on God would instill a belief that He would be there for them even in the present!
We are no different now in these New Testament times. It's significant that Jesus shared a 'new' type of feast for the disciples in the Upper Room while they were celebrating the passover on the night of His betrayal.
God did not passover His firstborn son, did He!? No, thus Jesus who knew all things, instructed His disciples to remember Him in the breaking of bread and drinking of the cup of wine in remembrance of Him.
The disciples were likely somewhat 'blur - blur,' as they say in Singapore, as to the actual significance. However, they eventually did 'get it'.
We, brothers and sisters-in-Christ, can 'get it' now. It is solemn to remember what Jesus actually went through on the cross for us, bearing our sin, shame and punishment. Yet, we can joyfully celebrate Jesus' death because of His resurrection and His living for us now in Heaven. We serve a risen and living Savior.
In the breaking of bread, or Holy Communion, as some like to call it, we acknowledge the significant happy event that enabled our souls to be saved. God rescued the Israelites from Egypt and Jesus rescued our souls from Hell if only we accept His salvation.
Coming together as Christians on a regular weekly Lord's Day morning (or afternoon or evening) to remember Jesus in the breaking of bread, we too can focus on His great provision of salvation, acknowledging Him as Lord as well as Savior and help to keep the unity of the Holy Spirit in the bond of peace.
May all followers of Jesus come together. No excuses.
Focus on Him!
~ ERC March 2025 ~
Based on Luke 22:15-20 ESV.
Sing, Lord Jesus We Remember the Travail of Thy Soul, from STEM Publishing. Aurelia tune.
No comments:
Post a Comment