In Just a few weeks, Christians will be celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In April, Jews will be celebrating Passover. However, the Messianic Jew, (Complete Jew as many of them prefer to be called) will be celebrating both.
Many have asked how these two historical events are related. It is difficult to sum it up without going into some detail, but given the fact that this is an article and not a book, I will give it my best shot.
EXODUS FROM EGYPT: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In the book of Genesis, chapters 37-50, we read the account of Jacob-- later called Israel and his twelve sons. (The twelve tribes of Israel) It records the series of events that led Joseph to Egypt. After being falsely accused of raping Potiphar's wife, he was imprisoned for two years. He was released after properly interpreting the Pharaoh's dreams and became second in command.Through many other events, all of Joseph's family came to Egypt.
The book of Exodus picks up the events some 400 years later:
"Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, 'look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.' Therefore, they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses." Exodus 1:8-9,11 During this time God heard the cries of Israel and in due time, He sent Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. As we continue reading, we learn of the plagues. God brought these on because of the wickedness of the Egyptian people.
Fast-forward to the tenth plague: Enter in Passover.
"Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying, speak to all the congregation of Israel on the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the house where they eat it. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are and when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. So this shall be a memorial to you; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations." Genesis 12:1-14 (condensed.) God did this to make a distinction between His people and the Egyptians.
The Israelites who obeyed the command to "cover themselves with the blood of the lamb", were "passed over" and were spared death. They understood that this was God's salvation for them and later we read that they understood this to be a picture of the coming Messiah, the perfect Lamb of God who would save them eternally.
JESUS THE MESSIAH
Messianic Jews and Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah, as He fulfilled hundreds of prophecies regarding the Messiah who was to come. The Bible refers to these two groups of people as the body of Christ. The book of Ephesians explains that by the Blood of Jesus he made the two peoples (Jews and Gentiles) one people. It was a big deal for the Jews to hear that the Messiah was also going to save Gentiles. However, more importantly, this was written to remind the Gentile believers that the Jews are and will forever remain God's chosen people. Gentile believers are grafted in with the Jews, they were not to replace the Jew. Unfortunately, the ignorance and arrogance of man did not accept this teaching.
(One of the reasons that Jewish believers do not want to be called Christians is because of the persecution from the Catholic Church. The word Christian leaves a bad taste in their mouth-no wonders.) Hence, they have given themselves the name Messianic Jew or Complete Jew--meaning they realize their Messiah has come and they have put their trust in Jesus and His shed blood-no longer relying on the shed blood of bulls and goats to "cover" their sin.
"knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot" 1 Peter 1:18-19 "But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood he entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God" Hebrews 9:11-14 DEATH AND RESURRECTION
We read the account of the arrest of Jesus how he was held for four days just as the lamb or goat was in Exodus. In John 1:29, we read that when John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." I could list many more passages of Scripture, but I trust you get the picture.
I ask for your forgiveness as I know I have fallen short in providing a clear biblical explanation. Nevertheless, I do have one hope: that this article raised a curiosity that will send you digging for more information on any or all of my comments. (May I suggest the book of Hebrews?) My prayer is that it has brought a sense of unity to Passover and the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. At first glance, they may seem as two different religious celebrations, yet according to the Bible, one is a completion of the other. What a special place the Complete Jew has, that they are privileged to have a place in both events.
To my Jewish and Gentile brothers and sisters in Christ, may we live out Ephesians chapter two the way the Messiah-our Savior intended it to be.
Teresa Ortiz
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