June 18, 2011
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PASSOVER TO PENTECOST
“The Passover” is an event in Jewish history which occurred approximately 3300 years ago. It is the occasion when God freed the Israelites from slavery to the Egyptians. This was brought about through the work of Moses and the miraculous affliction of the Egyptians with 12 plagues. The final plague was the sudden death of all firstborn children in a single night. But while this plague affected the Egyptians, it “passed over” the Israelites. Thus the circumstances of this plague gave name to the entire event of the freeing of the children of God from slavery to their enemies.
After the Israelites were released from Egypt they were led to the foot of Mt. Sinai, the “mountain of God”, where they encamped for several months. After their arrival at Mt. Sinai, God called Moses to come up the mountain where he was given the 10 Commandments. Moses then presented the 10 Commandments to the Israelites. This event then became known as Shavuot, “the giving of the Law”. Since this occurred 50 days after their departure from Egypt, the Israelites would thereafter celebrate Shavuot 50 days after the celebration of Passover. The celebration of Shavuot was also commonly called the “Feast of Weeks” since to reach the 50th day they would count off seven weeks (49 days) from the Passover celebration to reach the Shavuot holiday.
The Israelites focused on the Law received from God, and named the holiday after this act, because this was the main thing they took from the occasion. There was much more than just the Law offered to the Israelites as they stood before God, but they weren’t able to receive it. Their mindset had been so narrowed by their generations of slavery that they were unable to grasp the significance and fullness of what God was truly offering to them. God wanted them to be “a kingdom of priests” and leaders of all other nations (Ex 19:5-6); but they couldn’t stop thinking as slaves and in terms of following laws and orders.
God’s purpose was to enter a covenant relationship with His people; with the primary blessing to be that they could each one have direct communication with Him. Shortly after arriving at Mt. Sinai the people were instructed to cleanse themselves physically and spiritually, then to assemble the entire company at the foot of the mountain on a specified day. When the appointed time came, God spoke to them in such a manner that everyone present heard Him with their own ears, and saw some form of Him with their own eyes. But the people were terrified of the voice and glory of God, and afterwards requested that God not speak to them openly again; they wanted all future communication to come through Moses and his selected leaders. Although God was willing to give them direct access, they refused it. God granted their request and thereafter spoke to them only through specific representatives.
The unintended negative consequences of rejecting God’s offer of an open relationship quickly became manifest. Within just a couple of weeks they formed the Golden Calf and returned to idol worship. This then broke the covenant relationship with God that had only just begun.
At the Golden Calf incident the tribe of Levi was the only group which didn’t participate in the idolatry. They remained true to their Covenant pledge. Therefore, in the aftermath, their tribe was chosen to continue in the covenanted position and to be the representatives before God for the entire nation of Israel. Thus, where it had been God’s initial intent that each person and each family be able to approach Him and have direct communication; now as a result of the people’s request and their breaking of the Covenant, they could only approach God and communicate with Him through representatives. This end system was far inferior to what had been planned for them by God. Paul says in He 8:6-10 that since the Covenant wasn’t received as it should have been it was inferior, and therefore had to be established again through Jesus; so that the “more excellent” Covenant that had been intended could finally be enacted. Thus, at Mt. Sinai, their misapprehension resulted in negative effects and diminished blessing which continued until the Messiah appeared to restore the Covenant with them 1300 years later.
“The Crucifixion” of Jesus was an event so profound that its entire significance is beyond humanity’s full comprehension. This subject has been the study of disciples and theologians for 2000 years; and although thousands of volumes and millions of sermons have been written, the depth and breadth of its meaning has not been exhausted. This is understandable, for the sacrifice of an infinite God to benefit a rebellious creation is nearly incomprehensible. Nevertheless, certain aspects have been opened to our understanding.
One of the many blessings which resulted from the death of Jesus was that it freed the children of God from slavery to their Enemy. Whereas at the first Passover the Israelites were freed from physical slavery to the Egyptians; at the Crucifixion — a type of Second Passover — all who wish to become a child of God are freed from spiritual slavery to the Enemy, Satan; and freed from subjection to sin. Thus the Passover and the Crucifixion have a similarity to each other.
An additional correspondence between the Passover and the Crucifixion is that with both of them the event culminated in the “death of the firstborn”. Colossians 1:15 tells us that Jesus is the “Firstborn over all Creation”; and 1 Corinthians 5:7 tells us that “Jesus is the Passover”. Thus both events culminated with a most costly death of a firstborn son.
Since “the Fall”, mankind has been subject to a spiritual slavery which is just as real and just as complete as the Israelites’ physical slavery was. Perhaps you’ve had occasion to say to yourself, “I wish I could stop doing this particular sin, but it’s stronger than I am.” This feeling is more than just a rationalization; an enslaving sin can’t be overcome with just will power. But fortunately for us, Jesus’ perfect life conquered sin and broke its power to enslave. Jesus then made this power to be free of sin available to us through the Holy Spirit. The empowerment given through Pentecost gives freedom from sin’s chains.
This doesn’t mean that sin can’t appeal to us. Even sinless people can be tempted; as evidenced by Adam & Eve, and Jesus. But the power of the Holy Spirit makes it so we no longer have to say we want to stop but can’t. Now, once we make the decision that we truly wish to quit and then call on the power given by the indwelling of the Spirit of Jesus, the freedom from sin’s hold is manifest and victory is realized.
Further, just as at Mt. Sinai God attempted to establish a covenant with His people in order to restore free and open communication between them and Himself; a similar purpose was manifested at the Day of Pentecost. By filling His disciples with the Holy Spirit, a means of direct two way communication was established. The Pentecost was to be the restoring of the covenant relationship with God that had been refused at Mt. Sinai.
Fifty days after freeing the Israelites from Egypt, God offered them a Covenant relationship. But it wasn’t accepted fully and all they received was the Law, which eventually turned into legalism. Fifty days after the Crucifixion, God again presented to His children a Covenant relationship which was brought through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But again within a short time the full benefits were lost, and all that remained was a misunderstanding of Spiritual Gifts.
God had once had a face-to-face communication with mankind when at the Creation He would walk and talk with Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden. That relationship was broken through sin. God attempted to restore this type of direct communication at Mt. Sinai when He offered the people a covenant relationship based on His future sacrifice. But the people weren’t prepared to receive this type of closeness with God. Instead, only a few were able to enjoy this offer.
God attempted again to establish a means of direct communication when, at Pentecost, He gave His children the Holy Spirit to dwell within them. The Apostles who had known Jesus were able to receive this endowment, and they cherished this gift that had been given by their Lord and which enabled them to communicate with Him again. But to the Christians that came after them, as the consequences of this type of commitment became known, this much closeness with God became frightening. As they saw the Apostles suffer martyrdom and other dedicated Christians suffer persecution, and as they saw the total commitment of life that is required to be able to receive the Spirit of God, they determined this was too much to give; and they left it to be the responsibility of just a few representatives, a few spiritual leaders. Hence over time the gift was lost. Just as with their ancestors, their mindset which had been influenced by generations of spiritual slavery was not able to grasp the significance of freedom and dominion over spiritual things. So once again the benefit of a covenant relationship with God was lost.
The underlying problem was the same for both generations — it’s hard for those who have been subject to slavery all their lives to stop thinking as slaves. They have learned to be comfortable in that condition; and they find the demands and responsibilities of freedom too frightening.
Despite mankind’s repeated rejection of God’s attempts to restore open communication between us and Him, He is not willing to give up on us. He has told us through prophetic Scripture that He is willing to give mankind a Second Pentecost. Once we decide that we truly want to have the restoration of a relationship with Him, He will pour out His Spirit again on all who are willing to receive Him. We’re further told that this “Latter Rain” of the Holy Spirit will be even greater than the “Early Rain” that was given to His first Disciples.
This will be another great attempt to establish a Covenant with His children which will restore the relationship lost at Eden. This final attempt will be even greater than the ones before. So hopefully this time we will accept it fully.
Scripture tells us in Romans 5:14, “From Adam until Moses, death reigned.” Why does it say death reigned until Moses? Why doesn’t it say until Jesus made His sacrifice? Because the possibility of dominion was made available again when the Covenant was offered. The full passage, verses 5 through 21, makes it clear it was the lost relationship with God that subjected us to death; and it is the offered Covenant that opens the possibility of dominion over this world and over death. This comes through restored communication and relationship with our God. Are you really ready for such a possibility?
Is our mindset today any different from that of the Israelites at the foot of Mt. Sinai? Or from the Christians which came in the years after the death of the first Apostles? Do we today grasp the full significance of what is being offered to us through a restoration of the Covenant? Are we any more prepared for a face-to-face encounter with God than any who have gone before? Are we ready to exert the dominion over this physical world which Adam once had? Can we comprehend the power over death and disease that Jesus gained and wishes us to wield? Will we be able to accept the full provisions of the restored Covenant when it is offered to us? The answers to these questions remain to be seen.
But let us pray for God to be gracious to us, and along with the Covenant to give us the ability to receive it. To receive Him! For now, let us prepare ourselves as best we can with what we have. Let us use the Holy Spirit we have to cleanse ourselves; then wait for God to speak to us. Once He does, accept all He offers!
One final thought: In the first century the Children of God knew that a Messiah had been promised and they were looking for Him. But as they waited they developed an expectation of what He should be like when He would come. Consequently, when Jesus didn’t meet their preconceived ideas of what the Messiah should be like, they rejected Him. Today, Children of God know that a Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit has been promised and we are looking for Him. But as we’ve waited, we too have developed preconceived ideas of what that outpouring of Holy Spirit should be like when it comes. Consequently, since the Holy Spirit isn’t going to fit most people’s expectations, He too is going to be unrecognized and unaccepted by most. Yes, we hear many Christians expressing an interest in the Holy Spirit. But a close examination will show their interest is only in receiving their distilled and packaged version of Him. We must be careful so as not to miss or reject the true Holy Spirit when He pours Himself on those who are waiting. Once again, pray to be made able to recognize and accept Him.
Amen.
This short presentation I’m about to make is on the same topic as that presented by Pr Nick last week and which he will continue again in a few minutes. But it is felt that by touching the same subject from a slightly different perspective you may gain a clearer understanding of the concept.
Also, please understand that my little talks are not meant to present new doctrines; they are just meant to be food for thought, to stimulate you to study for yourselves.
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