A key to Yahweh’s salvation plan is found in the timeless Passover Many today have the idea that Yahshua’s plan of redemption was finished when He was impaled on Passover day. His death, they believe, marked the end of the old Jewish system, the virtual end of Israel as the chosen of Yahweh, and the end of the laws of the Old Testament. They firmly believe that Yahshua’s death on the tree, followed by His resurrection, marked the beginning of the Christian era. Along with that assumption is that the New Testament Scriptures, and only those Scriptures, are in effect today. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, Yahshua as the Passover lamb held the key role in a continuation of Yahweh’s design for His human creation. The Passover is the first of the yearly observances of Yahweh and in the New Testament represents the beginning of the rest of Yahweh’s plan, not the complete scrapping of everything He had done up to that point. Granted, the original hopes for an exclusive, special people who would follow and worship only Him had now changed. Because of Israel’s continual rebellion, Yahweh opened His calling up to all who would repent and turn to Him, Israel included. Romans 9:27 is clear that a remnant of Israel shall be saved. Yahweh is certainly not finished with Israel. Therefore, when we look at the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread that follows, we see a progression — and not an ending — of a salvation plan that was established at creation itself. Passover is a memorial of an actual event that occurred long ago in Egypt. Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are also shadows of events to occur later in the New Testament. What Yahshua did by becoming the Passover Lamb was fulfilled only in part. He spoke of a yet another fulfillment of Passover in the future. Throughout history we see the importance of this special observance. From ancient days to the Kingdom, the Passover is key to Yahweh’s blueprint for salvation of His creation. When the Egyptian firstborn from every house died, Yahweh sent a clear message of obedience to all of mankind. It was the firstborn that got twice the family inheritance, which was known as the birthright. With the death of Egyptian firstborn, Yahweh dramatically demonstrated that those not covered by the blood of the lamb will have no life or inheritance in the Heavenly Father’s Kingdom. The other lesson we learn is that we are covered by that blood only if we follow Yahweh’s instructions explicitly. If anyone in Israel had not done exactly as Yahweh commanded, not putting the blood on the top of the doorpost but only on the sides, for instance, he would have faced the same consequences as the Egyptians. Yahweh had to see the blood on the lintel, as well as on the doorposts, Exodus 12:23. The entire door frame had to have a blood covering, symbolic of a complete protection from death by the blood of the lamb. For us, it means that if we aren’t totally covered by the blood of Messiah, we face everlasting death. Rather than having less meaning for us today, the Passover and Feast have much more serious implications than they ever had for ancient Egypt and Israel. The physical consequences anciently for disobedience now translate into serious spiritual consequences for us if we are not in obedience. Looking back in history, we see that Yahweh began a re-calling of His people at the Passover, ultimately to take them out of the Egypt of sin and unto Himself. He does the same today in the New Covenant observance of the Passover. It is an annual reminder for all who would be His elect not to get involved in the sin of this world or it will enslave us, just as Israel was enslaved in Egypt because they had repeatedly refused to obey their Heavenly Father. Passover offered a chance to rededicate their lives to Him, to turn back again in sincerity. Exodus 12:19-20 is a warning against anyone who would not take the Feast of Unleavened Bread seriously as well. Therefore, each time that we participate in the Passover and Feast that follows, we undergo a renewal with Yahweh. That is why it is so important to keep these annual set times. Most important of all, they are called His. They honor Him. And they are central to the redemption of His people. At that time of year we rededicate our lives to the Father as we recount the sacrifice of the Son, and remove leaven from our lives in the seven-day Feast that follows Passover. Yeast is only one substance that we are to refrain from consuming during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Other leavening agents include: cream of tartar, baking powder, baking soda, and calcium phosphate. Any chemical that causes fermentation would be classified as leavening. What leavening symbolizes is what is important. Leavening in the Scriptures pictures hypocrisy, false teachings, and wickedness. When leaven is removed, these evils that it represents are symbolically removed as well. His people are called peculiar in Titus 2:14 and we should be different. The context of this verse is of Yahshua’s sacrifice at Passover and what it does to renew our dedication to Him. If you are not seen as "peculiar" by the world around you, then you need to reassess your walk with Yahshua. Yahweh’s people should be a light of righteousness to those around them. And the further this world sinks into the abyss, the more your light should stand out in the darkness. Yahweh’s people should be vastly different from the world. Yahweh’ standards are right and true and stand forever. And if we don’t meet them, we face our own personal judgment. The insidious, moral collapse occurring everywhere is nothing less than the action of leavening. It permeates and works slowly to induce a change. And spiritually, it spells corruption of the heart. Leavening induces a chemical change. In a chemical change, the nature of the substance itself is altered. To be constantly exposed to the leaven of hypocrisy, false teachings and wickedness of the world will eventually create a spiritual change in a person, not unlike the chemical change brought on by leavening. The lesson of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is to make us aware that influences exist and are real and can change us if we are not circumspect. To be unaware of leaven is to be unaware of the Satanic influences that will destroy us spiritually. You cannot constantly be bombarded by trash day in and day out and not expect to get some of it on you, to be influenced by it, and even come to consider it normal. That is what we see in our society today. Many are searching for meaning today, but in all the wrong places. Yahweh says here is the way, walk in it. The Passover was a night when Yahweh executed judgment on the false religion of Egypt, and hence the false religions of the world. The lessons remain for us. Revelation shows that Many of the same plagues unleashed on Egypt will again be loosed on this earth in the last days. To keep the Passover correctly and on the right day is a serious matter. Salvation itself is tied to this observance. That is why Yahweh’s people will not ever neglect it. Many think of Yahweh not as a Heavenly Father, but as a kindly old Grandfather, who would never harm anyone and who puts up with His spoiled children forever. But Yahweh punished even believers in the New Testament with sickness and death for observing Passover carelessly, 1Corinthians 11:27-31. Come out of a world deceived by traditions and practices that are not in the Scriptures. Come to truly know your Heavenly Father by keeping the only days commanded in His Word. The seven annual Feasts and Sabbaths of Leviticus 23 are the real Scriptural holidays that the True Worshiper should be observing.
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