“I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live." John 11:25
The words I am in the Aramaic are a clear statement of Christ’s deity. The Aramaic uses a word for resurrection that is related linguistically to the name Noah, who was symbolically “resurrected” from the flood as the life-giver to those who repopulated the earth. Resurrection is superior to life, for life can be defeated and ended. But resurrection overcomes. Life is the power to exist, but resurrection is the power to conquer all, even death itself. Believers must learn to live in Christ our Life and Christ our Resurrection to conquer all things.
Season of Passover
Jewish Passover ended in Atlanta, GA (USA) at 8:10 pm April 16. In those days, Jesus was arrested shortly after the Passover Meal. He died the following day at 3 pm. He was resurrected Sunday morning at 6 am. Sunday, April 19, 2020, is Resurrection Sunday/Easter in the Orthodox Church which follows the Hebraic/Lunar Calendar.
Springtime signifies the season of Passover. It begins at the sunset marking the start of the 15th day of Nissan which is the first month of the ecclesiastical Jewish calendar. That is some time between April and May in the modern calendar. Passover commemorates a covenant between God and the Israelites. Over 3,000 years ago the pharaohs of Egypt enslaved the Jews and forced them to toil in misery. According to the Book of Exodus, God sent Moses to convince the pharaoh "to let My people go!" But the pharaoh chose to ignore the request.
God unleashed nine plagues onto Egypt including locusts, hail storms, and disease. None of them persuaded the stubborn pharaoh. For the tenth plague, God slayed all first born sons in the land. Moses instructed the Hebrews to slaughter lambs and spread the blood over their front doors so the angel of death would pass over their homes leaving their children unharmed. From this act came Pesach which is the Hebrew word for passing over. When the pharaoh's own son was killed by the wrath, he reluctantly agreed to let Moses lead his people out of Egypt into the Promised Land.
The story of the Hebrew's deliverance from bondage is remembered in ritualistic detail with a meal called the Seder. The Seder begins the seven day season of Passover. It is tradition for Jews living outside of Israel to celebrate Passover for eight days with the Seder meal on each of the first two nights. This guarantees that every Jew around the world can participate in their Seder at the same time with those living in the Holy Land. Every element of the Seder meal must occur in specific order. Celebrants read from the Haggadah which is a liturgy written by Rabbis during the 2nd-7th Century B.C. The Haggadah retells the story of the Jews Exodus from Egypt.
The Seder begins with a cup of wine which sanctifies the holiday. A plate is presented full of symbolic reminders of the past. Horseradish recalls the bitter times Jews suffered in bondage. Haroset, a thick, sweet mixture of chopped fruit, nuts, wine and spices evokes the mortar slaves used to build the pyramids. Parsley dipped in salt water represents the tears they shed. A shank bone signifies the slaughtered lamb whose blood was slathered on doorways. And an egg symbolizes hope and rebirth. As the dinner begins the plate is removed from the table. Bread that has risen or leavened bread is strictly forbidden during Passover season. Instead, flat matzo bread is served.
The three pieces of matzo bread represent the three temples- two which were destroyed and one that will be built prior to the second coming of the Messiah. Matzo is also a reminder of the Exodus. Hebrews left Egypt in such a hurry that they couldn't wait for their bread to rise. As the meal is consumed four more ceremonial cups of wine are served. The final cup- the cup of Elijah is filled and the front door is opened. This is an invitation for the Prophet Elijah to enter the home. The Passover Seder is one of the oldest continuing ceremonial customs in human history. It is rooted in the day of the pharaohs with the faithful passing down its meaning and rituals generation after generation.
Blood of the New Covenant
Jesus had arranged to eat the Passover meal with His disciples on the night he would be betrayed and arrested. During this meal, Jesus instituted the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is the name given by the Apostle Paul to the event that commemorated the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. When the meal was finished Jesus took the bread and the wine and did the following: Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Luke 22:19-20, NRSV
Matthew records Jesus saying: “for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28, NRSV One object of the Lord's Supper is to keep Jesus and the new covenant with God in the remembrance of the disciples of Christ. This is a love covenant between Jesus and each of his disciples, and it seals the affection they have for one another. The table on which the bread was placed is known as the Lord's table. The Apostle Paul wrote: “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.” 1 Corinthians 10:21, NRSV
The cup is known as the cup of blessing or the cup of the Lord. The Apostle Paul wrote: ”The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?” 1 Corinthians 10:16, NRSV The Lord's Supper is a time when believers remember what Jesus did for them on Calvary's cross. The bread represents Jesus' broken body while the wine symbolizes the blood that He shed on our behalf.
Jesus commanded that believers do this in remembrance of Him until He returns. Paul wrote: “For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, NRSV
New Life in the Resurrection
Springtime also signifies the season that we put an extra emphasis on the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Spring is a delightful season of year. Grass is green. Flowers are blooming. The trees are budding. One aspect of this season is pollen. Some of us suffer from seasonal allergies. Despite seasonal allergies, I still really enjoy Spring because it reminds me of new life, renewal, and resurrection. It is a season of revival, reappearance, rebirth, rebuilding, recharging, reconstruction, and recovery. It is a season of redevelopment, refreshing, regeneration, rehabilitation, reinforcement, reinvigoration, and rejuvenation.
Spring reminds me of the power in fresh starts, new beginnings, and new life. It is a season of rekindling, renaissance, renewal, renovation, repair, replenishment, and restitution. It is a season of restoration, resumption, resurgence, resurrection, revitalization, revival and revolution. On Easter Sunday, we put an extra emphasis on the resurrection of Christ. Friday prior to Resurrection Sunday Jesus was crucified and place in a tomb, like any other person that dies. Saturday the body was still in the tomb. However early Sunday things completely changed- SUDDENLY! What was once dead was now alive. The body resurrected! Death did not have the final say over Jesus the Christ!
The same is true for us when we become a Christian. We put to death our old selves. We are resurrected as new creations. We are given new lives in Christ. And just like every spring when plants that were once dormant come back to life and have a new beginning, we too have a new beginning in our walk with God. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 says “ So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! NRSV
Another great thing about this new beginning is we can continually have this new life. God is a god of forgiveness and fresh starts. If we feel like we’ve gone astray or haven’t been walking with God as we should, we can turn back to him and have a new beginning once again. Let us rejoice today and every day in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Death was conquered that day and continues to be conquered in all of our lives every day. Praise God! “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55, NRSV
Prayer
I pray that God will cover us with the blood of the Lamb of God which causes death, disease and destruction to pass over. It is the blood of Jesus that repels the works of darkness, washes away our sins and gives us newness of life. I pray that the God of suddenlies will quickly and unexpectedly do that which only God can do.
May we experience newness in every area of our lives. May we receive new activations and new accelerations of spiritual gifts. May we form new relationships with divine connections, destiny helpers, and covenantal partners.
May we be ushered into new opportunities in our careers, businesses and ministries. May we have a new zeal for life and receive healing in our minds, emotions and bodies. May we receive fresh downloads of witty ideas to make wealth.
May we know with an assurance that we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us. May we walk in the grace and anointing of the Overcomer who overcame death for indeed we are more than conquerors. We are being resurrected from every form of death and defeat.
In Jesus' name. Amen!
Citations:
1. Brian Simmons. "Study Footnotes John 11:25." BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A25&version=TPT. (Retrieved April 19, 2020).
2. Don Stewart. “What is the Lord’s Supper?” Blue Letter Bible. https://www. blueletterbible.org /faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_590.cfm. (Retrieved April 17, 2020).
3. History.com Editors. "Passover." History. https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/ passover. (Retrieved April 17, 2020).
4. Mike Coghill. “The Resurrection: A Time for New Beginnings.” Choctaw Church of Christ. https://choctaw.church/articles/1996. (Retrieved April 19, 2020).
