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God established the Passover to destroy the devil and give His children eternal life.
Whoever dwells in Zion knows well the importance of the Passover.
Now, we need to consider more carefully why disasters pass over us when we celebrate the Passover.
What is the true meaning of the Passover?
What is the source of the power of the Passover to liberate us from disasters?
Let's study over these matters through the Bible, with a humble and modest attitude before God.
Escape from disasters through the blood of the Passover lamb
Passover is God's appointed feast, which was established over 3500 years ago.
When the Israelites lived as slaves in Egypt, God commanded Pharaoh to release Israel from Egypt.
However, he refused God's command, and God brought ten plagues upon Egypt.
The tenth plague, the slaying of the firstborn, was about to fall upon Egypt on the night of the fourteenth
day of the first month in the sacred calendar: God let the plague of death pass over the houses
that had the blood of the Passover lamb on the sides and tops of the doorframes.
This was the day of the Passover.
Ex 12:11-13 『"This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt,
your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD'S Passover.
On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn―both
men and animals―and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt.
I am the LORD.
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood,
I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt."』
That day, all the firstborn of Egypt were killed, from the firstborn of Pharaoh,
who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon.
In Egypt there was not a house without someone dead (Ex 12:29-30).
However, the Israelites, who painted the lamb's blood on the doorposts and lintels of their houses,
Ex 12:23 『When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians,
he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway,
and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.』
Here, we need to carefully consider why the plague of death passed over the people of Israel.
It was not because of the people celebrating the Passover that the plague passed over,
but because of the blood of the Passover lamb. Neither a wise man's house
nor a rich man's house full of worldly treasures nor an influential royal family's palace could escape the plague.
Only the house marked with the blood of the Passover lamb was saved from the plague.
It is because of the blood of the Passover Lamb in us that we can escape disasters,
not because we ourselves who celebrate the Passover are powerful.
We have to carefully consider this: Because God protects us and wraps us with His invisible love and grace,
all disasters are avoided, evil gods are judged, and we are redeemed from this sinful world.
So, do not just consider the Passover itself, but feel the hand of God who guards and
protects us through the Passover.
Christ's flesh and blood in the Passover
Concerning the blood of the Passover Lamb with which we are redeemed
from the empty way of life and from sin and death,
Jesus taught us as follows:
1 Jn 6:53-57 『Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him . . .
so the one who feeds on me will live because of me."』
Not only disasters but even sin and death flee from us by the blood of Christ.
To put His precious blood into us, God has given us the Passover, the truth of life.
Mt 26:17-19, 26-28 『"‘. . . My appointed time is near.
I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.
'" So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover . . .
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying,
"Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them,
saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."』
Lk 22:7-8, 19-20 『. . . Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover." . . . And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
"This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
which is poured out for you."』
The Passover is the covenant God has established through His own blood
. Without the blood of the Passover Lamb, we can neither escape disasters nor repel the devil.
So Christ, the reality of the Passover lamb, has given us the Passover bread and
wine as His flesh and blood. He has promised that if we eat His flesh and drink His blood,
we remain in Him, and He in us.
Nevertheless, many churches today claim that the Passover doesn't have to be observed.
Are they right? Without the blood of the Passover Lamb, we are apt to be attacked by Satan.
For this reason, God has told that if anyone does not celebrate the Passover,
he must be cut off from God's people.
The blood of the Passover lamb in the Old Testament was put on the doorframes and
lintels of their houses. In the New Testament, however, the blood of the Passover
Lamb is marked on our foreheads and hearts through the new covenant.
So, even if the destroying angel comes near us, when he sees the blood of Christ in us, he passes over us.
A thousand may fall at our side, ten thousand at our right hand, no disaster comes near us who are sealed by the precious blood of the Lamb in the truth of the Passover, the new covenant.
That's why we can be saved from disasters through the Passover.
The precious blood of the Passover Lamb is
the eraser that removes our sin.
On the contrary, our sin dishonors the precious blood of Christ.
God has forgiven all our sins, committed in heaven, through the precious blood of Christ.
How dare we dishonor and insult the precious blood? If we do, His blood is no more effective for us.
Though one's name is written in the book of life, it may be blotted out of it.
So the Bible tells us to hold fast what we have, so that no one will take our crown―the crown of life.
We are to cherish the precious blood of Christ, given to us by His sublime grace.
We are to cherish the precious blood of Christ, given to us by His sublime grace.
We are most proud of having the forgiveness of sins and eternal life through the Passover.
However, what good is it if we do not understand the sacrificial love contained in it?
Thinking of the grace and love God has given us,
we children of Zion shall give thanks in everything and be joyful always.
We should preach the gospel to all people around the world who still do not know the Passover
We should preach the gospel to all people around the world who still do not know the Passover
and are fallen away from salvation and the grace of God, so that they may also
cherish the precious blood of Christ in them.
We are all here today because of the precious blood of our heavenly Father and Mother,
given to us through Their sacrifice. With a more humble heart, let us always give glory to
our heavenly Father and Mother and receive abundant blessing.
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