Works In Progress

A gifted young writer, David Bejamin, reminds us to recognize and celebrate one of the most important prophecies regarding our Lord …

The Passover Seder (the word “Seder” means “order”) is a celebration ordained by God to remember the deliverance of the Hebrew nation from slavery in Egypt. However, for a Messianic Jew like me, that is, a Jew who follows Jesus, this celebration takes on another meaning as well. For on this day we celebrate that not only did the Hebrews of old escape death but so do we.

Passover takes place on the 14^th day of the first month of the Jewish calendar which is called Nissan, usually coming around the end of March or the beginning of April.

If you are new to the Jewish understanding of Christianity, you probably do not know that all Jewish Holy Days, like Passover, are also prophetic. This one in particular bears a prophesy that has been in effect for the entire history of mankind; a Savior will rescue us from the curse of death brought on by sin.

Passover is the story of the spotless (signifying sinless) lamb slain to save all those who place its blood on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. The whole meaning of the celebration is summed up in its name. Passover, literally means “pass over” and so it is “the celebration of the passing over”. The enslaved Israelites in Egypt were told to swipe the blood of a lamb over and to the side posts of their door way. That way, the angel of death would “pass over” that house. The prophesy given by Passover is this: The saving of man from the judgment of God via the blood of a perfect sacrifice.

The fulfillment of this prophecy begins as Jesus enters Jerusalem to the praise of the people. At this time, during the traditional celebration of Passover, a spotless lamb would be brought into the temple and would have been inspected for blemishes for the next four days. Similarly, for the next four days Jesus is tested by the Pharisees and still none can find him at fault. He is spotless.

On the eve of Passover Jesus and the disciples celebrate the Holy Day just like any other law abiding Jews. Near the end of the Seder meal Jesus institutes the Communion declaring of the matzo and wine, “Do this in Remembrance of Me.”

That night Jesus is taken by the Pharisees. He endures torture, beatings, illegal Jewish trials and a Roman sentence before being led to Calvary. It is the ninth hour of the morning when Jesus is nailed to the cross. At this exact time in the traditional Passover celebration the spotless lamb is sacrificed in the temple. Not a bone of the lamb was to be broken, and none were, in either Jesus or the lamb. The prophecy is complete.

It is no mystery that John the Baptist said of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.” Jesus was and is forever the Spotless Passover Lamb of God. This year, even if you are not from a Jewish background, I encourage you to search out a Messianic Seder. Your relationship with the Lord will be deepened as you relive the Lord’s last supper and understand the long history and fulfilled prophecy behind the sacrifice of the Lamb.

From my book Pièce de Résistance.

Gather together:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 T vanilla
• 1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 1/2 cups quick rolled oats
• 1 cup raisins  (optional)
• ½ cup chopped, toasted walnuts (optional)
• ¼ cup cinnamon coffee flavoring syrup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl cream together butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Blend in instant pudding, and then beat in eggs until the batter is light and fluffy. Combine flour, baking soda and baking powder; stir into the batter. Next, add oats and raisins and nuts if desired. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Bake for about 8 minutes, till just set but not yet firm, in the preheated oven. Take out of oven, let sit on pan for 1 minute before gently removing to cool on wire racks.

When partially cool, brush tops lightly with cinnamon coffee syrup. Serve.

I’m excitedly preparing for our forthcoming trip to London by browsing some travel guides. As a garden enthusiast in the thrall of early spring, one fact truly fascinated me. More than 40,000 bulbs are planted each year at Buckingham Palace, and 250,000 – a full quarter of a million bulbs – at Hampton Court Palace. That’s a lot of sore backs and muddy knees for Her Majesty!

These royal gardeners plant relatively nondescript bulbs that are nearly indistinguishable from one another except to those who specifically chose them for sowing. Galatians 6 tells us that we can sow to please the sinful nature or we can sow to please the Spirit. One chapter earlier Paul tells us exactly what the acts of the sinful nature are: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; enmity, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. Notice that he does not distinguish one as being more  – or less – serious than the others. Then he tells us what the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. All of the latter will be present in the one who sows to the Spirit. They are fruit of the same tree.

God sometimes chooses to alter the course of the natural laws He created, but mostly, He lets the laws work as He designed them. If you drop a precious vase from a balcony it’s going to drop and crash. He does not adjust the law of gravity to save us from our foolishness. If we build on sand and not on rock, the waves will wash our homes away. Likewise, if we sow to the sinful nature He promises that we will reap destruction whereas if we sow to the Spirit we will reap eternal life.  Choose carefully and prayerfully. Our gardens will be on display both here and in the kingdom to come.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Galatians 6:7