The Passover connection to Yeshua

Did you know that Yeshua was NOT a “sacrifice”? That’s because ADONAI never demanded human sacrifice.

(Yes, Abraham had Isaac gather firewood and lay down on the altar to be sacrificed, according to ADONAI’s command; but, as revealed later, it was simply a test for Abraham to examine himself on whether he was willing or unwilling to follow YHWH, no matter what (Genesis 22:2). We all know how the story ended – YHWH provided a ram, just in the nick of time.)

So, back to Yeshua, who was never meant to be a “sacrifice”. Why? Because (1) God didn’t tell anyone to “sacrifice” him; (2) nobody was told to spread his blood on the doorposts of their houses; and (3) the Pesach lambs weren't "sacrifices"!

(NOTE: In Exodus 12:6 the lambs are to be "slaughtered" [or "killed" depending on the version], while in Exodus 12:26-27, the act is said to be "the sacrifice of Adonai's Pesach". The fact is that it was NOT a sacrifice, since the lambs were not taken to the Temple [there was no temple!], and that the same word, "zeh-bakh" means "slaughter" or "offering" or "sacrifice" depending on the context. Only the ISR for Exodus 26:27 reads "It is the Passover slaughtering of יהוה,", rendering "zeh-bakh" properly.)

That is why Yeshua wasn’t exactly a "Passover Lamb”…

The simple Truth is, Yeshua martyred himself, thus redeeming us by voluntarily shedding his divine blood; and, in doing so, he redeemed us for our past sins (“our” referring to those who accepted YHWH [the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob] as their ELOHIM, and recognized that Yeshua was His Divine Messiah who martyred himself on our behalf).

If you’ll recall, YHWH always demanded blood sacrifices as a substitution/redemption for our lives, as you can see fully explained in our blog (https://blog.therefinersfire.org/…/what-sins-did-jesus-die-…). The bottom line of the article is that one’s salvation always required that blood substitution or redemption of one nephesh (soul) for another.

The possibility of that substitution of an animal at the Temple is gone; it has been replaced by your acceptance that the Messiah died for you, and redeemed you, so you can receive eternal life.

Yeshua volunteered to substitute His nephesh for yours, and yet, today, many reject the offer. Yeshua, sinless, MARTYRED himself, offering His blood for yours, against which there is NO Torah prohibition!

Some are claiming that Yeshua changed the meaning of Pesach - perhaps, because of the following verses:

1 Corinthians 5:7. Purge out from you the old leaven,[1] that you may be a new mass, as you are unleavened. For our Passover is the Mashiyach, who was slain for us. 8. Therefore let us celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of wickedness and bitterness, but with the leaven of purity and sanctity. (AENT)

NOTE: The word for “leaven” here in Hebrew is chometz. Therefore, Rav Shaul is teaching the Corinthians by using Passover imagery, by commanding them to purge the chometz from the house of their hearts, so that they can be sanctified. Of course, the rest of this verse and the next one prove this interpretation!

Notice also that this is Paul writing, not Yeshua speaking - and Paul is clearly relating the shed redeeming blood of the Messiah to that of the redeeming blood of the lamb at Pesach. But neither Paul, nor Yeshua “changed” the meaning of Pesach! Pesach in Paul’s time (and in Yeshua’s time) was celebrated in the same manner and for the same purpose as all of Judaism!

The claim might also have come from Luke 22:19-20 which reads: “Also, taking a piece of matzah, he made the b'rakhah, broke it, gave it to them and said, ‘This is my body, which is being given for you; do this in memory of me.’ He did the same with the cup after the meal, saying, ‘This cup is the New Covenant, ratified by my blood, which is being poured out for you.’” (CJB).

So, for those who believe “Jesus changed” the meaning of Pesach, please know that, that is simply not the case! Yeshua only expressed the remembrance of what He was about to do for the apostles and all mankind; that the life and redemption of the original pass-over for the Hebrews would forever be given to them by His redemptive blood. This in no way “changed” Pesach!

Let’s consider some parallels where we can see that the meaning of Pesach was in NO WAY changed:

1. At the original and only “pass-over” the blood of an unblemished lamb redeemed the firstborn of the Hebrews. Jesus is recognized as our “unblemished lamb” whose blood redeemed us. (1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5).

2. Jesus was killed the same afternoon as the lambs.

3. The sacrificed lamb “spared” the Hebrews (Exodus 12:27). Jesus’ (volunteer) substitution of Himself delivered mankind from bondage to sin and death (Romans 8:2).

4. The bones of the lamb were not broken. (Exodus 12:46). None of Jesus’ bones were broken. (John 19:33).

5. The lamb spared the firstborn from death, the consequence had the Hebrews sinned and not obeyed. (Exodus 12:12). Jesus spares from eternal death those who accept His redemption. (Leviticus 17:11, Revelation 1:5).

6. Even the disciples of Jesus recognized that Jesus changed nothing about Pesach but only provided for their redemption. They continued to celebrate Pesach but with the renewed “life” in the remembrance that now, they too, were saved as were the Hebrews in the one-and-only pass-over. “So then let us observe the festival, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of evil and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:8).

7. As with all the Pesach lambs, Yeshua was not “sacrificed” at the Temple, either!

As you surely know, Passover/Unleavened Bread/Hag HaMatzot celebrates the deliverance of the slaves from Egypt. It is the story of redemption by the killing of the Passover Lamb, the blood of which was applied to the doorposts while the Israelites were still in Egypt, shortly before their Exodus.

Obedience to the command to take a lamb into their homes for a few days and then kill it for the purpose of spreading its blood on the doorposts ensured that their firstborn would be spared the Tenth Curse against Pharaoh who refused to let God's enslaved Chosen People leave Egypt.

When the Angel of Death passed through the land and saw the blood, he "passed over" those houses and spared the first born within (Exodus 12:1-13). The annual remembrance and celebration of Passover not only serves as a reminder of the events leading up to the Exodus from Egypt; but it is also the story of redemption through Messiah Yeshua, whose shed blood on the cross/stake freed Believers from the slavery of earthly bondage to “the world!”

In other words, Yeshua fulfilled this event when he was crucified.

And that is the whole connection: Yeshua was our substitute, our redemption - and by believing and always following YHWH's Torah to help us remain holy and sin-free, we have the chance for eternal life!