Get in touch
555-555-5555
mymail@mailservice.com
The Miracle of the Passover
The Miracle of Passover: Zola Levitt
I invite you to watch the video on YOUTUBE entitled, THE MIRACLE OF PASSOVER with Zola Levitt (1938-2006), a Jewish believer in Christianity who founded Zola Levitt Ministries, in Dallas, Texas, in 1979.
Matt. 26:17-29 Passover with Jesus and his Disciples
Below are notes that I have used in the past when we observed the Lords’ Supper together.
THE BREAD:
- The bread is unleavened, symbolizing the purity of Jesus.
- It has holes in it, reminding us of
Zech. 12:10
which predicted that Jesus’ side would be pierced.
- It has “bruise” marks and stripes on it referring to Isa. 53:5 where we are told that “he was bruised for our iniquities … and with his stripes we are healed.”
- Matt. 26:26, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’”
- The bread doesn’t turn into the body of Jesus. No self-respecting Jew would ever eat human flesh (Gen. 9:2-4 and Lev. 11 and 26:27-29).
EAT THE BREAD
THE WINE:
During the Passover supper, there were 4 cups of wine served; 1 for each of the promises given to the enslaved Israelites in Ex. 6:6.
- “I will take you out of Egypt, out from under the yoke of bondage (This is the cup of
sanctification).
- “I will save you from slavery. (This is the cup of
deliverance).
- “I will redeem you from the penalty of sin. (This is the cup of
redemption) that he offered the disciples.
- “I will take you as a nation to the land I promised Abraham.” (This is the cup of
hope).
Matt. 26:27, “Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave 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.’”
It is the 3rd cup, the cup of redemption, that Jesus offered to his disciples to drink. It was a symbol of the blood that was to be shed by Jesus and a marriage proposal.
DRINK THE WINE
A better understanding of these passages can be gained by knowing about the Jewish customs of the day.
- When a young man wanted to propose to a young lady, he would bring her a cup of wine, some money (the Bride’s Price) and a marriage contract (a covenant). Paul says that we (the Bride of Christ, and the Church) were bought with a price (Cor. 7:23).
- The young lady reads the contract, counts the money and if she agrees to the marriage, she drinks the cup of wine.
- After the lady drinks the wine, the groom (Jesus) then goes to his father’s house to prepare a place for his bride. Jesus said, “In my father’s house are many mansions (rooms). I go to prepare a place for you, and I will come again and take you to myself” (John 14:2-4).
- No one knew when the groom would be able to return for his bride. Nor do we know when Jesus will return (the rapture) for his bride, the church. Only the groom’s father knows. (Matt. 24:36).
- No groom is going to pay for the bride and not come back for her. Meanwhile, the bride (the church) is to wear a veil (a symbol of her engagement, remain chaste and keep an oil lamp burning in anticipation of the grooms return. The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and some might find themselves without oil for their lamps when the groom comes for his bride. These are the ones who were church members but not really Christians.
- When the groom comes for his bride, someone in the wedding party has to give her some warning as they approach her house by giving out a loud shout. Matt. 24:31 says, “And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather his elect from all the four winds.”
The cup of wine that we drink at the Lord’s Supper is the 3rd cup of Passover, the cup of Redemption. It is a renewal of our wedding vow. If you accept this cup, then you agree again to remain chaste and wait in anticipation of the groom’s return. Drink it and when the bridegroom, Jesus, comes for his bride he will stop at your house.
Jesus didn’t drink of the 4th cup, the cup of hope, at his last Passover. After drinking the cup of redemption, he said “I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Fathers’ Kingdom” (Matt. 26:29). He will drink it when we are united with him in the Kingdom at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-10).
While we are waiting for Jesus to come for his bride may I suggest we focus on fulfilling
The Great Commission of
Matt. 28:19 “Go into all the world,
Preach the Gospel, make
Disciples (students) and
Teach.
We are also told to practice a true religion that is acceptable to God in James 1:27, “True religion that God finds acceptable is taking care of those in need and keeping ourselves from the corruption of the world.”
Preaching, teaching, caring, and setting an example to the world are what we encourage everyone to do in our local communities and anywhere God may lead us.
Recent Articles
Purim is a Jewish celebration, more like the Fourth of July or Mother’s Day, than a religious holiday like Passover. Purin is usually observed in February or March of each year. The word Purim means, “lots” as in a lottery, which was the means that the villainous Haman, an Amalekite, used to set the date for the massacre of Jews in Persia (previously Babylon). These events in the Book of Esther take place between chapters six and seven of the Book of Ezra. The setting is Persia, seventy years after they were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. Israel spent 70 years in captivity in Babylon, which was later taken over by the Persians in 539 B.C. Just a year later, the Persian King Cyrus decreed throughout his empire that any captive Jews in Babylonia who desired could return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Cyrus even allowed the vessels of gold and silver stolen by Nebuchadnezzar’s troops to be returned. As we will read in Isaiah 48 , they all should have left, but some stayed behind. Let’s look at the cast of characters in this drama. The villain in the story was Haman, an Amalekite. The Amalekites were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother. You might recall that these siblings had a long-standing conflict that revolved around the birthright. Esau, the firstborn, sold his birthright to his brother Jacob. The hostility that Jacob and Esau had for one another carried on through the generations like a bad gene. Esau had a grandson named Amalek, from which we get the name Amalekites. These cousins of the Israelites attacked them whenever they had the chance. When the Jews were led out of Egypt by Moses, the Amalekites attacked them in Rephidim, in the Sinai Desert. This unprovoked attack led God to promise to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven (Ex. 17:8-14) . Forty years later, in his last major speech to his people, Moses reminded the Jews of the command to go after Amalek (Deut. 25:17-19) . Saul, the first King of Israel, was commanded to wipe out the Amalekites (I Sam. 15:2-3) . But Saul disobeyed and spared the life of King Agag (I Sam 15:9) . This led to the premature end of the reign of Saul (I Sam. 15:23) . Saul, realizing his mistake, subsequently did kill Agag, but one of his sons survived. So not only was he disobedient, but he was also incompetent. Some 500 years later, one of his descendants was Haman. Others in the cast of characters included the royal couple, King Xerxes (some think it was King Ahasuerus or perhaps both names refer to the same person), and Queen Vashti. Then there was Esther, the Jewish maiden, and her uncle Mordecai. And so, with the setting in place, the cast of characters on stage, let the drama that led to Purim begin.
JOB SUFFERS AND DEMANDS FROM GOD AN EXPLANATION AS TO “WHY?”
Did it Really Happen? Does it Really Matter?
Ezra Comes to Jerusalem and Teaches the People
The Jews Journey to Jerusalem
The Israelites Head for Jerusalem and Rebuild their Temple.
How Israelites Should Behave When They Return Home
December 7-15, 2023, is Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)
Chapter 22: The Book of the Law was Found, Josiah leads a Return to God
Chapter 24: Judah is Taken into Captivity
Share this:
Start Here...
Why Study the Bible?
Don’t many consider the Bible to be just a book of myths? Why do we read the Bible rather than the sacred literature of other religions?
How do we know that it is from God? How do we know that what we have today is an accurate translation from the original? Is the Bible complete or have there been some books that have been lost?
We should be able to answer these questions, and there are answers! So start here!
Answers to Common Bible Questions
Lent is a six week period of spiritual devotion starting on Ash Wednesday and ending at Easter. Those who observe Lent usually give up something for Lent. Some might give up coffee, or soda pop, or alcohol, or chocolate. May I suggest that you give up something that will really impress God and make this season of Lent one of the most memorable and meaningful seasons of your life? May I suggest that if you are giving up something, why not give up some of the acts of our sinful nature mentioned in Gal. 5:19? Why don’t we give up lying about others? Do you think you can give up the hate you feel towards others? How about envy, can we work on putting envy aside this year? How about giving up on the naïve idea that all pastors are mature Christian leaders whose word should always be accepted, rather than wolfs in sheep’s clothing (Matt 7:15). How about giving up the idea that everyone in church is a real Christian (Matt 7:21-23). How about giving up your desire to seek revenge on those who have hurt you (Matt 18:21-22)? If you are insecure and feel threatened when you see the success of others in ministry, how about giving up efforts to hinder others who have been called to minister (Rom 12:4-8)? Of course it is easier to give up something like chocolate, etc. and make yourself feel like you are doing something that is pleasing to God. If you are not willing to give up unchristian behavior, might I suggest something that will really please God this Lent? Give up all evidence of your profession of Christian faith, such as books, pictures and jewelry. Don’t talk about God, Jesus or the Church. I think God would appreciate it if you would stop giving HIM a bad name by the way you live. Let’s give up what hinders our witness and become a better ambassador for Christ (2 Cor 5:20) this Lenten season.
In Matthew 2:1-2 is says that the magi saw "His star in the east." What was this star that guided these men to Jesus? Some have suggested that it could have been a comet, an asteroid, or perhaps a meteor or an especially bright star. The problem with these suggestions is that these physical things either quickly move across the sky and then disappear or are too far away to provide directions with any precision. It would be hard to get directions from such objects. The "star" had to move constantly or intermittently at the same pace as the magi. Then it says that it hovered over the house where Mary and Joseph had moved to with Jesus. It hardly sounds like a comet or meteor or a star as we know them. Can you think of another time that people in the Bible were guided by some form of light? How about the time when Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt? He didn't have a global positioning system with him. He did have a pillar of fire that led him at night (Ex 13:21-22). We see this light in Solomon's Temple (2 Chron 7:1-3) and when the Jews were about to go into Babylonian captivity, we see it leaving the Temple (Ezek 9-11). In the New Testament we see it at the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:9) at His transfiguration (Matt 17:5) and His ascension (Acts 1:9). What exactly was this guiding light? The word "star" can also be translated as "radiance." It appears that it was this "radiance" that guided Moses and the magi. The Jews call this the "Shekinah", a physical manifestation of the glory of God in the form of a supernatural radiance. This, I believe, is what the Star of Bethlehem was.
Imagine that you are the pastor of a church. A young married couple is having some difficulties in their relationship and they seek counsel from you. On Monday the wife comes in to give her assessment of their marriage. What do you think she will say? She might say that she is a hardworking, caring and supportive wife and that it is her husband who is the neglectful, insensitive brute and the source of all problems in the marriage. You feel so sorry for this wife and when you see her husband in the hallway, you think to yourself, "What a jerk." On Friday the husband comes in and gives his assessment of the marriage. He tells you that he is hard working and very generous and that she is the major problem in the relationship. As the pastor, you are wondering if they both are talking about the same marriage. Each person tells you what makes them look best and their spouse the worst. Where is the truth? The truth is probably somewhere in between Proverbs 18:17 says, "The first to present his case seems right, til another comes forward and questions him." There are conflicts in all relationships, between spouses, parents and children, employees and employers. When you hear one side of a story, don’t assume that what you hear is the complete truth. And don’t pass on to someone else what you have heard. Probably, at least some of what you heard is untrue to gain your support in a conflict.