Memorials in the Bible
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person (who has died) or an event. The most common type of memorial is the gravestone or the memorial plaque. Also common are war memorials commemorating those who have died in wars.
God has given us many memorials. This week we will look at four of them.
1) PASSOVER
13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. (Exodus 12:13-15)
Definition and Origin
Passover, known as “Pesach” in Hebrew, is one of the most significant feasts in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The term “Passover” refers to the event described in Exodus 12, where the Lord “passed over” the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague, sparing their firstborn while striking down the firstborn of Egypt. This event marks the beginning of the Exodus, the journey of the Israelites to the Promised Land.
Biblical Account
The institution of Passover is detailed in Exodus 12. God commanded Moses and Aaron to instruct the Israelites to take a lamb without blemish, slaughter it, and apply its blood to the doorposts and lintels of their homes. The lamb was to be roasted and eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. The Lord declared, “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and I will strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood on the houses where you are staying will distinguish them; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:12-13).
Observance and Rituals
Passover is observed on the 14th day of the first month, Nisan, in the Hebrew calendar.
Passover in the New Testament
Passover holds significant typological importance in the New Testament, where it is seen as a foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrificial death. The Apostle Paul writes, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). The Last Supper, which Jesus shared with His disciples, was a Passover meal. During this meal, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). The crucifixion of Jesus coincided with the Passover, underscoring His role as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). (https://biblehub.com/topical/p/passover.htm)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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