How can we "celebrate it as a feast" in our modern context? The Original Call to Celebrate “Exodus 12:14: ‘So this day is to be a memorial for you, and you must celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; you are to celebrate it as a perpetual statute for the generations to come.’” Israel received a concrete, ongoing command: mark the deliverance from Egypt with a yearly feast, remembering God’s mighty salvation in real time, around a real table, with tangible symbols (lamb, unleavened bread, bitter herbs). Seeing the Fulfillment in Christ • 1 Corinthians 5:7–8 ties the Passover directly to Jesus: “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast…” • Luke 22:19–20 shows Jesus setting the new-covenant table on Passover night, giving bread and cup as enduring memorials. • Every element of Exodus 12 points forward to Him: the lamb without blemish (1 Peter 1:18–19), the blood that shields from judgment (Romans 5:9), the haste that calls for readiness (Luke 12:35-37). Principles for Modern Celebration • Memorial: intentionally remember God’s once-for-all rescue in Christ. • Feast: celebrate with joy, food, fellowship, and testimony. • Generational: involve children and newcomers so the story never fades (Exodus 12:26-27). • Purity: sweep out “leaven” of sin, bitterness, and falsehood (1 Corinthians 5:8). • Gratitude: direct praise “to the LORD,” not merely to tradition. • Perpetual: revisit the gospel rhythmically—yearly, quarterly, or weekly through the Lord’s Supper. Practical Ideas for Families and Churches • Host a Christ-centered Passover meal. Use roasted lamb or a suitable substitute, unleavened bread or matzah, bitter herbs, and four cups that trace redemption: sanctification, deliverance, redemption, praise. • Read aloud key passages: Exodus 12; Isaiah 53; Luke 22; John 19; 1 Corinthians 5. Pause after each to explain the connections. • Encourage personal testimony: how has the Lamb’s blood delivered each participant? • Sing songs of redemption—classic hymns (“Nothing but the Blood,” “There Is a Fountain”) or modern worship centered on the cross. • Conclude with the Lord’s Supper, linking the ancient symbols to Christ’s ordained memorial. • Share with the needy. Set aside an offering or pack food boxes; Israel left Egypt with full provision, so let your feast overflow to others (2 Corinthians 9:11). • Remove literal leaven for a week, if desired, as a tactile reminder to examine hearts and clear out known sin. • Mark the calendar annually (around the spring Passover season) yet also weave shorter communion observances into regular worship. Living the Feast Daily • Walk in freedom; refuse to return to “Egypt” (Galatians 5:1). • Keep short accounts with God—confess swiftly, just as Israel purged leaven promptly. • Celebrate grace at ordinary meals: a whispered “thank You for the Lamb” turns any table into a mini-Passover. • Teach children the gospel storyline whenever you break bread (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). • Anticipate the greater banquet: Revelation 19:9 promises, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Every present feast rehearses that future joy. Honor the timeless command by feasting on God’s finished work in Christ—remembering, rejoicing, and rehearsing redemption until the Lamb Himself returns to host the everlasting celebration. |
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