EAT THE PASSOVER – by Paul M Hanssen
EASTER – 2021
The Passover is celebrated every year by Jew and Christian alike. The Jews celebrate the day of redemption and deliverance from the slavery of Egypt; the day a lamb was slain and the blood was placed over the door-post; the day their lives were spared from the death angel; the day that Moses led the people of God out from under the chains of tyranny on a journey towards the fulfillment of God’s promise. On the other hand, the Christian celebrates Jesus, the Lamb of God, His death, the shedding of His blameless blood, His resurrection, and the price that He paid for man’s sin through His death on the cross.
When we think about or talk about the Passover, we most often think on the blood aspect of the sacrifice; where the blood was applied, and what the blood accomplished. This, of course, is of utmost importance. However, it is only part of the Passover message. The blood which the lamb provided was needed. Without the blood there is no life, no covering, no redemption, no deliverance, no forgiveness, and no hope.
Most animal sacrifices were burned on the altar. But the Passover lamb from the flock (or from the herd) was not consumed by fire on the altar. It was to be roasted and eaten! It was not enough for the blood of the lamb to be spilled and applied. The Passover lamb that gave the blood had to be consumed by the one needing redemption.
Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there. (Deuteronomy 16:2)
And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: (Deuteronomy 16:7)
The eating of the Passover sacrifice was just as important as the application of the blood which the lamb provided. Jesus said:
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. (John 6:53:56)
As the redeemed of the Lord, ones who have experienced and continue to experience the effect of the blood of Jesus, we are aware of the blood’s power to cleanse us from sin. However, what we frequently forget to do is to consume, eat, and devour the ‘flesh’ from whence the blood came.
Jesus said that He was the Living Bread that came down from Heaven. He also said that His flesh was the bread (John 6:51). This Living Bread is the Word of God. We eat His flesh by allowing the Living Word to work in us and through as we ‘practice’ and live by the Word of God. You can study God’s Word all you want, but studying the Word is not devouring it. You can prepare food all day long, but that doesn’t mean that you have consumed it. In other words, after all the preparation is done the food only becomes a part of you after you have eaten it. Until then, you can touch it, look at it, even smell it but it is not part of you until you eat it.
The Living Word, the flesh of God’s Passover Lamb, can only become part of you when you devour Him through living in obedience and surrender to the Living Word, Jesus, the Christ, God’s Holy Lamb.
Many live their lives in partial victory because they use the blood of the Passover Lamb but they do not ‘eat the Lamb’. They fail to consume His flesh, which in turn becomes a part of their flesh. Many experience the forgiveness of sins through the cleansing of the blood of the Passover Lamb. But then they fall again and again into their sin or weakness and fail to live in a state of overcoming because they do not ‘eat’ the flesh of the Lamb which provides the strength and stamina to stand, walk, run, overcome, and remain faithful. The blood has the power to do that which it is purposed to do. But for the fullness of the Passover to be realized in your life, you must eat the Lamb and allow the flesh of the Living Word to become part of your nature, character, moral behavior, attitude, and daily actions.
Immediately after Jesus had preached His sermon concerning His flesh and His blood, many stopped following Him.
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. (John 6:66)
Nothing has changed from that day to this. The multitudes still want to be touched. They still want to be blessed. They still want to see miracles. But few, oh so few, want to eat the flesh of the Passover Lamb and drink of His eternal life-giving blood. Oh, don’t get me wrong, many want the forgiveness and cleansing of the blood of Jesus, oh yes. But few want to devour His flesh which in turn causes one’s life to be consumed in Him.
…so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. (John 6:57)
You are only experiencing a partial Passover unless you are eating the flesh of the Lamb! The journey from Egypt unto the destiny of Zion began by the lamb being slain, its blood being applied to the doorpost of the house, and the offered lamb being eaten by those called to go on the journey. Eat the Lamb by living the Lamb! This is the true Passover celebration!
-Apostle Paul M Hanssen