Background
Instructed by God, Moses asks Pharoah to let his people go on nine different occasions. Each time Pharoah refuses, in spite of his refusal being followed by a plague on the nation of Egypt. Now God tells Moses of a final plague, which will become for Israel the Feast of Passover.
Bible Reading: Exodus 12:1,3,5-8,11-14,25-28
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “Tell the whole community of Israel to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord's Passover.
On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord, a lasting ordinance.
When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. And when your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?' then tell them, 'It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.'" Then the people bowed down and worshiped.
A Reflection
Christmas is traditionally a time when families get together. However, as families grow, marry, move away and gain their own wider family commitments, it has become impossible to get brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews all together at that time.
Our daughter, Anna, was born on May 3rd which was, at the time, bank holiday Monday. Following her death seven years ago, we now usually manage to organise a family day for all our extended family on either the Saturday or Monday around her birthday. This has become a bit of a tradition; a day when we get together, a day when we don’t forget. Traditions help us to remember.
For the Jewish people Passover, and the Passover meal, is a major family event, remembering the escape of their ancestors from slavery in Egypt, when the angel of death literally ‘passed over’ their homes and spared the lives of their firstborn sons.
For us as Christians, Jesus became our Passover lamb, sacrificed so that we could be forgiven and find true freedom in him. We celebrate this annually at Easter, we also celebrate it most weeks in our communion service, our meal of bread and wine. But I wonder, shouldn’t every day be for us a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus?
What difference would it make to you today to live it as a celebration of all that Jesus has done for you, for the forgiveness, for the freedom, for the peace and for the hope?
A Prayer
Lord Jesus, words cannot express my gratitude for all you achieved for me on the cross.
Help me to live my days in celebration of the new life you have given me.
Amen
The greatest day in history (Happy Day)