A Shadow of Things to Come
Walking the Walk
Today’s Verse and Thought
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”(Colossians 2:16-17)
From yesterday- Jesus was crucified on the 14th of Nisan (the first month of the Jewish calendar), which was the day before the Passover feast began at sundown.
This date coincides with the Jewish custom of slaughtering the “Passover lambs” in the afternoon on the 14th of Nisan, just before the evening meal begins. This would have been the day of preparation for Passover.
Isn’t that amazing? Some would say it is just a “coincidence.”
I think not. But wait, there’s more.
A reflection of heaven on earth. Stock photo
The Feasts - a Shadow of Things to Come
“On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”(Mark 14:12)
It All Points to Christ
All of the seven primary Jewish feasts were ordained by God, and meant to help the Jews grasp the significance of what would happen someday in their future. God had long promised a Savior, the Messiah, who would crush evil (Genesis 3:15) and bring salvation to His people.
The overarching metanarrative of the Bible is all about this war between Satan, the Dragon, and God Most High. In human terms, it’s a very long story about how God would eventually conquer evil once and for all and set up a glorious, peaceful Kingdom where humans once again were reconciled to our Father.
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;”(2 Corinthians 5:18).
When God created Israel, this began the long redemptive story of God’s plan of reconciliation. Whatever happens on earth - even today in our time - is like a blurry image of what is going on in the heavenly realm. There is an unseen spiritual war going on and it’s ramping up for a finale of reconciliation.
“Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”(Revelation 12:7-9)
The Spring Feasts - Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits
Passover
There are three Jewish feasts that are celebrated back to back in Nisan, the first month on the Jewish calendar: Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits. These feasts also coincide with springtime and the first harvest of the year.
Spring is a time of sustenance, new birth, and renewal for all of creation.
The celebration of Passover commemorates hope and salvation for the Jews who were held in captivity in Egypt. The Hebrews had been in Egypt for over 400 years and God was now releasing them from slavery as He promised Abraham.
The Exodus was freedom from their bondage.
“As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.”(Genesis 15:12-14)
The final plague just before the Exodus was when God spared the Israelites from death (of all firstborn males) by having them apply lamb's blood to their doorposts so the death angel would passover the house, saving all who were inside. This became known as the “Passover.”
The Last Supper and Passover
The famous scene of Jesus with His disciples at the “Last Supper” was held during Passover. The significance of the Last Supper coinciding with Passover was a shadow of what would soon take place.
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”(John 1:29)
Jesus was called “the Lamb of God” and was to be the last “lamb” that was slain in the Jewish sacrificial system. His blood would cleanse the people of their sins once for all.
“And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”(Hebrews 10:10)
During the Last Supper Jesus gave the Jews a new celebration: Communion. He told His disciples “to eat the bread and drink the blood” (metaphorically) represented by unleavened bread and wine. They were to do this as a symbolic way to remember that Jesus was now making a new covenant with the people.
“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood ‘“(Luke 22:19-20).
In John 1:29, John the Baptist refers to Jesus as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” He is the perfect lamb, without “blemish or spot”(1 Peter 1:19) just as it was required of the Passover lamb. Jesus' death on the cross fulfills the shadow symbolism of the Passover lamb.
His sacrifice delivers humanity from sin and death, just as the lamb's blood delivered the Israelites from physical death in Egypt.
“…for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28)
In the Passover feast there are several “shadows” of Christ:
There is the Passover Lamb.
The Passover lamb was sacrificed on the 14th of Nisan and Jesus was crucified on the 14th of Nisan.
The Lamb is perfect and spotless. Jesus was sinless.
The lamb is slain. Jesus is slain.
The doorposts were covered by the blood so that all who were inside the house were “under the blood” of protection. The Hebrews were told to stay inside the house under the blood while death came. Christians are protected from death and destruction “hidden inside” Christ. We pass from death to life “under the blood” of Jesus.
The blood of the lamb offered forgiveness and life. Jesus’ blood offers forgiveness and life.
“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”(John 6:35).
During the Last Supper and Passover celebration Jesus offered a new “shadow” of things to come.
To be continued…
Today’s Question
Today’s Prayer
Father I think one of the most incredible things about Your Word is how it spans thousands of years, and many different kinds of cultures, yet we all have the same truth and are able to understand it. The way you loved and took care of Abraham, Joseph, or King David is the same for us today.
We are your people.
But we are even more blessed than they were because we live in the Age of Grace. We get to live with the understanding of what all the feasts were pointing to. We get to know why you did the things you do. And we get to know the end of the story! No wonder Satan doesn’t want the Church to know the Old Testament. Once we read Your Word as one big story, we can see clearly how this is all going to culminate in our victory.
Satan wants us to live in fear as victims, not victorious. It begs the question, “what can mere mortals do to us?” We are children of God Most High. What goes on in our lives is always by your permission. I pray today that you help us to grasp the privilege we have as your child. Help us to see past our own death and to the Kingdom to come. For your whole Word leads us to that day. To that I say “come quickly Lord Jesus! May all honor and glory be yours, Amen.❤️
“..Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”(Luke 12:48B)