This Do In Remembrance Of Me
(A letter to God’s elect)
Thus was instituted the memorial of the New Testament Passover on the eve before His crucifixion (Luke 22:19). As instructed we partake of wine and unleavened bread, symbolizing the blood and body of Christ, as well as foot washing as instructed in John 13:14. It’s time again to review the historical significance of the event that occurred on Nisan 14, two thousand years ago.
Starting at the conclusion
“Come up hither.” Like a trumpet’s blast John was called into the realm of heaven where he was given a rare glimpse of an awesome world in a setting of supreme royalty. Like a sci-fi movie complete with thundering flashes of lightning and bizarre living beings, he’s shown a series of astonishing events to come (Rev. 4).
John described seeing a seven sealed book that no one in all heaven or earth or from the dead was able to open and tell what it said. In his disappointment he wept bitterly but was told to, “Stop crying, for look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, (Christ) has conquered, and proved himself worthy to open the book and to break its seven seals” (Rev. 5:5).
God’s Lamb at the throne
John looked and saw a Lamb that had been wounded to death but now lived. He took the book from Him that sat upon the throne. And the twenty-four Elders worshiped the Lamb, having harps and vials filled with incense — the prayers of the saints. They sang, “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth (Rev. 5:9-10). John was being shone the conclusion of the conflict for the redemption of the world. We win!
The rest of the story
It’s a story covering seven thousand years. The sacrificial death of Jesus was foretold in verse and type throughout history. Consider the gripping episode of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22. A chilling account of obedience by Abraham and his prophetic answer to Isaac’s question, “My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” Abraham’s answer may have been more prophetic than even he understood, for God truly has provided Himself a Lamb — Jesus Christ.
At the set time the Passover Sacrifice was introduced to Abraham’s descendants (Israel) who had become slaves to a cruel and unforgiving taskmaster. Read the whole exciting story in Exodus 12. Later, the Lord explained the ordinance of the Passover to Israel in meticulous detail and commanded it to be performed annually on the 14th day of the first month of each year memorializing their deliverance from bondage (Lev. 23:4-5). This was the first of God’s seven significant “Feasts of the Lord” that will be fulfilled in their antitype at their appointed time in the seven thousand year history of man (Lev. 23). These Holy Times are a perpetual statute and will even be observed in the millennium (Isa. 66:22-23; Zech. 14:16-21)
About 2000 years later at God’s appointed time in history, the 14th day of the first month of that year, Abraham’s Prophecy is fulfilled in its antitype. Jesus was crucified as the sacrificial Lamb of God.
Bit by bit, through such tragedy, we begin to see the beauty and perfection of God’s long-range plan for man. Matthew 13:35 becomes clear when we read, “I will utter things that have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” And Ephesians 1:4b gloriously shouts, “He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”
Our God given right
We read in Hebrews 10:19-22, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 6:1-2, reminds us of the steps to that washing and the new and living way — repentance, faith in Christ, baptism, receiving the Holy Spirit, etc.
“Let us therefore come boldly (but not arrogantly) unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). The way has now been opened for us to go directly to God through Christ. For Christ has replaced the law of the Levitical Priesthood and become our High Priest. There is no longer a need for an earthly priesthood as Christ is our advocate. Study the book of Hebrews prayerfully and reap a wonderful understanding of man’s access to God the Father through Christ.
That is why we must come to God individually. Not by birth, race or denomination, but as an individual. No religious organization, priest, minister, or Satan himself can stand between you and God unless you let them. “For the Son of man has come to save that which was lost” (Matt. 18:11), our personal Passover has come (I Cor. 5:7).
Your importance to God
“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-8).
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:4-7).
Can we not conclude therefore, that if you were the only one that ever sinned, Jesus would have gone to the cross just for you? “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
The penalty for sin is the second death, from which there is no resurrection (Rev. 20:6; 21:8), but you have been passed over because the sinless Lamb of God was not passed over. Keep this in mind as you partake of the symbol of His blood and flesh, on each 14th of Nisan (Mar. 25th this year but observed the evening before) in remembrance of the one who delivered us from the bondage of sin. Truly God has provided Himself a Lamb.
Take heed — Satan offers attractive substitutes
The very first words Jesus spoke when asked about the end times was, “take heed that ye be not deceived ….” Many will come in His name, using His name in order to deceive those who love not the truth (II Thes. 2:8-12). One of their methods is to change the times God has set to times of their own choosing, often using Christian names for ancient pagan observances.
In Acts 12:4 the King James Version changes the word Passover to Easter. Even though this has been corrected in most modern versions many believe that Easter was observed by the apostles and early church as the time of the resurrection of Christ. Also that Good Friday was the day Christ was crucified. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Even a cursory study of the pagan roots of Easter and its introduction into Christianity exposes that lie.
Jesus very words were, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt. 12:40). Yet some would dispute Jesus by saying He was really only in the earth from Friday to Sunday morning. Note that the three days and three nights was to be a sign of the true Messiah. Who then would be the one some claim to be Him, or the spirit of Him, but failed to fulfill that sign? A false Christ? Absolutely!
“And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there (Easter? Christ is not there!) believe him not. For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect” (Mark 13:21-22). “Take heed that ye be not deceived” (Luke 21:8).
Do you really think you can worship a God of truth with religious lies?
© Del Leger
