Discovering God’s Purposes of Sacrifice by Relating with Him through the Lord’s Feast of Passover

TRUTH AND PURPOSE

The Lord’s Feast of Passover provides numerous visual aids. One relates to His purposes of sacrifice. How so? Sacrifice is the beginning of spiritual growth. It’s about forfeiting something of value for something of greater intrinsic and eternal value. Through the process, we allow God to teach us something significant about the meaning of love, life and relationships with Him and others.

So in Bible times, during the Passover feast, a lamb without blemish was sacrificed to represent redemption from the bondage of Egypt. God instructed the Hebrews to celebrate the deliverance from bondage in Egypt by telling the story of all He did during a special Passover meal.

More than simply telling a story, however, this special celebration models a Hebraic way of fathering children. It fosters a special time of engaging them in active discussion to help them process and reflect upon thoughts. In addition, it helps them come to an understanding of why and how things happen or cause and effect. By explaining what happened, why and how God did what He did, and discussing the fruits of the experience, we are able to impart a way of relating with God. This helps us know Him—His ways and character.

RELEVANCE

This, in fact, was how Messiah Yeshua-Jesus taught and nurtured His disciples. He helped them come to understand God’s love in a greater way. He connected and related the stories of the Scriptures—the Law and Prophets—in a meaningful and relevant way to real life.

The Amplified Bible does a great job relating this in Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:18-19. He prayed that people would fully grasp the love of God and apprehend “what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!”

The Lord celebrated this feast at what is referred to as “the last supper.”  He surprised His disciples by adding a new element to the celebration. When it was time to say the blessing over the bread, He said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Over the wine He said, “Drink from it, all of you.  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”   (Matthew 26:26-28)

The Lord became the Passover sacrifice. He sacrificed His life that we may have everlasting life.  Consequently, He revealed a new dimension of God’s love. In addition, He hoped we would come to receive a new dimension of the pour of His love.

So we participate in His sacrifice and resurrection by not only partaking in this celebration– or communion– but experiencing the joy and glory of walking in His liberty and love.  One way we do this is by shifting our focus from our self-centered interests to caring about and serving the needs of others. That is what sacrifice is about.

Paul, therefore, declared, “Do nothing out of rivalry or vanity; but, in humility, regard each other as better than yourselves — 4 look out for each other’s interests and not just for your own.” (Philippians 2:3-4 JNT)

This principle was also in view in exhorting believers to, “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

So the more we become interested in and focused on the interests and needs of others—and how we can share God’s love by contributing to their lives—the more we will discover our greater purposes in life. It is out of our serving others that we truly experience the joy and glory of the Lord.

REFLECT AND RELATE

How do you look for ways to express God’s love, and live in a sacrificial manner, looking out for the interests of others?

What things do you reflect upon, wondering why things happen how they do, and how things might be able to be changed?

REFERENCES

1 John 3:16-24; Ephesians 5:1-2; Titus 2:6; 3:14; James 3:13-18

NEXT STEPS

Vertical movement: As you more fully understand sacrifice from God’s perspective, the Holy Spirit draws you deeper and provides greater insights into the Lord’s crucifixion. This gives you more appreciation of the new life in Messiah-Christ.

Horizontal movement: The more you understand and receive the values and benefits of His amazing grace and sacrifice, the more you will see God’s greater purposes and experience His awesome strength.

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