You Can't Taste the Chicken Soup Online

How long has your family been celebrating Passover, I was asked by a new Christian friend who had just learned that my family observes Passover. To her the Exodus was only a Bible story. "Oh, about 3500 years," I responded.

If there's one thing Jewish people do, no matter how religious or non-religious we are, mostly everyone participates in a Seder. I'm pretty sure that's a work of the Holy Spirit. After all, that's a long time, 3500 years, to be telling the same story every year. God has to be in on that. We're just not all that faithful on our own.

The first year my Dad became a believer in Yeshua he conducted the Passover Seder almost entirely in Yiddish (which only some of us actually understood). He did so because Yiddish was his first language as he grew up in his Rabbi grandfather's shull (synagogue) and his heart was so tender toward Yeshua, he wanted to tie his Jewish background together with his Jewish Messiah. We were all so familiar with the story, having each heard it all our lives, that despite the language, we knew what was being said, and were touched by Dad's love for the Lord and his gratefulness to God for rescuing our people time and time again.

This year there were 14 of us at our Seder table in Jacksonville, 12 family members and two guests, one from Germany. But my son was in New York and unable to be with us. That is, not "in person." However, my daughter Jenny had a brainstorm. We "Skyped" him in and there he was on her laptop computer, big as life. Well, almost. She carried the laptop around so we could each greet him. The family kibbitzing went on between the kids and their uncle as usual, only online this time. Then we set him near the candles as my other daughter Ellen lit them and said the blessing. When it was time for the first cup of wine, he said the B'rachah (blessing) in Hebrew and English. We proceeded through the Seder with him at the head of the table -- literally because we could only see his head on the screen.

So not even distance kept us from celebrating our Passover Seder together this year. I wonder if we're the first to hold a family cyber-Seder. The only thing missing, for me was that I couldn't hug him and for him, that no matter how interactive we were able to be, he couldn't taste the chicken soup online.

Passover Isn't Just For Jews

It seems appropriate to begin this blog with Passover. God told Moses to make Passover the beginning of the year. It's also Spring and Spring does seem the time for the beginning of things, doesn't it? So does a deliverance from bondage to a tryrannical slave-lord like Pharaoh. Talk about a new beginning! Being released from Egypt was THE new beginning for Israel and as it turns out because of their release, a new beginnning that would affect the world.

The celebration of Passover isn't just for Jewish people. God told Israel to observe Passover yearly, including all who joined them who wished to follow their God . This extends to the non-Jewish believers in Jesus [Yeshua - His real Hebrew name] today. We are all to celebrate the Passover at this time of year every year forever! Forever would include now, wouldn't it?

As we celebrate Passover we are participating in what God is doing in our day to restore His ancient paths in preparation for Yeshua's return. It's that significant! God's deliverance from the terrible slavery of the Jewish peole in Egypt was the single most powerful manifestation of His power and love in the earth, second only to the Resurrection of their Messiah, Yeshua. Passover teaches us much of how we are also set free through faith in Yeshua, the (Passover) Lamb of God (See John 1:29).

During the seven days of Passover the Israelis were commanded to eat no leavened bread. Leaven in the Bible is a sign of pride (as in puffed up) and of sin. Not eating bread is a sign to God of our desire to be free of sin in our lives as we live before Him. God told them "for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread...and nothing unleavened" (Exodus 13:6,7). Why not obey God joyfully observing this commandment? There is a sense of blessings in it, a feeling of being separated unto God, and of His pleasure in us. We keep it not out of some obligation or law, but out of a heart that wants to bless God.

When Israel left Egypt there was no one sick or feeble among them. That would mean physically and emotionally. No depression that day! Would you consider keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread by offering up your normal bread and cake for a week (you can eat anything but what has yeast or leavening in it), and while doing so pray for those you know who are in bondage to sin or are in need of healing. Replace your bread with a box of matzoh (available at any supermarket usually with other Passover goodies). Pray also for the peace of Jerusalem and for our nation.

God had ordained this time to be the beginning of the year (but a Roman emperor changed it in the 400's or so as worship to the god Janus; therefore we have January.) We are starting a new spiritual year in this month of April. Fasts are often God's way of preparing His people for what is coming the rest of the year. It may be to strengthen your faith or to enlarge your capacity for His blessings. He will bless those who seek Him through fasting and prayer. God honors those who honor Him! A "matzoh fast" is a wondeful way to honor God and put yourself in a place for Him to honor you for your obedience.

In these days in which we live, those who acknowledge God's ancient ways and observe them through faith in His Son Yeshua by grace enter into a place close to God's heart. May He draw you closer to know Him than ever before during this Passover season. Hag Sameach! (hahg s'may akh). Joyous Holiday!

For more on the Jewish roots of Christianity and related articles by Lonnie Lane and others go to: http://www.sidroth.org/.