From: tom@portland.mdc.unisys.com (Tom Albrecht)
Newsgroups: alt.messianic
Subject: Re: pesach and easter (resurrection day)
Date: 14 Apr 92 14:08:46 GMT
Organization: Unisys - Applied Technology

In article <STUCKI.92Apr11133800@retina.cis.ohio-state.edu> stucki@retina.cis.ohio-state.edu (David J Stucki) writes:
>   It seems odd to me that Christians would want to look at rabbinic
>   traditions regarding Passover, most developed long after the time of
>   Christ, in order to better understand our Lord's sacrifice, and the meaning
>   of the new covenant in His blood.  As Bruce Tiffany has pointed out on many
>   occasions, many of the rabbinic traditions were specifically formulated in
>   opposition to the emerging Christian community of believers.  The modern
>   Passover is no different.
>
>This is absurd. Virtually every aspect of the modern Passover is full of
>deep symbolisms that point to Jesus as the Messiah. ...

When you see these "Christ in the Passover" presentations what you are
looking at is the creative way some folks have interpreted the various
parts of the rabbinic Passover service and squeezed them into the Christian
message of salvation through the blood of Messiah.  They have invented
correlations between the components of the Passover and the life of
Messiah.  But, again, this is pure speculation and invention.  Except for
the items specifically identified in the Bible - the bread symbolizing the
body of our Lord, and the wine symbolizing His blood, and the lamb pointing
the the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world - the other items
(eggs, the three matzoh, the "hidden" matzoh, The Elijah chair, etc.) is
all speculation.

Now, don't get me wrong, such presentations can be used to bring Jewish
folks to faith in Messiah, but let's not confuse the issue.  The rabbinic
tradition of Passover which most folks celebrate today is not entirely
consistent with the revealed word of God.  In fact, I would go so far as to
suggest that any Christian who celebrates a rabbinic Passover using
rabbinic prayers and symbols is being no more faithful to God's revealed
will that a person who celebrates Easter.  Both are extra-biblical
ceremonies.

>                           There is no indication that he CHANGED the Passover
>service, he merely added some interpretations and explanations.

I personally don't find any scriptural support for this notion.  I find a
significant change from the old covenant Passover to the new covenant
Lord's Supper.  The simple fact that uncircumcised Gentiles were now
included in the Lord's Supper show one key change from old to new.  Also,
the change from a yearly feast to a weekly celebration of the resurrection
is also important.  The fact that we don't use a ritually sacrificed lamb
anymore, but only celebrate with the bread and wine.  The lamb pointed
forward to the shed blood of Christ.  Once that blood was shed, the need
for the bloody lamb symbol gave way to the wine representing His blood.
There is to be no more shedding of blood under the new covenant.

>   If you want to learn the true meaning of the sacrificial death of Christ, I
>   would suggest you read some of the early Church fathers on the subject of
>   the eucharist.  They are the ones who taught us about the true meaning of
>   all these events on the life of of Messiah.  You should also be apart
>   of a fellowship which has frequent (weekly!!) communion.
>
>If you want to learn the true meaning of the sacrificial death of
>Christ, I suggest you read the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings.

And stay away from the rabbinic traditions.  Jesus promised His Holy Spirit
to the apostles of His Church, not to the rabbis.  The church fathers
inherited the teaching of the apostles in regard to the celebration of the
eucharist.  They are a rich source of understanding about the person anbd
work of Jesus Christ in our redemption.

-- 
Tom Albrecht