CHRIST OUR PASSOVER (Gr. PASCHA)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER (Gr. PASCHA)

PASSOVER, the central rite and symbol of Judaism, is based on the experience of the liberation of the Hebrew people from bondage in Egypt (Exodus 12:1–15:21). It is called Passover both because the Lord passed over the homes of the Hebrews, sparing them from the death that came to the first-born in Egypt, and because the Hebrews passed over the Red Sea as if it were dry land. Passover celebrates God’s steadfast love and devotion to His people and their freedom in Him.

Throughout the rest of the Old Testament, Passover preeminently signifies God’s rescue and forging together of His chosen people, Israel. The Lord repeatedly brings this even to mind as He encourages and exhorts His people to return to their COVENANTAL RESPONSIBILITIES (Judg 6:7-10). Through His saving work, CHRIST BECOMES OUR PASSOVER (PASCHA in Greek), Through Him WE EXPERIENCE LIBERATION FROM SIN, DEATH, AND THE DEVIL. Saint Paul exclaims, "Christ, OUR PASSOVER, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast" (1 Co 5:7-8). He is the PASCHAL LAMB (Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29; Revelation 5:6-14) Who gave Himself up in sacrifice "ONCE FOR ALL" (Hebrews 10:10-14) TO RECONCILE US WITH GOD. At every Pascha— "Easter" –the Church sings Today a Sacred Pascha is revealed to us, a New and Holy Pascha, a Mystical Pascha, a Pascha worthy of veneration, a Pascha which IS CHRIST THE REDEEMER.

In many typological details,, the Passover of the Jews clearly points towards Christ AS OUR PASSOVER.

1. The Passover lamb, whose blood was smeared by the Hebrews on their doorposts IN THE SIGN OF THE CROSS, was a male without blemish; JESUS WAS A MALE WITHOUT BLEMISH WHO DIED ON THE CROSS.

2. The blood of the Passover lamb saved the first-born of the Hebrews from death; THE BLOOD OF CHRIST SAVES ALL THOSE BELIEVING IN HIM FROM ETERNAL DEATH (Romans 5:8-10);

3. The Passover lamb had none of its bones broken (Exodus 12:10, 46); JESUS ALSO HAD NO BONES BROKEN AS HE WAS SACRIFICED (John 19:31-36).

4. The Hebrews escaped from the burden of slavery in Egypt by passing through the Red Sea; CHRISTIANS PASS "FROM EGYPT, FROM THE BURDEN OF SIN," BEING "SET FREE AND SAVED" THROUGH THE WATERS OF HOLY BAPTISM (Saint Gregory of Nyssa). For in the waters of Baptism, WE ARE "BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH," "CRUCIFIED WITH HIM," AND RAISED UP "IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS RESURRECTION" TO "WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE" (Romans 6:3-11).

Saint John Chrysostomos marvels at the power of Christ’s BLOOD:
If the type of it had such great power… in the midst of Egypt, when smeared on
the doorpost, much more the reality… IF DEATH SO SHUDDERED AT THE SHADOW, TELL
ME HOW WOULD IT NOT HAVE DREADED THE VERY REALITY? THIS BLOOD IS THE
SALVATION OF OUR SOULS; BY IT THE SOUL IS WASHED, AND MADE BEAUTIFUL AND…
MORE GLEAMING THAN GOLD. (see Revelation 7:13-14).

Sustained and strengthened by the Blood of Christ our Passover, we resume daily our journey to the Eternal Promised land, the PROMISED KINGDOM TO COME.

"The children of Israel said to them, ‘Would we have died, smitten by the Lord in the land of Egypt when we sat by the pots of meat and ate bread to the full. For you brought us out into this desert to kill this whole assembly with hunger." Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread out of heaven for you and the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My Law or not…Also Moses said, ‘The Lord’s glory shall be seen when He gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the Lord hears your complaints you make against Him…So it was that quail came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp. But when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the desert, was a small round substance, white like coriander seed, like frost on the ground…Thus Moses said to them, "This is the bread the Lord gives you to eat…Now the children of Israel called its name MANNA, and it was white like coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey…". (Exodus 16:3-31).

In Orthodox Christian theology, the ancient MANNA is a temporal, typological precursor (shadow) to the Holy Eucharist, which is the TRUE, ETERNAL, AND SUBSTANTIAL "NEW MANNA." While the Old Testament MANNA sustained physical life temporarily IN THE WILDERNESS, the Holy Eucharist IS THE LIVING BREAD FROM HEAVEN (CHRIST’S BODY AND BLOOD) THAT PROVIDES ETERNAL LIFE, SPIRITUAL SUSTENANCE, AND UNION WITH GOD. Manna sustained the Hebrew people for 40 years yet they still died. The Holy Eucharist is the Bread of Life; those who partake in it will LIVE FOREVER. Again, the Holy Eucharist is spiritual food that is Supernatural in nature, providing nourishment for the soul. Also, Manna lasted only one day (except the Sabbath) and spoiled if kept. The Holy Eucharist is the abiding permanent PRESENCE OF CHRIST THE SAVIOR. Our Merciful Lord Jesus Christ directly compares Himself to the Manna, stating, "Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, but they died" (John 6:49), emphasizing THAT THE NEW, LIVING BREAD ALLOWS THE BELIEVER TO LIVE FOREVER. Furthermore, the Old Testament manna was a divine gift for physical survival in a physical desert, whereas the Holy Eucharist is the DIVINE, LIVING PRESENCE OF CHRIST THAT TRANSFORMS THE BELIEVER AND GRANTS IMMORTALITY. (Source: Old and New Testaments and The Orthodox Study Bible].

________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
+ Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George