Valerie Sjodin

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Quarantine - A different Passover and Good Friday

What on Earth is going on? & Holy days significance

Here we are, currently in worldwide quarantine during this Holy week.

Someone on Facebook posted that maybe Someone was sending us to our room to think about what we’ve done.

It seems like there are too many things happening together to be just coincidence. What does it all mean? I’ve been wondering…

Passover and Good Friday

Passover, April 8-16, 2020

This year Jewish Passover is different. It involves a quarantine of people staying in their homes for safety. As far as I know, that hasn't happened since the original Passover 3000 years ago, when the Angel of the Lord passed over the homes of those who had applied the blood of a lamb over their doorway as God commanded, so death would pass by, and their first born children would be spared. This marked the beginning of the first Passover, the deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt, which ended 8 days later in the crossing of the Red Sea.

The story is found in Exodus 12 and worth reading.

“The eight-day festival of Passover is celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan . It commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. It is observed by avoiding leaven and highlighted by the Seder meals that include four cups of wine, eating matza and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of the Exodus.” https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/default_cdo/jewish/Passover.htm

Leaven (with yeast) bread during Passover represents sin, arrogance (puffed up,) and what is false and evil.

Unleavened bread is often a symbol of holiness. The unleavened bread represented a call to be ready for action. There was not time to wait for bread to rise. Time was of the essence. God was on the move and was soon going to call his people to spring into action too.

There are places in the Bible where leaven has positive symbolism. If you're interested in digging deeper into the symbolism of leaven in the Bible, here is a link: https://jewsforjesus.org/publications/newsletter/newsletter-mar-2007/lessons-from-leaven

The last planned activity Jesus did on earth was the Passover meal with His followers. During the meal Jesus identified himself as the unleavened bread, broken for us.

Here is what Jesus said at the Passover meal - called The Lord's Supper, Communion, and the Eucharist in Christian tradition:

"While they were eating, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples. “Take and eat it,” he said; “this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God, and gave it to them. “Drink it, all of you,” he said; “this is my blood, which seals God's covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

~ Matthew 26:26-28 Good News Translation (GNT)

Good Friday, April 10, 2020

‘Good Friday’ marks the Christian holy day where Jesus (Yeshua), was beaten and crucified on a cross at Calvary. As a believer in Jesus I believe he is the sacrificial Passover Lamb. When he went to the cross He took on the sin of the whole world and paid the ultimate price for each of us and all of us.

You can read the story in the Gospels: Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24, and John 17-21

How could such a horrible thing be called ‘Good’ as in Good Friday? Because Jesus, fully man and fully God, embodied the Good News of the Gospel of God’s Kingdom coming to Earth and Salvation coming to humanity through his death and resurrection. He paid the ultimate price so we could be united with God and made new.

“For this is how God loved the world:He gave his one and only Son,so that everyone who believes in himwill not perish but have eternal life."~ John 3:16 NLT

During this time, God is offering us healing and deliverance from evil through the blood of Jesus. 

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord.“Though your sins are like scarlet,I will make them as white as snow.Though they are red like crimson,I will make them as white as wool.”~ Isaiah 1:18 NLT

As a follower of Jesus, how am I to respond to all that is going on?

Humility is the Key. As leavened bread is a symbol of being puffed up and prideful, unleavened bread is one of being humble. More than ever the verse has been going through my head the past month. I am not alone. I’m seeing it everywhere.

“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

~ 2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

'Let go and let God'

During this time, as a follower of God, of Jesus, I am challenged intentionally humble myself - Don’t judge, don’t blame, don’t think I know all the answers. Instead, go to God, recognizing He is God and I am not. Listen, and be open to answers that I may even disagree with.

What will I do now?

Here is what I'm doing at this point:

  • Following quarantine orders, staying home except when absolutely necessary. Today was my first day out to the grocery store since the shelter in place order. I was armed with a mask two generous women gave, and my hand sanitizer wipes, doing my best to 'social distance' in the store.

  • Asking for grace for the day

  • Being mindful to love those in my household even though we're going kind of stir crazy. The past few days have been a bit more tense than usual for us.

  • Taking communion and praying the blood of Jesus over the virus and sin, my own and standing in the gap for the people in my area, state, nation and world; praying 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Psalm 91

Reading the following Scripture this week:

  • Exodus 12

  • The Passover through Resurrection accounts of Jesus in the Gospels, one each day starting tomorrow:Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24, and John 17-21

UPDATE: The day after writing this post on Passover and Good Friday, I watched this video by a Messianic Rabbi who walks through Passover and explains, in detail, the meaning of Passover and the fulfillment of Passover in Yeshua, Jesus. I highly recommend it: https://youtu.be/OFazA3ISzpY

Blessings of health and hope to you this week!

Resurrection is coming!