Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, April 6, 2023
Shalom,

Hey everybody!  I’ll be on “The Bob Bell Show” Thursday morning at 7am.  He wants to talk about Passover (go figure).  Tune in to AM620 WRJZ (102.5FM Knoxville and 99.5FM Sevierville) if you are interested.

Walk In Victory – Romans, part 60

Romans 5:18 So then, through the transgression of one, condemnation came to all men; likewise, through the righteousness of one came righteousness of life to all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man, many will be set right forever.

Paul is summarizing the point he has already made several times.  What he is really doing is setting up the next 3 chapters.  The problem for all of us is sin that comes from Adam’s disobedience.  This problem keeps us bound in slavery to sin.  The solution is the righteousness of life that comes from Yeshua.  His righteousness frees us out of the darkness of sin, into the marvelous light of His presence.

Rabbi Trail: Yeshua is the reality of all things, so naturally, He is the reality of Passover.  “The Passover” is the Pascal lamb that was slain so the blood could be spread on the doorposts of the house, so that those inside would be saved from the angel of death.  Today is actually the fifteenth of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar, which is the first day of Passover.

Another name for Passover is “Z’man Cherutenu,” meaning “the season of our freedom.”  Freedom from sin is the theme of the next three chapters, Romans 6, 7, & 8.  In those chapters, we will study the prescribed freedom from slavery to sin.   That will set us up for the next three chapters, Romans 9, 10 & 11, which form Paul’s treatise on Messianic Jewish theology.  Following that is Paul’s instructions for living in righteousness, Romans 12, 13 & 14.  End RT.

When we come to know Yeshua, are we then made perfect going forward?  By no means.  But something has changed.  What we do have is a change of heart.  To receive Yeshua as your personal Lord and Savior is to receive and hold a “yes in your heart” for Him.  It is our willingness to be quick to repent.  Thus, we become part of His Bride.

Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.

Every Passover Seder has the eating of the afikomen (the hidden piece of matzah) and the drinking of the third cup (the cup of salvation).  The Gospel accounts give some details of the Seder we call “The Last Supper.”  Mark 14:22 And while they were eating, He took matzah ; and after He offered the bracha, He broke it and gave it to them and said, “Take; this is My body.” 23 And He took a cup; and after giving thanks, He gave to them and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”  This is the account of the real first communion.

Then they sang songs of praise (Psalms 112-118).  That’s where Yeshua’s Last Supper Seder ended, and they all left for the garden to pray.  But ours will continue with the 4th cup, the cup of victory, which is our reasonable expectation.  Mark 14:25 “Amen, I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”  What a great time to be alive in Messiah Yeshua.

Romans 8:11 And if the Ruach of the One who raised Yeshua from the dead dwells in you, the One who raised Messiah Yeshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Ruach who dwells in you. 12 So then, brothers and sisters, we do not owe anything to the flesh, to live according to the flesh…. 14 For all who are led by the Ruach Elohim, these are sons of God.

My prayer is that we will all walk in the victory of Yeshua this Passover season.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu 6 April-2023 15th of Nisan, 5783 Pesach I
Ex 12:21-51 Nu 28:16-25 Jos 5:2-6:1 1 Pe 2:18-25