Passover 2013

Our Passover Week Celebration

Monday, March 25 (sunset) thru Tuesday, April 2 (sunset), 2013

 

What a DELIGHTFUL week this has been (& not finished yet).

 

There was a time not that long ago that we celebrated Easter just like everybody else.  We tried to focus on the "real" meaning of Easter, meaning, or so we thought, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ...and also including some of the fun stuff of Easter baskets, lots of chocolate, and coloring eggs because, well, that's how we were taught and, it's tradition!  However, as time passed, we discovered the REAL (pagan) meaning of Easter/Ishtar, and over the years have gradually been rediscovering the deep and beautiful significance of Passover
and the tale (true account) of two l(L)AMBS.




Each year we learn & change, and here is a little photo journal of what we did this year...

Removing Leaven (Sin)

 

A Before & After of our Pantry

Okay, so I didn't start this annual spring cleaning 6 weeks before Pesach (Passover) like many Jews do to remove all leaven from our home.  And although I run a pretty tidy ship, I found out I have a really crummy house -- lots of crumbs!  I was defeated before I even started!  I got the pantry clean, and under the kitchen sink, but no, I didn't clean behind/under the fridge, stove, cushions, van,...or take out the vacuum cleaner bag.  Actually, this exercise in futility proved to be an EXCELLENT object lesson in that nothing we can do on our own can remove all the leaven/sin from our lives...nothing but the blood of Jesus Christ!!!



    However, we did make a symbolic effort...

 

and moved as much of the leaven I could recall to our sauna haus for the duration of Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread (I chose not to throw it away and waste such a big investment for symbolism's sake - maybe next year if I start early, I can let our reserves run out).  Afterwards, I remembered some more stash, but we declared this good enough (oh...do I hear another sermon application there!), and enjoyed the matzo bread.  (Even Elsa (dog) had to give up her Ritz Crackers for matzo this week). :)

 

 

our simple Passover table...

 

Okay, now here is where it gets a little weird.  We did have a special Passover dinner, but because our church doesn't do Passover and Jeff & Anna had the regular Monday-night church Bible study, we had an early dinner (before sunset) and off they flew.  It was still a meaningful time and we looked forward to a special Passover Seder presentation Friday night.

Menu
 Caramelized Lamb Chops with Mint Sauce

Garlic Roasted Potatoes

Greek Salad

Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli

Matzo

Grape Juice

Homemade Chocolate Truffle Torte w/Chocolate Truffle Filling

 

Seder...

 

Friday night we attended "Christ in the Passover" at a near-by church....

This presentation was given by Liz Goldstein from Jews for Jesus.  We have attended a performance like this before, but the girls were quite young and really didn't remember it.  It was a fairly good (simple) explanation of the Seder.  Unfortunately, Anna was coming down with a cold and by the time we got home, she was chilled and had a temp. of 99.8, poor dear.

 

 

Now please allow me to digress a tad...

I did have a qualm when the pastor of that church (a church we use to attend) went on & on in his introduction about Good Friday being when Jesus was crucified.  Jesus was not crucified on Friday -- no matter how you do the math, Jesus was dead 3 days & 3 nights (Matthew 12:40) and arose on the third day.  I believe Jesus arose after Shabbat (Saturday sunset) and his tomb was discovered empty very early on the Lord's Day (Sunday morning), so if Jesus arose by Sunday morning, then counting backwards...Friday is NOT 3 days.

Resurrection Lord's Day..

 

 Though we no longer care to celebrate Easter, I'm still fine with rejoicing in and celebrating the Resurrection of our LORD on any and every day!  Thankfully Anna is feeling better and we attended one of our favorite churches near my mom's home (a great sermon & service) and then had dinner with her.   We are still tied to and feel obligated to honor our families' traditions; and don't feel that them wanting to get together for a special meal is too out of line (correct me if I'm wrong), so we continue to get together with my mom (but we, personally, don't do bunnies, eggs, & the like).  We are not anybody's Holy Spirit, and just as we are learning & growing all the time, we obey as the Lord leads and let Him work in other's lives as He so directs...in His own time.

Tuesday night we will have a lamb roast during our final night of Unleavened Bread.

 

oh, and lest I forget...

 

Passover Notebook
 

 

 

 

here is just a 3-page sample of a Passover notebook we are working on.  It's becoming a rather BIG project that tells not only the Old Testament account of the first Passover of the Israelites in Egypt, but points to Jesus Christ being our Passover Lamb.  I hope we can finish this before we are done counting the omer (49 days to Shavu'ot).  I'm using MANY resources, but also making up some of mine own as of lot of what's out there either doesn't point to the Messiah, or it's very preschool/early-elementary-ish.

 

So, that's pretty much how we have been spending this very special season.  I guess if someone was to ask me, I'd say we don't do Easter, but we do celebrate Passover and Resurrection Lord's Day.  It has really been a very rich celebration and learning time this year and I thank the Lord for it.

 

Btw, (not as a judge, but more as a resource lady), if you would like to know more about the history of Easter or Christmas, here is an interesting video from Jim Staley on the topic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNuIz63zBjM&feature=player_embedded

 

He Has Risen!!!