The biblical new year is here and the newness of life is abundantly evident all around us. Here in tropical East Africa, it is the onset of the long rains and a lush green carpet beautifully adorns the land. In our incomparable Serengeti-Mara wildlife ecosystem, it is the calving season and the wildebeests are giving birth at the rate of 8,000 calves per day! It is simply the world's biggest maternity ward! The other species are not left far behind, neither are the birds and insects. It is the season for nestlings, fawns, cubs, foals, calves, puppies, kittens, chicks and innumerable other cute little forms of new life to make their grand entry unto the blue planet. Indeed Elohim is good and we thank him for the vibrancy. A genuine new year is here!

Up next on the divinely ordained Jewish or Bible calendar is the Pesach (Passover) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. As is usually the case with Messianic and other Jewish congregations worldwide, here in Kenya the preparations for this festival are in top gear. From Moi's Bridge in Uasin Gishu to Lamu, Msabaha and Mombasa (on Kenya's Indian Ocean seaboard); from Meru, Mkodhima, Dagani, Nyeri and Murang'a (in central Kenya) to Borabu (in Kisii-land) and Nyamasaria in Kisumu (on the shores of Lake Victoria); from Kitui in Ukambani to Nakuru and Narok (in central Rift Valley); and from Moshi to Arusha (in the United Republic of Tanzania), Messianic congregations are all astir with palpable excitement. The annual renewal of the covenant in Yahshua's blood is just around the corner!

So what is all this fuss about the Pesach? What is its significance? Initially, the Pesach marked the miraculous saving of the nation of Israel from the oppressive clutches of Pharaoh King of Egypt. The Israelites were to mark this important turning point in their history for all future generations as per Elohim's express instruction (Exodus 12:24-27). More about this later.

With the coming of the Renewed Covenant in Yahshua's blood, a few additions were introduced in Pesach ordinances. First is the feet washing ceremony. In John chapter 13, we learn that Yahshua got up from the traditional Pesach meal (whole roasted lamb, unleavened bread and butter herbs), girded himself with a towel, poured water into a basin and proceeded to wash his disciples' feet (cf John 13:1-5). He indicated that we should follow the example he had set out (John 13:15). 

We therefore are obligated to conduct the feet washing ceremony before sitting for the Pesach meal. In ancient Israel (and other middle eastern cultures) it was the duty of lowly house slaves to wash the feet of guests at a home. Yahshua's gesture was therefore a demonstration of humility and servant leadership. He told his disciples that he was among them as  one who came to serve and not to be served (Matthew 20:25-28). Likewise, the Messianic should always seek to be of service to others and not to lord it over his brethren (if he is in a position of leadership). He should always be willing to associate with people of low position or of humble circumstances in life (Romans 12:16).

Secondly, in taking part in the feet washing ceremony, we demonstrate our willingness to obey Elohim's word (which is compared to Yahshua) and therefore be cleansed of our sins by Him (John 1:1-3, 15:3, 17:17, etc). That is why Yahshua told Peter that unless he allowed Him to wash his feet, he (Peter) could have no fellowship with Him (John 13:8). Yahshua's Bride, the Church is being cleansed by the "...washing with water through the word..." in readiness for Yahshua's soon coming Kingdom (Ephesians 5:26-27). It is therefore imperative that believers all participate in the feet washing before the Pesach meal. 

Secondly, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is number two on the list of divinely ordained holy convocations as given in Leviticus 23:4-8 and Numbers 28:16-25. These sacred assemblies feature prominently in the biblical calendar and presage various important events in Elohim's grand plan for the salvation of Mankind, and going into the Millennial Kingdom of Yahshua. In reference to the Passover, Yahshua himself stated: "For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God shall come..." (Luke 22:18). While writing to the Colossians, the Apostle Paul told believers that these festivals fore shadow the shape of things to come when Yahshua shall again walk this earth (cf Isaiah 66:22-23; Zechariah 14:9-17; Isaiah 33:20, etc).

Additionally the Pesach also serves as a memorial of God's miraculous redemption of the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage by the hand of Moshe (Exodus 12:14; 13:3-8; Deuteronomy 16:1-3). On this day, the angel of destruction (Abaddon) visited death on all Egyptian firstborn. Providentially, the Israelites had prior instructions to kill an unblemished one year old male lamb and smear its blood on the doorposts and lintels of their homes. This was the divinely ordained sign for the angel to distinguish Israeli from Egyptian homes. The angel would therefore not kill Israeli firstborn along with those of Mistrayim (cf Exodus 12:1-13). So on that dreadful night, as Egypt mourned their firstborn(s), the angel "passed over" Israelite households.

It is also true that this ancient event presaged the ultimate sacrifice of the Son of God for the salvation of Mankind (cf John 3:16). The old Passover lamb was a symbol of the ultimate Lamb of God who was to take away the sins of the whole world (cf John 1:29 and 36). So as the ancient Passover lamb had to be perfect, so was Yahshua in the eyes of Elohim (cf Hebrews 5:8-9). As the lamb of old did not have any of his bones broken, so were none of Yahshua's bones broken at Golgotha (see Psalm 34:20, John 19:33).

The Passover is therefore symbolic of the Renewed Covenant in Yahshua's blood (Luke 22:19-20). This is the Covenant foretold long ago through the prophet YirmeYah: "...the time is coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt..." (Jeremiah 31:31).

The Passover meal also speaks to the unity of believers, the Body of Messiah. It is a communal meal. It is an expression of shared fellowship. Said the apostle Paul: "For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we  all partake of that one bread." (1Corinthians 10:17). 
This one Body, ought to maintain doctrinal purity (and therefore the unleavened bread, since yeast stands for man-made teachings  or traditions of men). That is why Yahshua cautioned his disciples against the yeast of the Pharisees (Matthew 16:6).

In Matthew 16:12, he plainly explains to them that the "yeast" he referred to were the teachings of the Pharisees. Yeast is a fungus that ferments carbohydrates, expands bread dough and results in fluffy loaves. It is tiny, almost microscopic but nevertheless infiltrates and grows. In scripture therefore, yeast symbolises something negative that quietly, insidiously, unnoticeably, invades the Body of believers. Just like a cancer. It stands for how sin slowly grows to corrupt and ruin a believer's faith.  Eliminating leaven from one's diet and home is therefore an expression of faith (as in the smearing of blood Passover lamb on the door frames and lintels). It marks the doer as a true member of the Covenant Community of Israel.
Conversely, refusing or ignoring the Feast of Unleavened Bread is to be unfaithful. It  is to show a lack of a sense of belonging, among Elohim's people (even if living among them). In the long run, such a one will miss out on the covenant blessings for Elohim's people. Taught the Great Teacher: "...I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh if the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day..." (John 6:53-54). Yahshua is the true, untainted unleavened bread that came down from our loving heavenly Father. He is the life-giving perfect that came down from the Father of the heavenly lights (James 1:17).

 Like King Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 30, who got rid of all idols in Elohim's temple, we too must thus root out and get rid of all things that compete for Elohim's affections in our hearts (temples of the Holy Spirit).

But the Feast is not only a warning against substituting human traditions for the Word of God, it is also a warning against hypocrisy - a charge also levied against the  Pharisees of old (cf Matthew 23:1-30). In other words the Body of Believers ought to preach water and drink water. In Yahshua's own words, the true Israelite has absolutely no guile (John 1:47). The same standard is used in describing a true Jew in other scriptures (cf Zephaniah 3:13, Isaiah 63:7).

 So as we prepare for the Festival, let us all reflect on these wonderful truths, spiritual gems and riches so ingeniously embedded in Elohim's sacred festivals. Shalom Pesach!

JK Changandu
Taveta