I have been walking home from work this week and noticing the moon grow bigger each evening. Tonight will be a full moon. After sundown it will be Nisan 14 – a deeply significant date.
An incredible escape from cruel slavery occurred on this night. Millions left Egypt after the Passover celebration was established. The Jews were asked to remember that salvation each year.
For centuries people faithfully observed the annual Passover. In the first century, Jesus and his closest followers did so. It was on that occasion when Jesus introduced a meaningful commemoration for his followers. He was about to give up his life as a sacrifice for mankind.
When I was reading through the events that took place on Nisan 14, I noticed that there was one point when Jesus was under such enormous stress that God sent an angel to strengthen him. I wonder what that angel said to Jesus.
There is only one hope to rescue mankind from the cruel slavery of disease and death. One man died that we may live.
In the weeks prior to his death, Jesus was busy. One of the notable events was when he visited his close friends on the loss of their dear brother Lazarus. When Jesus witnessed the grief of those bereaved, he gave way to tears, even though he knew what he was about to do. Shortly afterwards he was empowered to wake Lazarus up from death. Lazarus returned to life.
Soon Jesus will restore life on a vast scale….but in the meantime he sees the grief mankind feel due to disease and death. He knows what he is soon going to do. He gave up his own life to buy back life for Adam’s descendants. Jesus still feels for our plight before that time when he is authorised to act as King of God’s Kingdom.
The meaning of these events of past salvation and the hope they provide for mankind are deeply significant. There is only only one way that mankind can be rescued from death. So tonight we remember.
Caramel 