The sun has already set in Jerusalem and Passover has begun in the Holy Land.  Within a couple hours, the sun here too  will set.  God renders time in such a way that a day, according to Him, begins at sundown.  In the Genesis account it states, "And the evening and the morning were the first day."  It was during these night hours that Yeshua/Jesus ate a last meal with the disciples, teaching them the deepest of meaning contained within the Passover meal.  He would not be able to participate in the Passover meal that would be celebrated the following afternoon and evening.  Not along side them, anyway.  He would be above them, hanging on the cross, as THE Passover Lamb.  Precisely at 3:00pm the next afternoon, the Passover lamb would be offered up as a sacrifice in the Temple.  At exactly the same time Jesus/Yeshua would be speaking with His Father . . . "Into Your hands, I commit my spirit."  And then, "It is finished."

The greatest act of love occurred on that Passover day some 2000 years ago.  Love that is quite difficult to comprehend, if we spend any length of time reflecting on it.  Why did He do this?  Why did He choose to take our sin upon Himself and die for it?  I can't help but weep when I allow time for that to soak in.  We know the answer . . . at least in our heads.  He loved us so much that He and the Father and the Spirit all agreed upon this plan to redeem us from death and sin and the captivity of the Enemy. He would die to set us free.

Sometimes we go through the 'ritual' of communion so quickly that we don't take time to allow it to sink in . . . or there isn't enough time allowed in our services.  So much today, in terms of our church services, is planned for efficiency.  I wonder if God is grieved that a service/act dedicated for 'communion' has become more like a news bite? Efficient reflection seems shallow, especially when we are talking about salvation and the death of the Son of God.

Jesus told His disciples (and of course this includes us) to 'do this in remembrance of me'.  At Moriah we take time each year to gather for Passover.  After all, our (the church's) observance of communion is rooted within it.  While it makes some people a bit squeamish to participate in something 'Old Testament', 'Jewish', etc. we find it a breath of fresh air to re-attach 'communion' with Passover, and be blessed by the richness of it's hebraic roots.  Over the last 12 or so years, many of us have learned how multiple layers of hebrew culture were intertwined within Yeshua's words through Passover.  The four cups of the Passover speak a deeper, richer message than just the one cup of 'communion'.  Learning the four basic covenant types speak of a deepening relationship with God, as we grow from servant, to friend, to calling, and completion.  These are all reflected in the four cups of Passover.  And the Jewish Betrothal picture is most certainly wrapped into the Passover, through symbol and also in Jesus' very words.

We often take time to remember our sin and ask forgiveness before we partake of communion, albeit a rather flash prayer, generally speaking.  We will also briefly remember that Jesus died for us and have a moment of thanks.  We will be reminded that He arose from the dead and there is much gladness in that for sure.  I am certain that all these things were meant when Jesus told us to 'do this in remembrance of Him'.  But Passover bring an additional reflection that is equally important.  He is coming again for His bride.  When one gains a deeper understanding of Passover, the betrothal themes glow with Holy Spirit illumination.  As much as anything . . . Yeshua was most certainly saying . . . 'remember that I have purchased you with My very life and you are my bride and I am your groom, and the marriage feast of the Lamb awaits us when I come back to get you.'

At the time of Yeshua's earthly ministry, when a Jewish man left his betrothed, in order to go build a home for them, he would say, "I go to prepare a place for you."  This is exactly what Jesus said at the Passover meal before He went out to give up His life for us.  So, when you enter into a time of communion this weekend, remember to ponder that He not only LOVED you so much that He died for you, but that He LOVES you so much He is coming back again to share His life with you forever.  

His love wasn't just past tense.  It is future.  And it is now.

As the evening comes on, take some time to ponder the fact that He loves you.  That He has gone away for a time to prepare a place for you.  He didn't just die for you.  He lives for you.  And He lives to see you face to face.  To hold you. To speak truth into ever broken and dry place within you. Passover is a time to let the walls down from around your heart, to trust Him, and to give Him that specific and certain permission.

Please, LORD . . . breathe new LIFE into me.
I give you permission.
I throw the doors of my heart and mind wide open to You.
Speak Your Truth into and touch deeply
every broken place within me.
Grant me true LIFE once again.

When the time for communion comes.  Take the time and open your heart to Him and this time . . . determine to encounter Him. The moment is too precious to let it slip by even one more time.

Be blessed.