With the culmination of Passover and the day of Christ’s resurrection upon us, we must talk about Unleavened Bread—a vivid Old Covenant symbol of His finished work. If you read my last article, “Passover Season—God’s Appointed Time,” you will see the depth of God’s wisdom and love for us demonstrated through this historic season. Passover is vitally important to God, so much so that He reset Israel’s calendar just before establishing it and delivering the Israelites out of Egypt (Exod. 12:1–2). As Blood-bought believers, Passover reminds us that the moment we accept JESUS, everything changes forever—by the power of His blood that delivers us from sin and death.
The Old Covenant Foundation
The Lord instructed Moses, “[In the celebration of the Passover in future years,] seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove the leaven from your houses [because it represents the spread of sin]; for whoever eats leavened bread on the first day through the seventh day, that person shall be cut off and excluded from [the atonement made for] Israel” (Exod. 12:15, AMP). Now we understand why Passover is also called The Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The bread was unleavened because the Israelites had to leave Egypt “in haste” (Deut. 16:3; see also Exod. 12:39, AMP). The first usage of the word leaven in the Book of Exodus (which we know as yeast) represented sin: “As leaven spreads through dough, sin spreads through a population” (Footnote “a,” Exod. 12:15, AMP). As a result, the process of removing all leaven from every home in Israel was meticulous. Not one spec could remain. (See Exod. 12:17–20.)
New Covenant Fulfillment
ENTER…JESUS, “…the Living Bread that came down out of heaven” (Jn. 6:51, AMP)! First Peter 1:19 tells us, “but [you were actually purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ” (AMP). Jesus was tempted like us all, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15). He is our Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7) who delivered us from the power of the enemy, wiping out every spec of sin, when we accepted Him.
How? Isaiah 53:5 breaks it down: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole” (AMPC).
Now, remember the image of matzah (unleavened bread) that appears with this article. It is bruised and pierced, symbolizing the wounds inflicted upon Christ for the sin of humanity. After dying on the cross and rising again, Jesus now holds the keys to hell and death (Rev. 1:18). His willing, obedient self-sacrifice stripped the enemy of his power and made an open show of all “principalities and powers” (Col. 2:14–15, NKJV). And during His ministry on earth, Jesus even used “leaven” to describe the Kingdom (Matt. 13:33)—taking what the enemy meant for evil and turning it for our good. In Christ, we are whole.
Abba (Father God) was intentional in every aspect of Passover—the Feast of Unleavened Bread. In turn, Jesus was set in His resolve. He fulfilled every detail of the Father’s plan and gave us NEW LIFE under a New Covenant, based on the Old, yet fully fulfilled.
Knowing this, we have good reason to celebrate Passover and Firstfruits, the day Jesus rose from the grave. This holy season is significant to our Jewish brethren, and to every Blood-bought believer from every nation and tribe on the earth. That includes you and me, my friend!
Undeniable Proof in Our Lives Today
When you were saved, didn’t you experience something new, greater, almost unexplainable in your heart? As you have followed the Lord, hasn’t your life radically changed? The moment we gave our heart to Jesus, our personal “calendar” was reset. Our thoughts and desires began to change. The Holy Spirit was actively working within us…and much more was to come as we continued seeking and obeying the Lord. My friend, JESUS is REAL. The Old Covenant foundation He built upon is indestructible. His influence in our hearts and lives is undeniable.
It is hard for me to say enough about the significance of the Passover season! But, for now, let us close in prayer: “Lord Jesus, we bless You for loving us and for being obedient to the Father’s will on the cross. You set us free! Sin no longer controls us—You Lead and Empower Us. Thank You for coming to Earth, living a sinless life, and fulfilling everything Abba Father set in place in the Old Covenant. We pray for the nation of Israel, and for Jerusalem, this Passover season. May Your peace cover all our Jewish brethren and draw them near to You. Lord, keep us mindful of and thankful for the depth of what You have done for us—now and every day of our life. We love and worship You for Your supreme sacrifice as the “unleavened bread” from Heaven. In Your mighty Name we pray, Amen.”
#InspireGem
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