Observing the Pascal Lamb

Jesus and the Three Jewish Pilgrimage Festivals – Series Outline

My walk with Jesus has always guided me to the text of the Old Testament. In the books of the Old Testament I see Jesus as the great ‘I Am’. I see the work and person of Jesus in the feast, laws, wisdom, psalms, and stories. This series will look at the connection Jesus has to the three Pilgrimage Feast; Passover, Pentecost and Sukkot. Other days and feasts be woven into the series as they connect.

Observing the Paschal Lamb for Blemish

In relation to the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread on Nissan the 14th, Nisan 10-13th is the period to observe the Paschal Lamb to make sure it is without blemish. The 10th of Nissan, Palm Sunday, begins the observation period.

This post will conclude the observation period where Jesus, as with the Paschal Lamb was observed for blemish, imperfection, or sin. During this period Jesus teaches in the Temple daily. Here are the themes and actions observed in

Jesus during the 4 days leading to the Passover and His crucifixion.

  1. Jesus shows love for all including the outcast and shunned.
  2. Jesus foretells His own death.
  3. Jesus warns to be ready, be wise, and follow Him.
  4. Jesus then observes the Sadducees, rulers, and priests for blemish.

From the 10th to the 13th, the priests, Sadducees, Parassees, and rulers observed and tested Jesus. The priests claimed to have found two main areas, they considered sin in Jesus. The first was that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. The second was that Jesus threatened the Temple.

They found Jesus guilty and accused Him of exactly who He was, God the Son. As to the destruction of the temple, it would happen in the next few decades along with the destruction of the city.  At this point though, the destruction Jesus was talking about was that of His body, the temple which was to be crucified. Three days later Jesus hung on the cross.

At the end of this post we will see the ball set in motion. The observation will be complete; the rulers and priests decided Jesus deserves to die, and conspire with one of Jesus’s disciples, Judas, to have Jesus arrested.

Jesus was without sin; He was who He claimed to be, God the Son.

Jesus did nothing to harm the 2nd Temple, But three days later, the temple of His body, was destroyed.

The Tables Turn – Blemish is Found in the Jewish Leaders

Then Jesus turns the table so to speak, Literally and figuratively. Jesus condemns the rulers, Sadducees, Pharasees, and priests. At the start of the day on the 11th, Jesus explains about cursing the fig tree. The fig tree was baren of fruit and . The fig tree is often an image of Palestine.

Blemish of Leaders Burdening the People

Next, Jesus condemns the Pharasees, rulers, priests, and Sadducees for making the 2nd Temple a market place. The people had to buy sacrifices. The sacrifices had to be purchased using Temple coin. In the courtyard the money changers had set up tables from which the people had exchange their coin for temple coin. The people lost more money in the exchange. Jesus stated His Father’s House was to be a house of prayer.

Blemish of Leaders Seeking of Glory and Pridefulness

Next, Jesus condemned the leaders for seeking the honor of men rather than that of God. The Sadducees and priests had failed the task they had been given, to produce fruit. To illustrate, Jesus tells the story of the vineyard owner. The owner puts workers in charge of the vineyard and goes away. After a time, the owner sent slaves to collect the fruits of the vineyard, but the workers sent them away empty-handed. Finally the owner sends his son. The evil workers in the vineyard kill the son.

Jesus Cared for the People

Jesus’s love is for all, including, maybe most significantly, the downtrodden and the outcasts. Jesus went to the house of Simon, the leper and ate a meal and talked. The pious religious leaders would have considered that group unclean and to be avoided. Then there were Greeks seeking Jesus. Jesus told the God-fearing Greeks that if they follow Him, the Father would honor them. Jesus teaches the parables involving a wedding feast which ends with a message being sent out to the poor, to the outcast, and to the discarded, ‘ come to the feast!’

Jesus Foretells and is Prepared for His Death

Jesus foretells 1) the destruction of Jerusalem, 2) the destruction of the temple, 3) His death,  and 4) His future return in glory. Preparing Jesus for Death, fragrant oil is poured over His head. Jesus states that this annionting was done to prepare Him for burial.

Jesus Foretells He Will Return for Those who Follow Him

Finally, talking about His final return, Jesus stresses how crucial it is to be ready. A couple of the parables Jesus told during this time relate to wedding feasts. In these parables there are two groups, one wise and one foolish. The foolish get left out of both feasts. In one case the brides fail to get wedding clothing and are left out of the hall. In another parable, the groom returns in the night to get his bride. Half of the group had purchased oil for their lamps and were able to go out to meet the groom when He called out. Again, the foolish were left out. Another time those who had been invited thought they had better things to do. In that case the servants were sent out to find those in the streets, the outcasts, to fill the feasting hall.

Are We Ready for His Return

Oil is often related to the Holy Spirit.  New clothing is often related to new bodies. Those who follow Jesus will be changed.

The parable of the sheep and the goats also divides people into camps. On one side are the people who thought they were following Him. They thought that they knew Him. Yet He says He does not know them. The other group is  told,

35 ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’

Be ready, be empowered, and follow Him.

11 Nisan – Paschal Lamb Observed

Jesus spends Monday in the 2nd Temple teaching and foreshadowing God removing His hand of protection from Israel and bringing salvation by grace through faith in Jesus the Messiah

Jesus Interaction with Priests and Jewish Leaders – Mutual Observation

12 Nisan – Paschal Lamb Observed

Jesus Spends Tuesday in the Temple Teaching, Morning to Evening

Jesus Predicts Things to Come

13 Nissan – Paschal Lamb Observed

Jesus Spends Wednesday in the Temple Teaching

14 Nisan – Thursday, Begins at Sundown

The observation period of 10-13 Nisan ends at sundown on the 13th begining Passover. This evening, the starting the 14th is the 1st Passover Seder.

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