Days of Passover Preparation

Aviv 11 and 12    Days of Final Preparations

2020:  Sunday, April 5 – Monday, April 6

During this time, the heads of the households of Israel brought their chosen lamb into their homes to be cared for, carefully examined, and cleansed in preparation for the sacrifice.  A personal attachment would develop between household members and the year-old lamb.  Its sacrifice would now have an emotional significance to the entire family. This act of mercy and grace provided by YHVH for His people would have a tangible cost. The blood of their lamb would be the covering over their households for the next year so that judgement and death could be avoided.

It was during these same two days that Yeshua examined the Temple and declared it had become a den of thieves. Imagine the disruption He created in the selling and buying of Passover lambs and other sacrifices! He publicly confronted and corrected both the Pharisees and Sadducees. He taught the crowds following Him about the nature of His Kingdom and the coming Day of Judgement. He healed the blind and the lame. He held nothing back.

Yeshua, the Passover Lamb of Yehovah, was also being examined – by the people, by the religious Jewish leaders, and by the Roman government.  He was found to be without spot or blemish by all three. The crowds were ready to crown Him King of Israel. The religious leaders seeking to destroy Him had to fabricate false witnesses and testimonies against Him.  The pagan Roman, Pontius Pilate, found nothing of guilt in Him. The Passover Lamb of YHVH was indeed without spot or blemish.

During these two days make your final preparations for the Passover Seder and the Feast of Matzah. The house should be readied with the last of any hametz removed, Feast Days menus and activities finalized, and shopping completed.

Bible readings during these days: 

Isaiah 56:1-8 Jeremiah 7:1-11 Matthew 21:12- 22:40      Mark 11:12 – 14:10     Luke 21:37 – 22:6      John 12:20-50

Question:  Which night will you celebrate the Passover?

There were two options that were practiced in Israel at the time of Yeshua. One was held by the Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection of the dead. The other was held by the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.  Though both sects held power and influence over the Hebrew people, the Sadducees had full control of the Temple and the sacrifices. To accommodate both sects, Passover sacrifices began at 9:00 AM on Aviv 13 and continued to 3:00 PM on Aviv 14. Both sects observed the Sabbath of the 1^st Day of the Feast of Matzah on Aviv 15.

• At the sunset ushering in Aviv 14.  This was the tradition of the Pharisees. This was the time Yeshua selected for His final Seder with His disciples. He most certainly did believe in the resurrection!
• After 3:00 PM on Aviv 14.  This was the tradition of the Sadducees, thus the predominate practice of the Judeans at that time. Yeshua gave up his life on the stake at 3:00 PM as the last of the Passover lambs was sacrificed.  At that moment the Temple High Priest would declare, “It is finished.”  Our High Priest and Sacrifice declared the same at that very same moment.

To celebrate the Passover Seder on either night is perfectly fine. This is certainly not an issue to argue over and cause division. The important point is that you DO celebrate the Passover! In our household, we do both!  We celebrate Yeshua’s Seder with our local Messianic congregation on the eve of Aviv 14. Then we celebrate with family and friends in our home during the twilight hours on Aviv 14.