The Heavy Weight of Passover

Just a quick word of encouragement as the Passover season is upon us. 

Many people experience an increase in pressure, stress or weight of responsibilities in the days before Passover.  There is already this intensity of extra things to do in preparation for Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread.  There is the study and learning that provides newness of understanding pertaining to this most special of Feasts – which is a good thing.  There is also the ‘removal of leaven from within the house’ that is undertaken, which can require a fair amount of effort and strategy to accomplish.  All of this is happening throughout the normal events of the days leading to the Passover season.  

Then suddenly, unexpected external events invade to add further weight to an already stretched timeframe.  This could come in the form of the boss requiring an additional report on top of the mound of work already required.  Or the site foreman needs your construction crew to do more overtime to get a project completed.  Or it could be that a loved one suddenly needs more attention and care.  Or you get sick.  Or the family vehicle suddenly acts up and needs repairs, or it is something in the house that needs to be repaired.  The list can go on and on as to what could invade into the pre-Passover season of preparation.

Have you noticed that this happens each year?  If that is the case, why does it always seem to coincide with the Passover season?

Here is a theory; as the final days of Yeshua’s earthly life was upon Him and He knew that He was about to endure something exceedingly significant within the Plan for mankind that Elohim established at the foundation of the world, how did He feel? Understanding this question can lead to greater insight on how to manage the weight we feel before and during the Passover season.

The scriptures that convey the words He spoke in the final few days before His crucifixion, burial, resurrection and ascension are read from the perspective that He was a poised and focused man with a commanding tone of voice.  This is no doubt how Yeshua must have seemed to the disciples.  In their ignorance of what was to happen to Yeshua in a little while, they saw their Master take on an attitude they had not seem before.  They clearly did not understand the subtle change but were clearly aware of that change within Him.  That is why they acted a little confused when He spoke to them about the events He was about to experience (John 16:17, etc.).  We get a hint of how He was feeling when He told Judas Iscariot (after hasatan entered into him) to “That thou doest, do quickly” (John 13:27).  Yeshua was feeling the intensity of what was about to happen to Him and it was building.

Then after the Passover meal, Yeshua went to the Mount of Olives to spend time in prayer, accompanied by the disciples.  Yeshua was understandably not in the mood to sleep, unlike the unsuspecting disciples, who clearly had full bellies from good food and wine.  He separated Himself from the disciples and prayed to Abba such words that conveyed the agony going on within Him. He knew that what He was about to do, would affect all of creation from beginning to end.  It was a heavy yoke to be put under.  In Luke 22:41-44 are such words that reveal the pressure He was experiencing; “And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Notice what Yeshua says in verse 42 “…if thou be willing, remove this cup from me:” That request is very telling about the amount of pressure upon Him to the point that He even voiced the fleeting desire to remove the ‘cup’ (or responsibility) from Him.  

The few examples given here are to show that Yeshua was under a lot of pressure on the Passover and the days leading to it. 

What He experienced in those final days, gives us a clue to the immensity of this moment in the plan for mankind that Elohim had developed, but it also gives us the understanding into how our attitudes ought to be during this time.  The amount of pressure we experience in our lives as the Passover season comes upon us, is to give us a simple taste of the pressures and agony our Master and Saviour underwent two thousand years ago – for us.  Looking at our own Passover pressures from this perspective allows us to have our eyes and mind opened so we can have a deeper, intimate connection with Yeshua.  We get an idea of what He went through – for us.

So what happened for Yeshua once He asked Abba (Father) to remove this cup from Him? 

He immediately remembered Who He was – the Firstborn Son of Abba - and thusly submitted Himself to the plan which He and Abba had created from the foundation of the world – for the building of the Elohim Family through Their creation of mankind.  That is why He immediately said “…nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”  He wrestled with the physical human emotions within Him to the point that great drops of bloody sweat fell to the ground from Him.  For that reason, an angel appeared to Him, strengthening Him because it was necessary for Him to follow through with the plan for mankind – at all cost.

Therefore, as the pressures mount upon us through this Festival season just remember what Yeshua taught us about who we are.  We are the children of Abba, who are going to be fully incorporated within the Elohim Family in a little while (which means when He returns as LORD of lords and King of kings).  Turn our attention to what He taught us and commit to following through all the pressures, just as He did.

May this season truly provide significant blessing to your understanding of Elohim’s plan for all of mankind.   Baruch et ah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha Olam (blessed are You oh LORD our God, King of the universe). 

Let this mind be in you that is in Messiah, Yeshua.