AS WE APPROACH THE PASSOVER FEAST by Raphael ben Levi
This coming Wednesday evening (March 22) marks the first day of the first biblical new month (Rosh Chodesh), the month of “Nissan”, a name borrowed from the Akkadian language meaning “first fruits” and later adapted in the Hebrew language for “miracle.”
Paul describes the significance of this in 1Cor.15:20-25: “ But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.”
So contained within the name of Nissan, the promise of salvation progressively unfolds marked by Pesach, Unleavened Bread and the feast of First Fruits that were all prophetically fulfilled through Yeshua!
Nissan, first mentioned in Ex.12:1-2 and later in the Mishnah (Rosh Hashanah 1:1), describes 1st Nisan as one of 4 New Years in the Hebrew calendar.
The Bible refers to this month as “Aviv” the Hebrew word for “Spring” (Deut.16:1). It begins with the first New Moon after the barley in Israel reaches the stage in its ripeness called “Aviv”. The period between one year and the next is either 12 or 13 lunar months. Because of this, it was important to check the state of the barley crops at the end of the 12th month. If the barley was ‘Aviv’ at the time, then the following New Moon would be Chodesh Ha-Aviv (“New Moon of the Aviv”). If the barley was still immature, they waited another month and then checked the barley again at the end of the 13th month known as ADAR II.
It is in this season that almond tree blossoms at the end of winter and the hills of Israel are covered with beautiful pinkish white flowers. It has five petals that remind us of God’s grace, and the white blossoms symbolise the white hair of old age of a righteous person, a crown of glory. The blossoming of the almond tree is also prophetic of the full and complete awaited restoration of the Jewish people. From the barrenness of winter arises the fragrance and beauty of new life. It is also associated with one of the earliest prophecies from Jer.1:11-12: “Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Jeremiah, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘I see a branch of an almond tree.’ Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am watching to perform My word.’”
This prophecy uses a play on words that conveys an important message. The Hebrew word for almond, “shaked” can also be translated “to watch”. By seeing the almond branch, God assured Jeremiah that He is watching over His word to fulfil it.
There is an ancient town in Israel called Luz famous for its hills that are covered with almond trees in this spring season, that reminds us of the ‘Marriage Supper of the Lamb’ which God has prepared for those who love Him.
And with the fragrance of the almond blossoms, Scripture reminds us that we are likened to them when a true believer imparts the beautiful scent to those whose lives one connects with: “But thanks be to God, who in the Messiah constantly leads us in a triumphal procession and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of what it means to know him! 15 For to God we are the aroma of the Messiah, both among those being saved and among those being lost…” (2Cor. 2: 14-16) And in our prayers, we continue to intercede for the Jewish people who as a nation have yet to catch the scent.
But in these end times, we are seeing the signs of a 2nd Exodus before our very eyes as Jewish people in increasing numbers are returning to their Homeland. Some are coming on their own volition, but many are returning as refugees, and this will only increase exponentially the nearer we get to the return of Yeshua, spurred on by anti-Semitism throughout the 4 corners of the earth. God is drawing His people home as Scripture prophesies: “Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks.” (Jer.16:16)
In these end times, amid unprecedented events taking place in the world arena, all the jigsaw pieces moving into place at breath-taking speed.
God is always in full control and has invited us to partner with Him in these end-times! Our confidence is grounded in the knowledge that God is faithful to His covenant promises and nothing can interfere with His eternal purposes. If ever there was any Pesach celebrated, where God is reminding His bride to recognise His soon return, is it not now!
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