AS WE APPROACH THE PASSOVER FEAST – by Raphael ben Levi
Yesterday evening marked the first day of the first biblical new month (Rosh chodesh) known as the month of “Nissan”, which is 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 fChrist has been raised from the dead, gthe firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as hby a man came death, iby a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For jas in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then kat his coming lthose who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers mthe kingdom to God the Father after destroying nevery rule and every authority and power 25 For he must reign ountil he has put all his enemies under his feet.”
So contained within the name of Nissan, the promise of salvation progressively unfolds as marked by Pesach, Unleavened Bread and the feast of First Fruits that were all prophetically fulfilled perfectly through Yeshua!
Nissan is first mentioned in Ex.12:1-2 and 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” the month of Passover (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 Hodesh 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. This is the case with the current year we are in which is a leap year with the insertion of a 13th month just past known as ADAR II.
It is in this season in Israel that almond tree blossoms at the end of winter and the hills are covered with beautiful pinkish white flowers. And as I have shared before, 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.
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