AT ONCE...

"'Come, follow me.' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' At once [Simon and Andrew] left their nets and followed [Jesus]. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother, John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him."
Mark 1:17-20

As a child I knew that when my parents called my name, using my middle name, it meant trouble was coming. That calling of my name could be heard all the way down the street I am sure. Daniel Ryan Tichota! And when I heard that calling, I knew there was no time to waste unless I wanted the upcoming wrath to be worse than it was already destined to be. Now as a parent I am on the otherside of the call. Just like it was for me as a child, so now I find that my children also know that when the middle name is spoken, something major is about to happen. Yet why is it that this is the tone used too often to get us to do something at once?
In reading a brief study on the first chapter of the Book of Mark recently, my eyes were fixed on the calling of the first few disciples. This section which I have read many times before now included words that jumped off the page. Here was Jesus, fresh from His forty days of temptation, walking beside the Sea of Galilee where He came upon a set of brothers, Simon (Peter) and Andrew. We are not told how long He stood there, or really what He witnessed other than perhaps the two casting nets and hoping for a catch. Yet we are told they were fishermen, and that became the invitation Jesus used when speaking to them. "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
But here is where I was gotten, where the words went from words on the page to words that jumped out at me. The two men responded by leaving their nets and coming at once. At once! Jesus didn't have to use their middle name, didn't have to give a threat, and didn't have to sweeten the pot. All He said was come and at once they came.
Notice in the verses that follow, however, that a simple invite was given to another set of brothers and their response was just about the same. "Without delay [Jesus] called them, and [James and John] left their father..." In an instant of Jesus calling to the two, the family business was already split as the two brothers who would more than likely inherit the company were now following a man who really only promised a career in fishing for men. And still, there was no middle name used, no bait, and no deception to get the brothers to come.
So here is my question. As a parent the middle name being called seems to work, or to at least let the kids know I am serious about them coming, listening, performing, etc. Yet Jesus gives an invitation without forcing the middle name. Do we hear it? The two sets of brothers did, and they at once left all they had to follow Him. Why do we decide that we will only follow, or obey, when there is some type of benefit promised? Why do we wait and wait and delay and delay instead of just coming when He calls gently to us? It makes me truly question how many blessings we miss out on because of the delay. If the brothers had delayed, would Jesus have waited? I personally think He may have moved on to another who was willing to come at once. That said, I want to be ready and drop all I have to follow Him at once when He calls.

THE SEDER part 2

“On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’”
Exodus 13:8

We join together again today, picking up from where we left off in our Seder dinner. Following our recounting of the story of Moses being raised up, the ten plagues, and the great exodus out of Egypt, as well as the four questions that are traditionally asked of the children at the table, we move on next to the actions related to the ten plagues. Dipping one’s finger in the cup of wine or juice, a drop of the contents is spilled on the plate for each of the ten plagues as is named. In my study of the Passover, I heard a pastor give more insight on this matter. We grow up knowing the plagues, but have you ever questioned the reason as to why these items were the plagues? Why did G-d turn the Nile to blood? The answer is because the Nile was one over the Egyptians gods. In each of the plagues G-d was showing His power of the gods of Egypt. Darkness came so as to debunk their sun god. Locusts came to weed out the power of the god of their crops. Our G-d showed His power, and for that we dip our finger in the wine and sprinkle it on our plate. In drinking then the remainder of the second cup later on we learn of G-d’s second ‘I will’. “I will free you.”

Now then, let us enjoy the three essentials of the Passover Seder. With the shank bone of the lamb in hand, the leader explains that the lamb was sacrificed for an important reason. The blood from this sacrifice was painted on the doorpost of the home with the hyssop so as to make the declaration that inside that home were worshippers of the true G-d. The lamb was not strangled or bones broken, yet was killed, paving the way for the salvation of the Israelites. And like was recorded in Isaiah concerning our Messiah, He too was not strangled nor a single bone broken, but rather He willing gave Himself as the lamb who took away our sins.

The matzah is then lifted. It is because there was not enough time for the dough to rise that we eat unleavened bread during the feast. As I read this portion in Exodus 12:11, I cannot help but fall in love with G-d all over. In this scripture G-d tells them how to eat, with their cloak tucked into their belt, sandals on, and staff in hand. They had to be ready to leave at any moment. Bread made with yeast takes time to make, therefore, they were forbidden to use yeast because it would slow them down. How wise is G-d to tell them not to use yeast?

A second hand washing is done and next we enjoy, if truly we can say that, the bitter herbs. It is because the Egyptians embittered the lives of our forefathers in Egypt that we remember their pain, persecution, and suffering as we taste the horseradish commonly used. This taste is to bring tears to our own eyes, as the affliction of slavery brought tears to the Israelites’ eyes. Now the second cup is drank, this time in praise, adoration, and reverence of G-d. It is G-d who has brought Israel out of bondage, and has brought us out of bondage as well. We are free from sorrow, mourning, darkness, and servitude, and now step into His marvelous light and life.

Another portion of the meal that needs inclusion and explanation is the charoseth. This dish is made of apples, cinnamon, wine, and sugar, and although sweet in flavor represents Israel’s time in servitude. Charoseth is a symbol of mortar, representing the clay brinks which were made by Israel while they were in Egypt. Taking now from the bottom of the matzah pile, the leader breaks off two pieces for each one at the table. With a taste of bitter herbs and charoseth on the matzah, the bite is taken. The Passover meal is also now served.

Remember the afikomen we talked about in the last post? It was the piece of matzah that was broken and a portion covered in linen and hidden during the meal. Well it is now time to find it. When the child finds the missing matzah, the leader of the celebration must ‘rescue’ it by paying money or a gift to the child. As the child receives the prize, the leader of the table begins to break off pieces for each guest. In the matzah are seen stripes, pokes, and rough sides when broken. It is in this piece then that we see the Messiah’s torture. He was whipped, beaten, pierced, and endured a spear in His side. He suffered death, but not in vain. He took our death penalty so that we may have life. For as Romans says, we all have sinned, and the wages of sin is death (Rom 3:23, 6:23). As we reflect of the matzah, let us not forget what the Messiah suffered in love for us.

It is at this point that a third cup is taken, the cup of redemption. “I will redeem you.” This is G-d’s promise that He would redeem His people from slavery. His promise was that they would not be slaves forever, but that He would buy them back. It was after this cup when taken at the Last Supper that the Messiah stated a new covenant was being made. Soon after, the door is opened and Elijah’s cup is filled. During the meal, an extra table setting has been laid out but not used. This is for Elijah. The door is opened to see if the prophet will come. If Elijah does not come, the door is then closed and the feast moves to its last cup, the cup of praise.

After the cup of praise, the Seder is concluded. The Seder of Passover is complete, even as our salvation and redemption are complete. The lamb has been sacrificed and forgiveness of sin made possible. But our Lamb, the Messiah, has also been sacrificed and forgiveness of sin has been made possible through Him. It is my desire that in this abbreviation of the Seder G-d has been made new to you, and that you find Him this season. May on this day you be among those who, as Exodus 13:8 states, “tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’”

THE SEDER part 1

“On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the L-RD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’”
Exodus 13:8

This weekend marks the beginning of Passover, and many families both Jewish and non will sit around the table and partake in the Passover meal. But unless you have a Passover Haggadah, you may not understand the meaning and symbolism behind each prayer, drink, or item on the plate. The meal is made up of more than just lamb, parsley, and charoseth. It is made up of remembrance, hope, and life. Over the next two days I would like to take some time to explain the Passover meal in hopes that you too will see more than just ritual, but rather see G-d’s hand.

The booklet that contains the compilation of passages and remembrances used during the Passover Seder Service is known as the Haggadah. This term comes from the word V’HIGAD-TA, as seen in Exodus 13:8, meaning to tell the story of
G-d’s redemptive grace. This story of grace is told through the death, burial and resurrection of the Messiah. But this story is also told through the acts of prayer, washing of hands, and drinking from the cup, as well as items both on and off the plate. For instance, when the Seder meal begins, it begins with the searching for the leaven. In Exodus 12:19-20, G-d order’s that the Israelites must eat unleavened bread. Therefore, in many Jewish homes, before Passover begins, all leavened items must be removed from the house. Our Messiah made the unleavened bread a symbol of His own sacrifice for our sins, and we must also search out the leaven of sin in our lives so as to keep this feast holy. For as we read in I Corinthians 5:6-8, Paul reminds us that a little leaven works through the whole batch.

Following the search, the lighting of the festival candles is performed. It is traditional for a woman to light the candles and recite a blessing as she does. As the feast moves on, the candles will continue to burn showing us light, symbolizing the Messiah as the light of the world. Then, the first of four cups is taken. The drinking of the cup is known as the Kiddush, and this first cup is the Cup of Sanctification. Represented in this is the first of the “I will” promises made by G-d. “I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” But I want to point something out concerning this cup. If Egypt represents slavery, and Israel has indeed already been brought out, then perhaps there is another reason for this cup, one personal to us. Think about your life. Are you in slavery to sin? Are you in bondage to ways not of G-d? Then this cup is for you, and this “I will” is G-d telling you that you too will be brought out of slavery.

Continuing forward, we move on to the washing of the hands. In the book of John, we read of the Messiah getting up from the meal and showing the full extent of His love for His disciples. He washed their feet (Jn 13:1-11). We wash our hands before moving on as a reminder of His washing of the disciples’ feet. It is only after these steps that we are then able to turn our attention to the items on the plate. The karpas, or parsley, is that first food. The parsley is dipped into salt water or vinegar and followed by a blessing. This act represents the hyssop which was used to place the blood of the Passover lamb upon the doorway, but the salt water is used to represent the tears shed in Egypt which were salty. Please, I know that parsley comes standard on fancy restaurant dishes, but I ask that you never look at parsley the same way again. Let it be seen as a remembrance, as a tool used in your deliverance.

The last piece of the Seder that I want to focus on today is the breaking of the middle matzah. As the leader of the table takes the middle matzah and breaks it in two, one half is replaced between the whole ones. The other half is wrapped in a linen cloth for the Afikomen, the hidden portion of the feast that children will later seek out for a prize. This breaking of the bread is representational of the Messiah’s breaking the bread in Luke 22:19. “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’” This act is followed then by the retelling of the story of the Exodus, for it is here that not only do we see the people of Israel in need of a Savior, but if we look honestly we will see our need for a Savior.

The parallels are deep, but so often we count them as history. But the Word of G-d is alive. If it were dead it would have no meaning to us today; it would just be another good book. But the Word speaks to us, calls out to us, and beckons us to come into a relationship with Him. We are no different than the Israelites. We need deliverance. The Passover lamb brought deliverance for the Israelites, and the Messiah brought deliverance for us. All we have to do is cry out to Him and He will save us also. My prayer is that this season will not just be ritual, but that it will be the day for your salvation from slavery.