stock here, Mahalo to Jack Schick
Here’s a concise summary of Pastor Mark Biltz’s Passover message, which ties the biblical Exodus story, Jewish tradition, and the New Testament account of Yeshua (Jesus) into a rich, symbolic teaching:
🕎 Passover Overview:
Passover is the Lord’s (not just a Jewish) feast.
Celebrated on Nisan 14, with the Feast of Unleavened Bread starting Nisan 15.
Historically significant births: Isaac and John the Baptist.🏺 The Four Cups of the Seder (Exodus 6:6–7):
Sanctification – “I will bring you out.”
Deliverance – “I will rescue you from bondage.”
Redemption – “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.”
Acceptance – “I will take you as my people.”These correspond to the stages of freedom from Egypt and sin. The third cup (redemption) is what Yeshua raised at the Last Supper (Luke 22).
🍞 Leaven (Sin) & Spring Cleaning:
Leaven = sin.
Spring cleaning originated with Jewish households removing leaven before Passover.
A symbolic ritual: children search for leaven, but the father removes it with a feather, wooden spoon, and linen cloth—mirroring the crucifixion.🐑 Temple Cleansing & Matzah Symbolism:
Yeshua cleansed the temple at Passover—removing sin from His Father’s house.
The middle matzah is broken, striped, and hidden—symbolizing the Messiah’s death, burial, and resurrection.
Yeshua = the Afikomen (hidden and later revealed during the 3rd cup).🔥 Plagues Judged Egyptian Gods:
Each plague in Egypt was a direct judgment on an Egyptian deity, e.g.:
Nile to blood = judgment on Hapi
Frogs = Heket
Darkness = Ra
Death of firstborn = direct challenge to their lamb god (Amun-Ra)✝️ Crucifixion & Fulfillment:
Yeshua died on Nisan 14, same time as the Passover lambs.
Bound to the cross at 9 AM, darkness at noon, died at 3 PM—the moment of national lamb slaughter.
Psalm 118 was being sung at the Temple, aligning with the crucifixion themes (e.g., “The stone the builders rejected…”).🧱 Veil Torn & The Father’s Mourning:
The temple veil was torn top to bottom—a symbolic tearing of garments by the Father, grieving His Son.
This aligns with ancient Jewish mourning customs.🪦 Yeshua Died on the Mount of Olives?
Pastor Biltz proposes Yeshua was:
Proclaimed King, arrested, crucified, and buried all on the Mount of Olives.
This aligns with Roman execution customs: scene of the crime, place of arrest, high ground, and visible crossroads.
Golgotha may mean more than "skull"—possibly a headcount location (census = "gollet").🌿 Red Heifer & Messiah:
The Red Heifer sacrifice took place outside the camp on the Mount of Olives.
Messiah’s sacrifice had to be visible to the Temple and facing the Judge (the Father).
Blood and water pouring from His side mirrors the Temple’s drainage of blood from lamb sacrifices.🕊️ Power of Relationship:
True power to avoid sin comes from loving God, not fear of punishment.
Redemption came through the outstretched arm—the same power used to create the heavens.🔄 Pattern Fulfillment:
All spring feasts were fulfilled at Yeshua’s first coming (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits).
All fall feasts (Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles) will be fulfilled at His second coming.
God works in patterns—He’s consistent and faithful.