Begin

BeginWhen Israel first kept the Passover, it was with the backdrop of a broken, shattered Egypt. God had brought the mighty nation to its knees for the sake of His people, ending years of oppression and captivity in a single, masterful stroke. In years to come, the Israelites were to continue keeping this day, teaching their children about “the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households” (Exodus 12:27). Likewise, the days that followed—the Days of Unleavened Bread—were to serve as a reminder “of what the Lord did for me when I came up from Egypt” (Exodus 13:8).

Begin.

Decades later, when a new generation of Israelites finally settled in the Promised Land, the message of Passover was even clearer. The year had just begun (Leviticus 23:5). The crops were growing in the fields. The world around them was budding and chirping and singing and just generally coming back to life after a cold, rainy winter. The sheaf of the firstfruits would soon be waved before the Lord with gratitude for the harvest He was providing for His people (Leviticus 23:10).

Begin.

Jesus Christ told His disciples, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you” (Luke 22:15), because this was going to be the Passover that changed everything. Christ was slain “from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8), which means this Passover had been in the works since the events of Genesis 1:1. From here on out, the focus wouldn’t be on God breaking the chains of Egypt, but the chains of sin and death itself. Through death, Christ was going to “destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15). The penalty would be paid, once and for all—and for all those willing to repent and change their ways, the slate could be wiped clean.

Begin.

Can you hear it? Can you hear the message of this day?

The Passover season is a season for beginning. For starting fresh. It’s a reminder that the focus isn’t on the mistakes you’ve made in the past. Whether the backdrop is Egyptian captivity, a field full of new crops, or the sacrifice of the Son of God Himself, it’s clear that God doesn’t want us defining ourselves by our past failures and our forgiven sins. Christ’s sacrifice was intended to sever you from the things holding you back.

Passover reminds us to “put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:10) and begin.

Yes, we all have regrets behind us. We all have things we’d do differently and decisions we’d take back. But the Passover is about how God called us out of sins—how the Son of God gave His life to keep us from being held down by them.

What haven’t you accomplished this past year? How haven’t you grown? Where are you lacking?

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It’s time to shore up those weaknesses, to “strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees” (Isaiah 35:3), and to grow ever closer to our God and King.

The chains are broken. The fields are ready. The debt is paid.

Begin.

Until next time,
Jeremy

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