• The Passover.
• Taking away the ‘sins’ of the World.
• For the healing of our sickness and diseases (Isa 53).

Why the need for a Passover?

Well, it started way back in the book of the Exodus, even BEFORE Moses returned to Egypt.

Exodus 4:22-23 "And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith YAHWEH, Israel is my son, even my FIRSTBORN: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may SERVE me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy FIRSTBORN."

Now to come to a fuller knowledge, we need to ask several questions as to our past, or present understanding of this most important observance! Questions such as, did Yahshua die on the stake for OUR sin? Or did he die for the ‘SIN’ of the World? Or did He die for our HEALING, of sickness and disease? Or did He complete all of the above?

Ask yourself: What if anything does the Passover have to do with SIN?

To answer this question we need to ask another question:

Ask yourself: Who initially cut mankind off from the Creator YAHWEH? Adam!

You might ask, what does Adam have to do with the Passover? Let's search Scripture to try and gain a deeper and fuller understanding of this commanded ritual and test our current acceptance of its meaning.

Ask yourself: What does the slaying of Egypt’s firstborn have to do with Passover? "...behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn." let’s search and distinguish!

Are you familiar with the following Scriptures? (Keeping Exodus 4:22-23 in mind):

1 Corinthians 5:7 "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Messiah our Passover (Lamb) is sacrificed for us:"

John 1:29 "The next day John seeth Yahshua coming unto him, and saith, Behold the LAMB OF YAH, WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD"

Continuing then with the story flow. Moses has by now returned to Egypt. Nine plagues are spent, one remains. Moses was told to go ahead and warn Pharaoh of the next terrible tenth and final plague.

Exodus 11:1 "And YAHWEH said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence…"

Exodus 11:5"And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts."

Exodus 11:7 "But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that YAHWEH doth put a DIFFERENCE between the Egyptians and Israel."

Israel will be protected, provided they take certain protective steps...

Exodus 11:9-10 "Pharaoh shall NOT HEARKEN unto you;" WHY? " that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and YAHWEH HARDENED Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land."

Exodus 12:12 "For I will PASS THROUGH the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the FIRSTBORN in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am YAHWEH."

Exodus 12:29 "And it came to pass, that at midnight YAHWEH smote all the FIRSTBORN in the land of Egypt, from the FIRSTBORN of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the FIRSTBORN of cattle."

So, the Destroyer–Messenger of Death- moved through all of Egypt at midnight and slew all of their FIRSTBORN, of man and of beast. But the FIRSTBORN sons of Israel were SAVED from death. HOW? By applying the blood of the PASSOVER lamb to the side posts and lintels of the doors, of Israel.

As a result of this SUBMISSION, YAHWEH CLAIMED THE FIRSTBORN OF ISRAEL FOR HIMSELF. We read:

Exodus 13:2 "…Sanctify unto me all the FIRSTBORN, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: IT IS MINE." and

Exodus 13:13"...and all the FIRSTBORN of man among thy children shalt thou REDEEM."

AND WHEN OUR CHILDREN SHOULD ASK, "What is this?" then we explain to them...

Exodus 13:15 "when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that YAHWEH slew all the FIRSTBORN in the land of Egypt, both the FIRSTBORN of man, and the FIRSTBORN of beast: therefore I sacrifice to YAHWEH all that openeth the matrix, being MALES; but all the FIRSTBORN of my children I REDEEM."

Exodus 22:29 "Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the FIRSTBORN of thy sons shalt THOU GIVE UNTO ME."

Exodus 34:20 "...All the FIRSTBORN of thy sons thou shalt REDEEM. And none shall appear before me empty."

We find that all firstborn of man and beasts of ISRAEL are REDEEMED - bought back. YAHWEH does nothing without purpose! What is that purpose? CAN WE KNOW? Let us search deeper into the Word of YAHWEH and see if we can discover that purpose and why.

The whole tribe of Levi is chosen, rather than the FIRSTBORN of Israel.

Numbers 3:12-13 "And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel INSTEAD of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; 13 Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I HALLOWED –set apart- unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am YAHWEH."

Numbers 3:40-43 …"And YAHWEH said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am YAHWEH) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel. And Moses numbered, as YAHWEH commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel. And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen (22,273)."

And further...

Numbers 3:45-50 "Take the Levites INSTEAD of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites INSTEAD of their cattle; and the LEVITES SHALL BE MINE: I am YAHWEH. And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen (273) of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:) And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels (1,365), after the shekel of the sanctuary:" Israel had to pay.

And again...

Numbers 8:14 "Thus shalt thou SEPARATE the Levites from among the children of Israel:

Ask Yourself: Why are the Levites now taken IN PLACE of the Firstborn as explained in Exodus 13:2? "…Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of ISRAEL, both of man and of beast: it is mine."

Why, because of the great offense Israel committed against Yahweh by worshipping the golden calf. It is at this time that the LEVITES separate themselves from the rest of IDOLATROUS Israel; they took a STAND (exerted effort) in support of YAHWEH.

Exodus 32:26 "Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, who is on YAHWEH’s side? Let him come unto me (YAHWEH.) And ALL the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him." THE FIRSTBORN OF PHYSICAL ISRAEL LOSES OUT.

..."Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel…"

Numbers 8:15-18 "And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the TABERNACLE of the CONGREGATION: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering. For they are wholly given unto ME from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me. For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. And I HAVE TAKEN THE LEVITES for all the FIRSTBORN of the children of Israel. "

Clearly then we need to understand that the FIRSTBORN of Israel –before their sin- was to do service of the Tabernacle and the Congregation, serving both Yah and man, as did Levi! (In place of Israel)

Numbers 8:15-32 "Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto YAHWEH, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely REDEEM, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou REDEEM.

And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto YAHWEH, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it. Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine. Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto YAHWEH, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely REDEEM, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou REDEEM. (ISRAEL LOST OUT, BIG TIME.) And those that are to be REDEEMED from a month old shalt thou REDEEM, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the SANCTUARY, which is twenty gerahs.

Neither must the children of ISRAEL henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die. But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. YES, THIS IS THE WORK OF THE FIRSTBORN! …But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto YAHWEH, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

For further insight read Numbers 19:1-22.

It should now become quite clear in our minds that we, as FIRSTBORN —SPIRITUAL— SONS, need to be REDEEMED!

This then was, and is the occupation of the firstborn –spiritual— sons, then and now to serve -as representatives of our family, both YAHWEH and all of mankind. That future rest day, the SABBATH REST that is yet to come, is what we as the FIRSTBORN are looking forward to, to serve in the TABERNACLE not built with human hands. We will, if we qualify, be full members of the CONGREGATION OF THE FIRSTBORN.

Hebrews 12:23 "To the general assembly and CONGREGATION OF THE FIRSTBORN, which are written in heaven, and to Yah the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect..."

Numbers 9:13 "But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the PASSOVER, even the same soul shall be CUT OFF from among his people: because he brought not the offering of YAHWEH in his appointed season, that man shall bear his SIN."

BEAR WHAT SIN? The offense of not keeping the Passover ceremony.

Hebrews 11:28 "Through faith he (Moses) kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them."

This (Numbers 9:13) is the only verse in all of Scripture where the words "PASSOVER" and "SIN" appear together in the same verse!

Again, ask yourself: what does the PASSOVER have to do with Sin? Moreover, we need to also ask ourselves; IF Yahshua died as our PASSOVER, when did He die for the sins of the world?

And, why then is there another sacrifice for the sins of the PEOPLE on the Day of Atonement?

Luke 2:26-27 "And it was revealed unto him by the Set-apart Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen Yahweh’s Messiah. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Yahshua, to do for him after the custom of the law,"

Romans 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Colossians 1:15 "Who is the image of the invisible Yah, the firstborn of every creature:" …Colossians 1:18 "And he is the head of the body, the assembly: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."

1 Corinthians 5:7 "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Messiah our Passover (Lamb) is sacrificed for us:"

What can be gleaned from this paper is that the PASSOVER has to do with the FIRSTBORN and how it fits within the PLAN YAHWEH set in motion. The Passover fundamentally has NOTHING to do with SIN.

BIRTHRIGHT, A very severe matter!

Think back for a moment and recall the matter of Esau! He sold his BIRTHRIGHT to Jacob for a bowl of lentil soup. Why was he despised for doing this? What is this BIRTHRIGHT about anyway? The firstborn is the one entitled to the birthright blessing! They go hand in hand with each other! What is this blessing? It is nothing less than the Firstborn’s ‘Spiritual Leadership’ role as Priest of the family; he has been REDEEMED and now belongs to Yahweh! He represents the Family in the Tabernacle and Congregation of Yah. With this in mind, you can now see the gravity of the matter between Esau and his younger brother Jacob as spoken of in Genesis.

Genesis 25:31-36 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Romans 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

Hebrews 12:12-17 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Yahweh: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of Elohim; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

NOTE: When YAHWEH called, we repented – turned around and went the other way. We BELIEVED YAHWEH, as did Abraham, and it was counted to him (you and me as well) as righteousness, and our past OFFENCES against YAHWEH were paid for by our death. How? In baptism! Death sets one free from the penalty of sin. The first Adam separated us from YAHWEH! But the second Adam –Yahshua— redeemed us by His blood. He has bought us back— reconciled both you and me back to our Creator YAHWEH.

By dying on the stake, the SECOND Adam, Yahshua -

• Reconciled the whole world back to YAHWEH. He did what the FIRST Adam and his wife Eve failed to do.

As Yahshua

• He died so that by His stripes we are healed of our sicknesses and diseases.
• The symbol of the wine and unleavened bread replaces the Passover Lamb. (We eat His flesh-lamb- drink His blood–marks the posts of our house- symbolically, the door-posts of our minds).

YAHWEH calls, since the foundation of the World, those He needs out of BABYLON to inherit the birthright blessings; to, in the future, as firstborn and representatives of the family, SERVE with Him as Rulers and Priests in His Tabernacle and Congregation of the Firstborn during His coming Reign on the Earth.

Individuals who come through the GREAT TRIBULATION -when told the truth- must REPENT and DIE in baptism, then overcome, just as we REPENTED and OVERCAME. They will be judged on how they respond to the TRUTH when they enter the Sabbath Rest, the coming Millennium.

Past citizens who come up in the second resurrection, have paid for their past offences against YAHWEH. DEATH has exacted its penalty. Death sets us free from the penalty of the Torah. We are judged now, in this lifetime, but they are then judged by what they do after the truth is revealed to them. If one rejects The Way, the truth of YAHWEH, as did ADAM, then they will the SECOND DEATH spoken of in Revelation.

Ask yourself: Who was it that cut the world off from our CREATOR YAHWEH? It was none other than the first ADAM.

Ask yourself: who has RECONCILED the world back to our CREATOR YAHWEH? It was none other than the second ADAM, YAHSHUA the MESSIAH, "YAHWEH SAVES."

Hebrews 12:27 "And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain."

Author: John Nel.

November 2000