In the Gospels, as we consider the Passion Week time lines, it seems Jesus was silent and out of view on Wednesday. Well, let's not forget that Passion Week for Christians coincides with Passover for Jews. With this in mind, let us learn that Jesus being silent and out of view for a full day would be necessary during one day of the Passover Week, as Jesus was Jewish, and the firstborn Jews are called to observe a full-day's fast during this sacred season. Without food and water, a day's trip into and out of Jerusalem would be out of the question, especially considering the physical strength Jesus would need come Thursday and Friday to carry out and to become His Father's will.
The Jewish firstborn observes a day of total fast of food and water during this season of the calendar year in remembrance of God's mercy and to give God thanks for sparing the firstborn of Israel in Egypt. As the final plague fell on Pharaoh and all of the Egyptians, the death angel passed through and required the lives of all of their firstborn children. Pharaoh and his people suffered this great night of loss because he refused to let God's people go. The Jews, however, were spared this night of death, as they had sprinkled the blood of lambs on their doorposts, so that the death angel would pass over them. Thus, we have the Jewish celebration known as "Passover." Passover was an Old Testament fore-shadowing of Passion Week in the New Testament.
Imagine what Jesus was thinking while He observed the fast of the firstborn, probably in Bethany just east of Jerusalem at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. With anguish how His soul must have trembled, realizing that on Good Friday He would become The Sacrificial Lamb of God. Yes, He would be slain by crucifixion that His Blood might be sprinkled on the doorposts of our believing souls, so the Gift of Eternal Life might be given and eternal death might pass us by.
Amazing Love! Indeed!
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Holiness Unto the LORD!
Grateful
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