2021 Memorial of Christ’s death

The Memorial of Christ’s death gives each of us a grand opportunity to praise God and Christ for what they have done for us so that we can enjoy unending life.

The Memorial is without question the most important occasion for true Christians to meet together. It will be held after sundown on Saturday, March 27, 2021.

This year many will not be able to attend this important occasion in relative freedom and in a great group. It is very important that we all do keep to the corona measures given by our governments.

Here in Belgium we all shall have to commemorate the last supper of Jesus in our small ‘house bubble”.

We request all our members to follow the corona measures but not to forget to gather in their household or in the small bubble to recall that Jehovah allowed His son to die in our place so that we could have life.

28 Just as the Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister+ and to give his life as a ransom in exchange for many.”+ (Matt. 20:28)

We do hope that everyone who loves our heavenly Father and His son will be in union with all those who share this special night with their close family members in their own bubble.

As Jehovah, Jesus, and the heavenly part of God’s family look on, may every congregation, group, and individual have a wonderful Memorial observance!

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Preceding

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #5 Matthew 26:17-19 – Passover Preparations

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #7 Matthew 26:26-30 – Keep Doing This in My Memory

When Belonging to the escaped ones gathering in Jesus name

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Additional reading

1. Celebrations pointing to events of ultimate meaning
2. High Holidays not only for Israel
3. Vayikra after its opening word וַיִּקְרָא, which means and He called
4. Most important day in Christian year
5. 1 -15 Nisan
6. 14-15 Nisan and Easter
7. Seven days of Passover
8. The son of David and the first day of the feast of unleavened bread
9. A Holy week in remembrance of the Blood of life
10. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
11. Observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal
12. Day of remembrance coming near
13. A new exodus and offering of a Lamb
14. Observance of a day to Remember

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #5 Matthew 26:17-19 – Passover Preparations

Matthew 26:17-19 – Passover Preparations

|| Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13

MT26:17 Now on the first day of the unfermented cakes[1] the disciples approached Jesus and asked, “Where do you wish to prepare to eat the Passover?” MT26:18 Jesus told them, “Go into the city and when you face So-and-so say to him,[2] ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near.[3] With you I am having the Passover[4] with my disciples.”’” MT26:19 And the disciples did just as Jesus directed them. They prepared the Passover.[5]

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[1] The first day of the unfermented cakes: There is no universal agreement on this phrase. The Greek PROTE may infer, “the day before,” meaning Nisan 13. Compare Exodus 12:18; Exodus 23:15. Mark 14:12 adds, “… when they customarily sacrificed the Passover.” (Luke 22:7) Nisan 14 would begin at sundown. The Jews had to clear all leaven out of their homes and prepare the sacrificial meal of lamb. In the case of the collection of manna it was to be done the day before Sabbath when they would get a double portion (Exodus 16:5, 22-27; Exodus 20:10). In time “the day before the sabbath” came to be termed “Preparation,” as Mark explained (Mark 15:42). “(The Jews) need not give bond (to appear in court) on the Sabbath or on the day of preparation for it (Sabbath Eve) after the ninth hour (3 PM).” The Jews thus began to prepare for the Sabbath on Friday afternoon, or on those occasions where a special Sabbath fell on another day, the afternoon before [Jewish Antiquities, XVI, 163 (vi, 2)]. Nisan 14 was also a Sabbath day no matter what day it fell on. Friday evening at sundown would begin a high holy day with a double Sabbath (John 19:31, 42; Mark 15:42, 43; Luke 23:54). There is disagreement on these dating of matters.

[2] When you face So-and-so say to him: Mark 14:13 adds, “… a man carrying an earthenware vessel of water will encounter,” something rare for men so easily identifiable (Luke 22:10). Or, NEB: go to a certain man in the city.

[3] My time is near: Or, NEB: my appointed time is near. How would Jesus know this? It is possible he could calculate the “middle of the week” of Daniel 9:25, 26 or three and a half years after the beginning of the Nazarene’s ministry which would have begun in the Fall of 29. This would be a period of 1,260 days or 42 months.

[4] With you I am having the Passover: Or, KJV: I will keep the Passover at thy house; RHM: with thee will I keep the Passover.

[5] They prepared the Passover: According to tradition this would begin late on Nisan 13 some hours before sundown and the beginning of Nisan 14. The first day of the eight-day Passover festival was also a Sabbath no matter the day of the week upon which it fell. This period was called “preparation” and would have occurred twice during this particular year. The disciples would have prepared a lamb, green herbs, unleavened bread, red wine for a dozen people. This was the average family size as the Passover was a family celebration.

Even among the Jews there is disagreement about the precise timing: some choosing Nisan 14 and others Nisan 15. “Different opinions have prevailed among the Jews from a very early date as to the precise time intended. Aben Ezra agrees with the Caraites and Samaritans in taking the first evening to be the time when the sun sinks below the horizon, and the second the time of total darkness; in which case, ‘between the two evenings’ would be from 6 o’clock to 7.20…. According to the rabbinical idea, the time when the sun began to descend, viz. from 3 to 5 o’clock, was the first evening, and sunset the second; so that ‘between the two evenings’ was from 3 to 6 o’clock. Modern expositors have very properly decided in favour of the view held by Aben Ezra and the custom adopted by the Caraites and Samaritans.” (Commentary on the Old Testament, 1973, Vol. I, The Second Book of Moses, p. 12)

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Preceding

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #1 Matthew 26:1-2 – Two Days Before Execution

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #2 Matthew 26:3-5 – Plotting to Seize Jesus

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #3 Matthew 26:6-13 – A Woman to Be Remembered

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #4 Matthew 26:14-16 – The Price of Betrayal

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #2 Matthew 26:3-5 – Plotting to Seize Jesus

Matthew 26:3-5 – Plotting to Seize Jesus

|| Mark 14:1b, 2; Luke 22:2

MT26:3 Now when the chief priests and [Jewish] elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the chief priest Caiaphas,[1] MT26:4 they all took counsel to arrest Jesus and kill him[2] by some shrewd trick.[3] MT26:5 But, they kept telling one another, “Not during the [Passover] festival that we do not create a riot among the people.”[4]

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[1] Caiaphas: His name occurs 9 times in the Christian Bible. He held his office during the life of Jesus (Luke 3:2). He was related by marriage to High Priest Annas (John 18:13) He is right at the center of the execution of Jesus and the persecution of the early Christians.

[2] Kill him: The responsibility for the death of Jesus is laid squarely upon the Jewish hierarchy.

[3] Shrewd trick: Or, KJV: subtlety; RSV: stealth; RIEU: stratagem; PME: trick.

[4] Among the people: Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims were by now gathering to Jerusalem from all over the world. The city was packed with people. In the year 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed during this same Passover season, over one million Jews were killed.

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Preceding

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #1 Matthew 26:1-2 – Two Days Before Execution

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #1 Matthew 26:1-2 – Two Days Before Execution

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX:
THE LAST DAYS OF JESUS CHRIST

[“The Final Test”]
(Key word: Passover)

Matthew 26:1-2 – Two Days Before Execution

|| Mark 14:1a; Luke 22:1

MT26:1 Now it occurred when Jesus finished all these words[1] he told his disciples, MT26:2 “You realize that after two days the Passover takes place;[2] and, the Son of Humankind will be turned in to be executed.”[3]

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[1] These words: Or, GDSP: this discourse.

[2] The Passover takes place: Or, BER: the Passover is celebrated. It must be about Nisan 12 and the moon is waxing. Luke 22:1 adds, “… the festival of the unfermented cakes.” This was a festival lasting eight days beginning Nisan 14 at sundown (Exodus chapter 12).

[3] To be executed: The Greek is STAUROTHENAI and literally means “to be impaled on a stake” though most would prefer the Latin derivatives, “crucified.” Research the Greek STAUROO.

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Preceding

Matthew 25:31-46 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Judgment on the Realm of Heaven #4 Matthew 25:41-46

When Belonging to the escaped ones gathering in Jesus name

This coming Wednesday it is going to be a very strange particular night to remember.

Normally 14 Nisan is the day that followers of the Nazarene master teacher remember the night that Jesus came together with his close disciples to commemorate the liberation of the People of God. As a devout Jew, Jesus kept to the demand of his God to commemorate that the Elohim requested that month to be the beginning of months for them (the first month of their year). Jesus had not forgotten to tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of that month they had each to select an animal of the flock according to their fathers’ households, one animal per household and how they had to keep it until the fourteenth day of that month.

Passover – The sprinkling of the doorposts with the blood of a lamb.

Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel having to slaughter the animals at twilight. For they had to take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where they eat them.

Jesus remembered how they are to eat the meat that night; they should eat it, roasted over the fire along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs…

Here is how you must eat it: you must be dressed for travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in a hurry; it is the Lord’s Passover.

This Wednesday it is that day of remembrance.

It is the night that we normally would come together to remember how the messenger of God passed through the land of Egypt on that night and struck every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, both man and beast. It is the night that we remember how everybody in the land had to know that there is only that One God, Jehovah, the God above all gods and leaders (be them a Pharaoh, King, President or minister) of a country.  It is That Invisible God Who will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt, but also over all other gods of the world and over all people on this globe.

Wednesday night is the night that we remember that the blood on the houses where those people in Egypt were staying was to be a distinguishing mark for them but also for us.

“1  The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbour, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the door-frames of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover. 12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” (Ex 12:1-13 NIV)

For God and His people it was clear that meal should be imprinted in the memories of the following generations, and every night of this commemoration the elders had to tell about what happened and why it happened and how God liberated and guided His people. Therefore, real lovers of God should continue the tradition to tell others about what God has done for His people.

The tradition wants that all believers in God and in His son, Jesus Christ, also come together on 14 Nisan to have a Memorial Meal.

In 2020 the world got an unseen enemy raging over the globe, and as such most people have found themselves under the rules of lockdown, not able to come together with other believers to have a memorable evening or great night in unity. They shall have to stay at home in isolation and just have the meal on their own with a restricted family gathering (in many cases not even having the children able to visit their parents).

The Passover meal of Jesus

Like Jesus earnestly desired to eat this Passover with his apostle we also should still do that this Wednesday on April the 8th 2020, the 14th of Nisan. Not only shall we then have to remember God, seeing the blood will then “pass over” the houses of the Israelites (Exodus 12:13), while smiting the Egyptians with the tenth plague, the killing of the first-born sons. After God used a man named Moses to deliver them from their slavery, around 1,500 B. C., we also remember God used a man named Jeshua (Jesus Christ) to deliver the whole mankind from their slavery of sin and to liberate them from the curse of death.

It was before he was to suffer, he received a cup to share it among his close friends. In the same manner, he had blessed the cup, he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples telling them that this represented his body which is given for them, but also for us. that symbolic act he presented to them on that night in the upper room in Jerusalem, he wanted to be done regularly in remembrance of him. That way we also should remember that installation of the New Covenant in the blood of this sent one from God, the Kristos or Christ, which is poured out for us all.

“14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the kingdom of God.” 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said,

“Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 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.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Lu 22:14-20 NIV)

On 14 Nisan we do remember how God provided a sign of a lamb for the exodus from Egypt and how he about 2 000 years ago gave the lamb Jesus as the fulfilment of the Passover. Jeshua or Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, sacrificed to set us free from bondage to sin. (John 1:29; Psalm 22; Isaiah 53) The blood of Jesus covers and protects us, and his body was broken to free us from eternal death (1 Corinthians 5:7).

These days it is very important to remember how Christ Jesus is the perfect sacrifice, to liberate us from all ailments of this world and to safeguard our spiritual life. Yes, we can be killed by a virus or by men, but no illness neither any man can take away the life given by the ransom offering of Jesus Christ. That knowledge should take away all fear that we might have by all the bad news that reaches us in these days of CoViD-19.

Traditionally the Bible Books have already lots of teachings concerning infectious diseases, cleanliness, and hygiene, which were well ahead of our time. They were ultimately inspired by God to benefit and protect humans from illnesses and promote healthy lifestyles. Infection control is an inherent part of Jewish teachings concerning hygiene, but Christians can learn a lot from them. The guidelines that are practised today by major health organizations are almost entirely inline and inspired by the teachings of the Bible and also of the Koran.

One reason why the Memorial was instituted also for non-Jews or goyim, had to do with one purpose served by Jesus’ death. He died as an upholder of his heavenly Father’s sovereignty. Christ thus proved that the idea the first people got in their head was a totally wrong idea and that the false charge that humans serve God only out of selfish motives, is just a lie. (Job 2:1-5) Jesus’ death in faithfulness proved this contention false and made Jehovah’s heart rejoice.​ Proverbs 27:11.

We should show the outer world that we keep ourselves safe by social distancing and by isolating ourselves, but that we do not serve God our of fear but out of thankfulness and willingness to please Him and not to please the world. The majority of the world namely wants to keep to human traditions and to heathen festivals. But real lovers of God prefer keeping to the God-given annual festivals, like Passover.

This year the Passover festival may fall at the same time of the Good Week of the Catholics and their Easterday may also be one of these days (Easter Sunday for Roman Catholics: Sunday, April 12; for Othodox Catholics: Sunday, 19 Apr 2020), though we can bet most of them shall not have such a religious meal as we have.
Let us make sure we keep to the command of God, and though we may not invite anyone from farther away, let it be a modest evening full of Bible reading and reflection on what God has done and of how He is good for mankind.

This Wednesday, even when we are not with many, let us remember that God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Indeed,

“ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ro 6:23 NIV)

Observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal reminds us of the great love shown by both Jehovah and his Son in connection with Jesus’ sacrificial death. How we should appreciate that love!

Having escaped from the chains of death should not have us to think we are free from everything bad this world can offer. Make sure you do not tempt it. Always be careful to keep social distancing and keeping all hygienic regulations.

To have contact with others we shall have to rely on modern gadgets like Hangouts, Face Time, Skype, Messenger, Houseparty a.o., that way preaching and telling also other about why this night is so important.

As we commemorate this important evening in seclusion, let us sense that we will indeed be united with brothers and sisters all over the world in prayer and spirit in union with Christ Jesus.

Bread and wine symbols for the covenants of God and His liberation from slavery of man, salvation from the curse of death.

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Preceding

Making sure to be ready and to belong to the escaped ones

14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception

14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus

14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast

14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain

Most important weekend of the year 2016

Preparing for the most important weekend of the year 2018

The Most important weekend of the year 2018

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Additional reading

1. 1 -15 Nisan
2. Purification and perfection
3. A Holy week in remembrance of the Blood of life
4. High Holidays not only for Israel
5. Deliverance and establishement of a theocracy
6. Torah hanging on two commandments and focussing on a Mashiach
7. Yom Hey, Eve of Passover and liberation of many people
8. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
9. Observance of a day to Remember
10. A night different from all other nights and days to remember
11. Jesus memorial
12. The Most special weekend of the year 2018
13. Soon it shall be Erev Pesach and Passover 2019
14. The unseen enemy
15. Dark times looking like death is around the corner – but Light given to us
16. In a time when we must remain in our place
17. First time since Nazi time no public gathering
18. No idea yet for 14 Nisan or April the 8th in 2020 Corona crisis time
19. Only a few days left before 14 Nisan
20. A meal as a mitzvah so that every generation would remember
21. A Passover for unity in God’s community
22. To turn the world into a “vessel” receptive of God
23. The Application of the New Covenant
24. Redemption #5 The perfect sacrifice
25. Redemption #7 Christ alive in the faithful
26. Even in Corona time You are called on to have the seder
27. Call to help others
28. Catholics facing a totally different Holy Week

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Further related

1. Holy Week: a week set apart, in a time set apart.
   Today we begin Holy Week. This is the final part of a longer period leading up to Easter, called Lent. We do this every year, as part of the annual cycle. It is a familiar and comforting ritual for many people of Christian faith.
   This year, however, will be different. In the middle of a viral pandemic, with restrictions prohibiting gathering for worship, Christian people will be walking through Holy Week in their own homes, not in gatherings at church. This is a week set apart, for people of faith, in a time set apart, for all of society.
2. Pandemics, Plagues and Passover
   It wouldn’t be right to have a blog called Life and Faith Today and ignore what is happening in the world right now! Today is April 4th 2020, and this day finds many centres of population around the world on lock-down, with everybody confined to their homes, while battles rage on the front-line; a front-line that moves relentlessly across the world. COVID-19 is a viral pandemic that has been fuelled by our modern lives and is now destroying them.
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   We pray for your protection for the old and vulnerable
   for pregnant mothers and those undergoing other treatments at this time.
   Almighty God, reach down and soften the hearts of the affluent,
   the greedy and opportunistic, bring humility, caring and giving back into their lives.
   We pray for positive change, that we all learn the lesson of caring for our environment,
   and to respect Your wonderful planet while it’s under our stewardship.
   Help us to learn again to care for each other
   and that together in Your name we are stronger.
   Almighty God, we come to you in deep humility.
   Hear our prayer at this time of our distress.
   Through Jesus Christ our Lord
   Amen
3. Coronavirus Live Updates: Trump Warns of ‘a Lot of Death’ While Revisiting Easter Services
   Veering from grim warnings to baseless assurances in a single news conference, President Trump on Saturday predicted a surging death toll in what may be “the toughest week” of the coronavirus pandemic before also dispensing unproven medical advice. He suggested again that Americans might be able to congregate for Easter Sunday services.
   “There will be a lot of death,” Mr. Trump said at the White House, where he and other American officials depicted some parts of the United States as climbing toward the peaks of their crises, while warning that new hot spots were emerging in Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington, D.C.At one point Mr. Trump, who initially set Easter Sunday as a target date for reopening the country before backing off, said that the holiday would be a particularly “sad” day for Americans prohibited from gathering in large numbers. He said he would again like to consider relaxing social distancing rules for Easter services and that he had told advisers, “maybe we could allow special for churches” gatherings that were possibly outside with “great separation.”
4. Easter Bread Recipe
   On April 19th, Greek Orthodox celebrate Easter and this year it’s different.
   Ever since the COVID-19 outbreak and things are not the same. While Easter celebrations are not about clothes or Easter eggs, people gathering to share the joy and true meaning of the holiday is. And this year it’s different! People are asked to remain isolated and social distancing is advised to prevent infection.
   Nevertheless, one thing remains, the faith of better days to come and hope that the coming holidays will bring more joy and peace to everyone.
5. Virus alters Holy Week celebration worldwide
   For Pope Francis at the Vatican, and for Christians worldwide from churches large and small, this will be an Easter like none other: The joyous message of Christ’s resurrection will be delivered to empty pews.
   Worries about the coronavirus outbreak have triggered widespread cancellations of Holy Week processions and in-person services. Many pastors will preach on TV or online, tailoring sermons to account for the pandemic. Many extended families will reunite via Face Time and Zoom rather than around a communal table laden with an Easter feast on April 12.
   Pope Francis, the first pontiff from Latin America, will be celebrating Mass for Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Easter in a near-empty St. Peter’s Basilica, instead of in the huge square outside filled with Catholic faithful.
6. Holy Week & Coronavirus thoughts.
   coming around to special-ness of having Easter with my church family. looking forward to it since we hadn’t enjoyed it with our church in 3 years. then COVID-19 happened. and we haven’t had a church service in person in over a month. and we won’t be able to celebrate Easter together. best day, the best thing anyone could ever do for me and i can’t celebrate it on its traditional day with my brothers and sisters in Christ. i’ve went to the same church my entire life. 19 years. most of those people are like family. i love them so much. they are my family.
7. Celebrating King Jesus while Sheltering-in-Place
   here we are, celebrating King Jesus on this special Palm Sunday, while locked down in our homes, helping to “flatten the curve” of the spread of this COVID-19 virus.
   Of course, we are not alone. It seems half the world is observing the “shelter-in-place” orders of the “authorities” over them. Paul told Pastor Timothy that such submission “is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:3).