There is a sacrifice so powerful that it has the ability to atone for the sins of the nations. Many prolific leaders in the Jewish faith believe it can even bring the COVID-19 epidemic to an end. We’re in a crucial time when we’re about to witness this sacrifice being made. But is the physical sacrifice the true sacrifice God desires, or is this just a type and shadow of what’s occurring in the spiritual realm?
Since the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D, the Sanhedrin have eagerly awaited the day that they could re-establish the temple in Israel. According to the Torah, this re-establishment is crucial in order for them to fulfill the requirements of the Passover sacrifice. They believe that this sacrifice is required of them to bring salvation and atonement for the sins of the nations, in order to bring restitution to the world wide epidemics occurring today.
1 Corinthians 5:7 tells us how the Passover sacrifice was really a shadow (parable) that was a physical representation to reveal a deeper spiritual event taking place. Jesus Christ was the true Passover lamb, whose blood was shed to spare the Hebrews from the spirit of death in Exodus.
Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us [1].
1 Corinthians 5:7
Jesus’ life and ultimate sacrifice was a pattern for us to follow that revealed the sacrificial walk that is required of us to be transformed. Our bodies are the true living sacrifice required to bring salvation and atonement for our sins.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God [1].
Romans 12:1-2
For the last ten years, the Sanhedrin have anticipated the reclaiming of Israel and have overseen reenactments of the Passover sacrifice in preparation for this prophesied event.
Since President Donald Trump made the monumental decree to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on December 6, 2017, the Sanhedrin have petitioned the Israeli government to receive permits to allow their priests to perform the ritual of the Passover sacrifice on the Temple Mount. But despite receiving all the permits that were required this year, the ceremony was not allowed to occur due to the Health Ministry regulations restricting public gatherings.
“But the Sanhedrin did not despair and the Torah makes provisions for just such a difficulty with the institution of Pesach Sheni, the day on which Jews who were unable to bring the Passover offering on the 14th of Nisan would bring their Passover lamb one month later.”
This second Passover was originally instituted for those who could not keep the feast at the appointed time, as they had either become ceremonially unclean through contact with a dead body, or had been away on a journey. Those who could not celebrate the first Passover pleaded with Moses to present the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites and the Lord instructed Moses to institute a second Passover for them. In Numbers 9:10-11, God has Moses tell the Israelites:
“If anyone of you or your posterity is unclean because of a corpse, or is far away on a journey, he may still keep the LORD’s Passover. On the fourteenth day of the second month, at twilight, they may keep it.” [1].
Being ceremonially unclean is not truly speaking of those who touched a dead body. Numbers 19:13 states “Whoever touches the body of anyone who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the Lord. That person shall be cut off from Israel. He shall be unclean, because the water of purification was not sprinkled on him; his uncleanness is still on him” [1].
We find many examples in scripture of those who came into contact with a dead body and still remained ‘clean’. In 2 Samuel 21:12-14, David touched the dead bodies of Saul and Jonathan but after this, David was not said to be unclean, in fact because of this act God was moved by prayer for the land.
Jacob made Joseph vow that after he died he would carry his body from Egypt to the burial land of his fathers and it was granted to him.
When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said [1].
Genesis 47:29-30
This is why Jesus could touch the dead and raise them back to life (Ref. Mark 5:41, Luke 7:14) and still remain perfect according to the Law. 1Peter 2:21-22 “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth” [1].
So why was this law given only to be transgressed over and over? It is a parable that reveals the defilement of those who partake in the leaven (religious teachings) of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus referred to them as “whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” (Ref. Matthew 23:27).
This is the dead body that makes us ceremonially unclean and in need of sanctification.
We can only become purified through the washing of water by the word (Ref. Ephesians 5:26).
Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17:17 saying “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (NKJV)
“In every other instance, bringing the korban (sacrifice) in its set time is essential,” Rabbi Weiss said. “Pesach sheni is the Biblical equivalent of a second chance, a rarity which especially relates to our current times. We need a second chance to fix the health of people around the world, to reset the economy, to return to our Biblical role of guardians of the planet. We need to step back from the excesses of liberalism which attempts to remove God and replace it with values that are actually anti-values.”
Although the physical lamb sacrifice is not required, it is still a type and shadow to indicate to us the true sacrifice that God is seeking in this hour.
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you had no pleasure (NKJV).
Hebrews 10:4-6
The true temple of God that is being re-established is not the physical temple in Jerusalem, but His true desired dwelling place: mankind.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (NKJV).
1 Corinthians 6:19
If the Sanhedrin are permitted to perform this Passover ceremony this will be an indication to us of how close we are to the final dedication of God’s people (His temple). We are called to understand God’s times and seasons prophetically and keep the feasts in spirit and truth.
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (NKJV).
1 Corinthians 5:8
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope (NKJV).
Romans 15:4
Just as the sacrificial lamb was eaten, Jesus reveals it is the consummation of His flesh and blood that brings eternal life. In John 6:54-56, Jesus states “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” We must apply the true blood of Jesus, which is the revelation of the Word, to the doorpost of our minds daily.
This is what the Early Church Father Origen had to say about the symbolism of the second Passover:
In the second month on the fifteenth day of the month. Certainly it was not written without reason. Recall what was said about the laws of the Passover and you will discover there that this is the time which is established to celebrate the second Passover for those who were “impure in soul” or not “on a long journey” celebrated the Passover “on the fourteenth day of the first month.” Those, however, who “were on a long journey and were impure” celebrated a second Passover at this time, at which time also the manna descended from heaven. The manna did not descend on the day on which the first Passover occurred but at this time on which the second Passover occurred. Let us now see, therefore, what order of mystery these words contain. The first Passover belongs to the first people; the second Passover is ours. For we were “impure in soul” who used to worship wood and stone and not knowing God we used to serve those things which, by nature, were not gods. We also were those who “were on a long journey” of whom the Apostle says that we were strangers and foreigners to the testaments of God, not having hope and without God in this world. Nevertheless, the manna from heaven was not given on that day on which the first Passover was celebrated, but on that day on which the second was celebrated. For the bread which descended from heaven did not come to those who celebrated the first celebration, but to us who received the second. For our Passover, Christ, has been sacrificed, who descended to us as the true bread from heaven.
Exodus Homily VII pg 305-306 Origen of Alexandria
Origen states that the manna was released on the second Passover to those who had purified their souls from worshipping idols and who had repented from their ignorance of “the testaments of God”.
We have the opportunity to partake in this manna that God is releasing on the Second Passover right now.
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Reference List
1) NKJV Bible