Tag Archives: resurrection

Passover – Last Supper – Easter

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The Passover is a type and shadow of Christ’s transcendent infinite atonement.  Easter is the celebration of Christ’s gifts, His atonement, which includes His paramount gift of the resurrection for all,  which brings us back into the presence of God to be judged under His perfect Laws of Justice and Mercy, and the opportunity for a fullness of joy. So the Passover ties into God’s perfect plan of happiness in a fascinating way.

Passover – A Feast to the Lord

The Jewish Seder to commence Passover has been preserved for over 3,400 years to “keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.” “…this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations;” (Exo. 12:14)

I recently watched a Messianic Jewish presentation of the Seder, which means order, and I was greatly impressed with how it ties to the Last Supper of the Savior with His Disciples and to the grand significance of the infinite atonement and Easter.

Viewed through the lens of the restoration of the gospel in both its physical and spiritual significance, the Jewish Seder brings deep meanings to the soul. Properly understood, it is designed to break down the barriers between Jew and Gentile so that we may all be one in Christ—to deliver all who will come to Christ out of slavery like He did ancient Israel and make us totally free—physically and spiritually. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free… If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”–individually and as a nation. (John 8:32, 36)  You will find the video links below fascinating and inspiring.

Additional Insights

When we realize that the Passover was designed by Jesus, who is Jehovah and our Redeemer, this deepens our understanding and opens up enlightenment as we see how the Lord designed the Passover with eternal significance. Isaiah shares: “all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.” (Isa. 49:26) Jesus knew what He would have to go through to work out the infinite atonement and designed the Seder to commence Passover over 3,400 years ago as a type and shadow of that transcendent infinite atonement. This He did so that both Jew and Gentile would have a deeper appreciation of this most important event in all the history of the earth, as He brought the world His perfect and infinite atonement.

In addition, going back to Genesis 22:8, when read in Hebrew, we find great significance as Abraham answered Isaac’s question, “…where is the lamb?”

“My son, God will provide himself [Jesus as] a lamb for a [final sacrifice] for a burnt offering.”

Some Details of Jewish Seder

We will see the great significance as we look at some of the details of the Jewish Seder. There were ten plagues that the Lord brought upon Egypt, but the first nine were only brought on Egypt and not on the Land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived. Only the tenth one with the death of the firstborn would then bring Pharaoh to honor Moses’ demand from the Lord, “Let my people go.”

The Lord designed the Passover so that a lamb without blemish be offered and its blood put upon the “lentil (the top of the door) and on the doorposts so that the destroying angel would pass by.

Jesus is the Lamb of God. So the Passover lamb is symbolic of Jesus and the blood of the lamb on the lentil and the doorposts are symbolic of the blood of Christ and the lintel is like the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

In our Day the “destroying angel” will Pass over Us if:

“And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.” (D&C 89:18-21)
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The Sacrament and the Resurrection

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We ask the question, “Does the sacrament, and the scriptures describing its great importance, tie to the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior?”

All who know the scriptures know how important the sacrament is for turning our hearts to what Christ has done for us, is doing for us, and will do for us. Similarly, all who know the scriptures know that the resurrection is the best-documented miracle in the history of the earth, and it is the capstone to the seven steps of the infinite atonement  wherein Jesus brought to perfection Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness.

The Gospel of John

Last Sunday, as part of our home sacrament meeting worship service, we pursued that question.  We read chapters 6 and 7 and 17 in the gospel of John.

As Jesus prayed as recorded in John 17, that prayer was fulfilled in part with the people here in America as he visited them after His resurrection and introduced the sacrament to them.  He also shared the Sermon on the Mount  with also similar words, but with some significant differences (3 Nephi 12, 13, 14) as he did with the Hebrews in the Holy Land (Matt. 5-7).  They internalized his teachings and the sacred promises he gave with the sacrament and they became a pure-in-heart (Zion) people.  The description of how they were filled with His light in answer to His prayer in John 17 is beautifully shared in Chapter 19 of Third Nephi.
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Most Important Celebration – Easter

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The Glorious Resurrection of our Lord

Most don’t realize that the Lord’s glorious resurrection is the capstone to His infinite atonement, and when it occurred 2000 years ago the early saints were beyond rejoicing as they witnessed the risen Lord.  For Christ to go from infinite suffering to infinite glory in those three days changed their lives and the world forever.  The early Christians could not contain their joy knowing, “He is risen!” – as proclaimed in their lives, as they lived and shared this most astounding message of hope.  Because of the paramount importance of the infinite atonement, I believe Easter should be our most important celebration and with great rejoicing.

The gospel is not only the “good news;” it is the BEST NEWS, because everyone will be resurrected, and if we live the gospel we have the hope of a fullness of joy in the life to come.  Handel’s oratorio “Messiah” has touched millions of lives with this message: “HALLELUJAH!…For now is Christ risen from the dead… Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…  Death is swallowed up in victory…  Worthy is the Lamb.”

The growth of the early Christian Church – known as “The Way” (John 14:6) – was spectacular with this testimony of the risen Lord deep in their hearts and in spite of terrible persecutions.  Mary Magdalene, who first saw the risen Lord, brought hundreds into the fold of God.  Most modern Christians have lost the valiancy of the early saints, who saw the risen Lord or personally knew those who had seen Him.
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Resurrection – Capstone of the Atonement

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Most Christians look to Christ to be forgiven of their sins and that believing on Him is the door way to salvation.  And do not the scriptures teach us this?  Satan will do anything he can to take us away from understanding the infinite atonement. However, the searching soul will ask, “Have false traditions crept in so that we miss the full power and beauty of the infinite atonement of our Lord and Savior?”  This blog article and following ones will better help us appreciate the infinite atonement.

The Capstone of His Infinite Atonement

Most Christians look to the cross and to His suffering for forgiveness of sins.  We often hear the phrase, “We are thankful for His atoning sacrifice.”  When studied, we find that His glorious resurrection is the capstone step of His infinite atonement, and when it occurred  2000 years ago the early saints saw it as such. For Christ to go from infinite suffering to infinite glory in those three days changed the world forever, and the early Christians could not contain their joy knowing, “He is risen!” – as proclaimed in the scriptures and so profoundly in Handel’s oratorio “Messiah.”

We find there are seven fantastic accomplishments in His infinite atonement, and seven sub-steps to each of these.  Seven is the number of perfection or completion in the Lord’s arithmetic.  And the scriptures outline all 49 of these steps.
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Gratitude For The Resurrection of Our Savior

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Is there a more important event in the history of the Earth than the resurrection of our Lord and Savior?

In speaking of the atonement of Jesus Christ, we often hear:

  • In prayers
  • In testimonies
  • In General Conference

“I am grateful for the atoning sacrifice of our Savior,” or “We are grateful for Thy atoning sacrifice.”  Often, His glorious resurrection is not mentioned or included in our gratitude for His infinite atonement.  Most Christians look to His suffering  on the cross to pay for their sins, as they believe in Him.

What Does the New Testament Teach Us?

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