Shalom, may Elohim fill your hearts with peace and joy during this period of Pesach celebration. Tonight as we mark the Last supper, we are commemorating the death of Yahshua on Calvary that led to the forgiveness of our sins. It is also the night when Elohim rescued the children of Israel from Egypt where they had lived in bondage for more than 400 years. It implies that Pesach is a time for deliverance, a season for people to be redeemed from the bondage of sin and other principalities that work against God’s will in the world today. These are the forces that hinder people from committing their lives in full obedience to the word of Elohim. It is very amazing to realize the kind of love that Elohim shown to us by sending His own son to come and die on the cross. The bible explains that the reason as to why Yahshua came to the world was not to condemn it but to save all those who believe in him (John 3:16-17). Yahshua came as the mediator who would reconcile a fallen world back to God. It is important for every one of us to contemplate on this selfless act expressed towards us. We did not deserve to receive this priceless gift, and that is why we ought to guard our salvation fearlessly.
Someone might ask why we are keeping the Passover and feast of unleavened bread. Is it really significant during this time and age? Yes of course it is. The children of were instructed to keep the Passover unto Elohim in the month of Abib, to remember their deliverance from the land of Egypt. By celebrating the Pesach, we remember the death of Yahshua on Calvary, which helped to pay the price for our redemption from sin and also we proclaim his saving power until his second coming.
When Yahshua came, he introduced a new way of partaking the Passover. During the last supper, he took unleavened bread and broke it, which symbolized his body. He also took the cup containing fresh juice from the grapes (blood from the grapes), which symbolized his blood. This is the blood of the new covenant which nullifies the earlier sacrifices made of animals.
One of the most striking features during this festival is shunning leaven and leavened products. We read in Exodus 12:15 that the Israelites were supposed to eat unleavened bread for seven days. They were expected to remove leaven from their habitations for the entire period of the feast. This commandment is still binding to date, and that is why we are supposed to abstain from taking leavened products during this period. Additionally, we see that in the new covenant, leaven is typified as sin, therefore we are encouraged to examine ourselves thoroughly before partaking the Pesach. When Yahshua warned his disciples against the leaven of the Pharisees, he was referring to their hypocritical teachings. If we walk in hypocrisy, we will not be any different from the Pharisees, whom Yahshua condemned harshly. The bible explains in 1 Corinthians 11:27 that anyone who eats the last supper in an unworthy manner, brings judgment upon his soul. Nevertheless, a promise has been made to everyone who eats the body of Yahshua and drinks his blood. In John 6:54, it is written, “whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will rise him up on the last day.”
My beloved friends, I would like to welcome you to fellowship with us during this festival which has commenced today, and will continue until Monday 17th of April 2017. It is a time of deliverance and therefore I invite all to come and celebrate with us.
In Kenya, we have gathered here at our Nairobi Headquarter in Eastleigh section 3, as well as in other major towns such as Mombasa, Lamu, Kisumu, Meru, Murang’a, Gatero in Nakuru and Nyahururu regions and in Eldoret. We also have feast gatherings in other parts of the world.
I wish the community of messianic believers in Kenya, Africa, Our brethren in Israel and the world as a whole a blessed Pesach and the feast of unleavened bread.
Shalom.
Pastor H.K. Karanja
General Overseer- Church of God Seventh day (COGMERS)
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