By Andy Smith
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DURING MY TIME in graduate school, I had a conversation with a student who was traveling from Maryland to New York City to celebrate Passover with her family. She told me that she was going to participate in the Seder and I began to ask her questions about the particular traditions that she and her family, as Jews, would celebrate.
I told her that I was a Christian pastor, but that I felt much more connected to Jewish heritage than to many Christian traditions. This statement was very intriguing to her so we began to talk about different things. I began to explain my understanding of the Passover and its connection to Easter. I noted how Easter was a druid holiday that preceded Jesus’ death by years and years. I told her that Easter is important only because it happened to fall on the Sunday after Passover. Passover was the key. The shedding of blood was the key. The lamb that the high priest had and the Lamb that was on the cross were dying at the same time—that was the key.
This young woman admitted that she had never understood why Christians made such a big deal about Easter. She did not understand the symbolism of an Easter bunny, but she knew about the necessity of the blood. From childhood she had been taught that the significance of Passover was not about a meal, it was about the blood and the application of that blood.
Exodus 12:21 reminds us of the original stipulations and parameters for this application of blood. Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover (Exodus 12:21).
It is the will of God for every family to be covered by the blood. Everyone. Every one. And do you know whose responsibility that is? Mine. Mine for my family and you for yours. Are you a believer? Miraculous power is promised to believers (Mark 16:17-18). The Apostle Peter (I Peter 2:9) tells us that we are a royal priesthood. You are the priest that applies the blood to your family. I am the priest that applies the blood to my family. I carry the primary responsibility of this for my house, but through intercession, I can plead the blood of Jesus upon every family and any house and so can you.
Abraham was given a promise but it wasn’t Isaac alone. The book of Hebrews (11:13) notes that “these all died in faith not having received the promises” and Abraham was listed in that bunch. The promise from Jehovah was that there would be a blessing on all families (Genesis 12:3). Abraham’s seed would bring this blessing (Genesis 28:14). This promise of blessing was “a better thing for us” as New Testament believers. I believe that the Genesis promise of God to Abraham was a prophetic statement about the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. These scriptures connect to reveal God’s intention that this promise was to every family. It is the will of God that people in your family have the Holy Ghost. And as a New Testament priest you have the ability, and the responsibility, to speak the blood of Jesus over them and help this spiritual blessing to happen.
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