This weekend as those of the Jewish tradition congregate for Passover, they will reflect on perhaps the most sacred moment in their storied journey as a people, the eve of their deliverance from bondage at the hands of the Egyptians. They will recount the extraordinary story of their Exodus. The elders will tell how God used the most unlikely individual (at least in accordance to our very human standards) to lead this great Exodus. They will marvel at how this ill tempered man, this man slow of speech, a man, who in his own clumsy pursuit of justice would in fact commit murder, could actually find himself exalted, not merely as a servant of God, but as “a friend of God.” Surely they will speak of the wonderful miracles God performed by the hand and staff of this most “humbled” individual. But, no moment in this epic account will be more stirring than that of the first Passover.[*] In the month of Abib or Nisan (which corresponds with April-May), which at the time was the first month of the year for the Jews, every Israelite home was instructed to take a year old male lamb (or goat) without blemish or defect. On the fourteenth day of the same month the lamb would be killed at twilight. Some of the blood was to be sprinkled upon their respective door post. Upon seeing the blood, the Lord, while enacting His vengeance upon the Egyptians, would pass over the respective homes of the Israelites, not allowing the destroyer to enter there in and slay them.
The Christian will congregate with fellow believers in their chosen place of worship, likely adorned in their finest attire, to celebrate the Resurrection of the Savior. They will hear how this man whose life was a template of authentic love and truth, the kind that has never been before or since, raised the dead, opened the eyes of the blind, unstopped the ears of the deaf, healed every imaginable infirmity, both literally and figuratively. They will hear how he displayed a fiery zeal for the House of God, challenged the wayward religious order, and dined with sinners and society’s outcast. They will hear how this unblemished life would experience the sting of betrayal, suffer, and die by way of one of the cruelest methods of execution known of at the time, Crucifixion. However, they will be reminded, that that which humanity meant for evil, God meant for good. That which was made to stifle their hope was in reality, orchestrated to bring them salvation. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believe in Him shall not perish but have ever lasting life.”[†] For the Christian this day, much like the Jewish Passover is in fact a Holiday (Holy Day) of Grace.
[‡]Grace: 1. a manifestation of favor, esp. by a superior 2. Mercy; clemency; pardon. 3. The freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.
This is the time when we come together and reflect on God’s “unmerited favor…mercy.” This is the time when we all have the chance to reflect on our very fragile, finite, and all too flawed humanity; and how despite ourselves, God loves us enough to Passover our shortcomings and our perpetual sins. He loves us enough to offer a covering of eternal Salvation. “Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit says the Lord of host.”[§] Thus, He offers His Passover not in accordance to our own efforts, but, in accordance to His mercy and love. This Holiday holds the distinction of being the only Holiday which should cause us to mourn and rejoice simultaneously. If we honestly consider ourselves, i.e. take stock of our lives, none of us can seriously conclude that we are without need of grace. And upon coming to that conclusion, and knowing our most desperate need, who are we to withhold such a gift from others? During this Holiday, more than any other, we are reminded that grace is indeed love’s most sacred and enduring trait. A trait which makes it illogical for love to be anything but a verb and thus, makes it impossible for us to apply authentic love without the mercy of its Author.
How ironic that these sacred Holy Days have their origins in spring? Spring is not only symbolic of a merciful passage from winter, but, a new beginning or even more so, a resurrection. Following that first Passover, the Hebrews did not remain another day in Egypt; they made their exodus from bondage after 430 years. They were no longer subject to the indignity and disgrace of slavery, they were now free to live their lives as God intended. The Christian who professes Jesus Christ can no longer remain in their respective “Egypt” lest he make a mockery of the grace afforded him. Therefore, let us understand that grace is not something we ought to Passover, but, rather accept as a merciful invitation to spring forward. This Holiday let us remember this gracious and divine favor, which offers us pardon from our yesterdays (and the mercy we ought to afford others). That which we have been slaves to or continue to be enslaved by, let this Holy Day remind us that there is a Divine Emancipation indeed, which awaits all who are willing to accept. Let us Spring forward through the gift of grace far beyond the cold, dark, storm of our respective winters. For on this day, we are a free people indeed. For it is written, “old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”[**]
Grace to you and yours, have a happy holiday.
© 2009 Johnathan L. Iverson-Baptiste
[*] Exodus: Chapter 12
[†] John: Chapter 3 Verse 16
[‡] The Random House Webster's College Dictionary
[§] Zechariah: Chapter 4 Verse 6
[**] 2 Corinthians: Chapter 5 Verse 17
