Book Review-- Christ in the Passover

Christ in the Passover M

by Ceil & Moishe Rosen

Non-fiction

I really enjoyed this book. I didn't know much about the Passover, and my wife and I actually went to a presentation "Christ in the Passover" this past Easter to learn more. It was very informative and interesting, seeing so much allegory and allusion in the feast to the original Passover and the fulfiling event, the curcifixion.

The book I bought at the session, Christ in the Passover, reiterates much of what was presented. It explains all features of the Passover seder, or order of service, for the feast in every era in which it has been practiced. The original Passover, prescribed by Jehovah to avoid the wrath of the tenth plague in Egypt, was obviously the only seder entirely ordered by God. It did evolve throughout the history of the Jews and many features of the feast, though not divinely designed, contain great truth. This type of Christ was literally fulfilled on the Cross and from there the imagery in the feast only grew.

Of particular note to me was the actual name "Passover." It has no origin in Hebrew, but actually sounds like the Egytpian word for "covering over." Rather than the image that we get of the Angel of Death passing over the homes of the obedient Hebrews, it may more picture Jehovah covering them from the Angel of Death. Similarly, Christ beckoned to the Hebrews in

Matthew 23:37"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."

I also noted the sadness of the rich truth inherent in the Passover that has been and is overwhelmingly ignored by the Jewish people. How hardened a heart to see the afikomen, the four cups, the eating and now remembrance of the passover lamb, and to reject the Messiah it was created by and to whom it so clearly points.

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