Monday – April 18, 2016
PATRIOTS’ DAY
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Prepare to engraft the Word of God renewing our mind displacing the thoughts, words and ways of the world.
Today in Maine, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin Patriots’ Day is being celebrated and I have pictured the statue of the Lexington (Massachusetts) Minuteman. This Holiday commemorates the first battles of the American Revolutionary War fought on April 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord Massachusetts. Since 1969 this Holiday has been celebrated on the third Monday of April creating a three day weekend instead of the actual anniversary of the battles, thus the celebrations today the 18th. Patriots’ Day supplanted a much more relevant holiday called “Fast Day”. Fast Day was observed in the United States from before its foundation in 1670 and continued until 1991. This was a day of public fasting and prayer. Although commemorating the first battles of the Revolutionary War is important it pales in comparison to a national day of fasting and prayer. Let us determine in our hearts and choose to turn from a focus on the secular to a focus of honoring God as individuals and a nation. Then and only then will these seemingly unsolvable issues in our nation be resolved.
Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
TENTH OF NISAN
Now let us turn our attention to the tenth of Nisan. Nisan is the first month on the Hebrew calendar and is otherwise referred to as the month of Abib. The first month on the Hebrew calendar occurs in the late winter to early spring on the Gregorian calendar (March – April). During a time of drought Jacob (Israel) and his whole family moved to Egypt at the invitation of Joseph and with the blessing of Pharaoh. However in the course of time a Pharaoh arose that knew not Joseph. Recall that Joseph by interpreting Pharaoh’s dream became second in command in Egypt. As the memory of Joseph faded (a type and shadow of Jesus) the children of Israel were enslaved (we see this unfolding in America and around the world today).
In preparation for the tenth plague which was the death of the firstborn of both man and beast God instructed they were to select a lamb for sacrifice on the tenth day of Nisan/Abib which would be sacrificed on the fourteenth of Nisan called Passover. Carefully read and meditate the following passage and see Jesus our Passover Lamb who took away our sin,
Exodus 12:1-6 (KJV)
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
This day corresponds to what we call Palm Sunday and is otherwise described as the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The first verse below is given to set the timing. John 12:1 is the 9th of Nisan, and picking up with John 12:12 we are five days before Passover which is the 10th of Nisan.
John 12:1 (KJV)
1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
John 12:12-15 (KJV)
12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.
They were looking for a King but what they and we needed was a Lamb and that is how Jesus came the first time, next time He is coming as the Lion of Judah, and the King of kings.
John 1:29 (KJV)
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
By Pastor David R. Wood
