於2022-04-18發佈


慶祝基督的復活和國度的逾越節
法蘭西斯-弗蘭吉潘 FRANCIS FRANGIPANE
日期:2022年4月17日
翻譯:Kate
原文:以利亞名單
轉載/轉寄 請註明出處:國度禱告網

"復活節 "還是 "逾越節"?

我們大多數人都知道,早期教會並沒有用糖豆、巧克力兔子和棉花糖小雞來慶祝復活節。早期的基督徒慶祝的是基督的復活和耶穌基督在逾越節上實現的新約。

"復活節"一詞實際上來自盎格魯撒克遜語的 "Eastre",即 "春天的女神"。隨著基督教的傳播,為了避免與當地傳統的衝突,早期教會將幾個異教節日納入教會文化。顯然,彩蛋、兔子和雞並不是聖經中復活的象徵,實際上是異教春季生育儀式的一部分。

儘管大多數基督徒,包括我自己,仍然把基督復活的季節稱為 "復活節",但在我心裡,我看淡了其中一些問題的文化根源,溫和地呼籲大家注意我們所要慶祝的偉大奇蹟:基督的復活。

基督徒的逾越節

然而,儘管我們可以在愛中寬恕和掩蓋非基督教的傳統,但我們不應該讓這些傳統掩蓋神的話語中深刻的真理。希伯來人的逾越節不僅是紀念性的,它也是預言性的。外邦信徒在逾越節中看到了一個偉大的成就,這個成就在耶穌基督的生命和犧牲中得到了實現。正如保羅所寫的:"......因為我們逾越節的羔羊基督已經被殺獻祭了。所以,我們守這節......" (林前5:7-8)。

保羅敦促哥林多的外邦人基督徒慶祝逾越節。然而,外邦人並不像猶太人那樣參與舊約的儀式。相反,他們從屬靈的角度來對待這個節日,專注於基督,"......神的羔羊,除去世人罪孽的"(約1:29)。

事實上,基督教會保留逾越節不僅是為了紀念以色列人從埃及被解救出來,而且從普世的角度來看,是為了紀念和慶祝基督,他們逾越節的羔羊,把人從罪惡中釋放出來。

舊約中的逾越節,就其強大的內在和字面價值而言,實際上是對基督將代表人類實現的預表。請記住,這些節日是比自己更偉大的東西的影子。保羅說,它們的 "實質屬於基督"(西2:17)。因此,在歷年的所有日子中,上帝的羔羊基督在逾越節期間被釘在十字架上,這絕對是了不起的。就在大祭司為猶太人的罪行獻上羊肉的同時,耶穌也在為世人的罪行祈禱:"......父啊,赦免他們,因為他們不知道自己所做的......" (路23:34)。

國度的逾越節

然而,逾越節還有更多的內容,主在 "最後的晚餐"(逾越節)期間向他的門徒講述了這些內容。他說:"......我很願意在受害以先和你們吃這逾越節的筵席。我告訴你們,我不再吃這筵席,直到成就在神的國裡"(路22:15-16)。

逾越節還將有另一個應驗,即 "在神的國裡應驗 "的宴席。這時,那些真正屬於基督的人將在末世的一系列審判中得到神聖的保護。無論你相信大災難前、大災難中還是大災難後的被提,上帝都沒有註定我們要遭受憤怒。由神的羔羊實現的國度逾越節,使我們在現在和末世都處於永恆的保護之中。

無論耶穌的話語以何種方式應驗,讓我們要求自己分吃整個羔羊。讓我們勤奮地將羔羊的血塗抹在我們的心門上,以及我們的家人和愛人身上。即使我們周圍的世界在黑暗和審判中越陷越深,我們也要堅持進入上帝的國度。因為我們將在神的國度裡與基督一起慶祝逾越節的時刻即將到來。

 

CELEBRATING THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST & THE KINGDOM PASSOVER
FRANCIS FRANGIPANE
2022.4.17

"EASTER" OR "PASSOVER"?

Most of us are aware that the early Church did not celebrate Easter with jelly beans, chocolate bunnies and marshmallow chickens. The early Christians celebrated Christ's resurrection and the New Covenant that was fulfilled by Jesus Christ on Passover.

The word "Easter" actually comes from the Anglo Saxon "Eastre," the "goddess of spring." As Christianity spread, to avoid conflict with local traditions, the early Church incorporated several pagan holidays into church culture. Obviously, colored eggs, rabbits and chickens were not biblical symbols of resurrection but were actually part of the pagan fertility rites of spring.

Although most Christians, myself included, still refer to the season of Christ's resurrection as "Easter," in my heart, I look past the cultural roots of some of these issues and gently call everyone's attention to the great miracle that we've come to celebrate: the resurrection of Christ.

THE CHRISTIAN PASSOVER

Yet, while we can forgive and cover non-Christian traditions in love, we should not let these traditions obscure the profound truth of God's Word. The Hebrew feast of Passover was not only commemorative, it was also prophetic in nature. Gentile Believers saw a great fulfillment in the Passover, a fulfillment lived out in the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Even as Paul wrote, "...Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast..." (1 Cor. 5:7-8).

The Gentile Christians in Corinth were urged by Paul to celebrate the Feast of Passover. However, the Gentiles did not engage in the Old Testament rituals as did the Jews. Rather, they approached the feast from its spiritual perspective, focusing on Christ, "...the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (Jhn. 1:29).

Indeed, the Christian Church kept the Passover not only in remembrance of Israel's deliverance from Egypt but in the universal view, remembering and celebrating Christ, their Passover Lamb, delivering man from sin.

The Old Testament Passover, for all its powerful intrinsic and literal value, was actually an anticipation of what Christ would fulfill on behalf of mankind. Remember, the feasts were shadows of something greater than themselves. Paul said that their "substance belongs to Christ" (Col. 2:17). Thus it is absolutely remarkable that, of all days in the calendar year, Christ, the Lamb of God, was crucified during the days of Passover. At roughly the same time the high priest was offering a lamb for the sins of the Jews, Jesus was praying for the sins of the world: "...Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do..." (Lk. 23:34).

THE KINGDOM PASSOVER

Yet, there was more to the Passover, which the Lord related to His disciples during the "Last Supper" (the Passover). He said, "...I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God" (Lk. 22:15-16).

There will be another fulfillment to the Passover where the feast is "fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." This will be a time when those who are truly Christ's will be divinely protected during the sequence of end-time judgments. Whether you believe in a pre, mid or post tribulation rapture, God has not destined us for wrath. The Kingdom Passover, fulfilled by the Lamb of God, positions us in the eternal protection, both now and at the end of the age.

In whatever manner Jesus' words shall be fulfilled, let us require of ourselves to partake of the whole Lamb. Let us diligently apply the Lamb's Blood over the doorways to our hearts, as well as over our families and loved ones. And even as the world around us spirals ever deeper into darkness and judgment, let us instead press into God's Kingdom. For the time is coming when we shall celebrate the Passover with Christ in the Kingdom of God.