<<The Passover of Our Christ>>
Ask the Pastor
Pr. Walter Snyder
	As has been my custom since the beginning of "Ask the Pastor," I
reserve the great festivals of the Christian Church for special columns. No
feast is greater than the Resurrection of Our Lord. That's one reason why,
by the time many people read this in their Sunday paper, I'll have already
celebrated the Resurrection in four services. Beginning at dusk on Easter
Eve, then the sunrise service at Martin Dies Park, and on through the
Sunday services at Faith and St. Paul congregations, I have the joy of
proclaiming Jesus' victory over sin, death, and devil.
	One image of the Resurrection is that of the fulfillment of the
Passover, when the angel of death spared those firstborn of Israel whose
doorposts bore the blood of the slaughtered lambs. The Passover continued
as the Children of Israel "passed over" the Red Sea, on their way to the
land promised by the Lord. An ancient (eighth century) hymn by John of
Damascus calls attention to this Passover exodus:
		Come, ye faithful, raise the strain
		Of triumphant gladness;
		God hath brought His Israel
		Into joy from sadness.
		'Tis the spring of souls today:
		Christ hath burst His prison
		And from three days' sleep in death
		As a sun hath risen.
	In keeping with the Apostle Paul (Romans 9:6ff.), John's hymn
reminds us that the Christian Church is the fulfillment of Israel. Our
slavery was to sin, death, and the devil. Jesus defeated sin by remaining
holy. He unmade death by suffering it himself. With sin and death beaten,
the devil cannot terrify or restrain us. The cursed tree of Eden can no
longer poison us. Christ is the ultimate Paschal (Passover) Lamb. His blood
turns eternal death and suffering in hell away from all who are marked by
it. The Law of God demanded death for sinners. Christ, who knew no sin,
became sin for us, that his death might stand for all who are conceived and
born sinners.
	In his resurrection, Christ then remakes life. As I said, the first
Passover was of blood and of water. It both protected Israel from death and
brought them into new life. Another hymn by John of Damascus proclaims:
		The day of resurrection,
		Earth, tell it out abroad,
		The Passover of gladness,
		The Passover of God.
		From death to life eternal,
		From this world to the sky,
		Our Christ hath brought us over
		With hymns of victory.
	The blood-covering and the Red Sea crossing are also part of the
Scriptural imagery of Holy Baptism. Through it, the blessings won by Christ
are granted to the individual. Our sins are drowned by water and the Word,
just as Pharaoh's army perished. Our sinful human nature is put to death
and a new person rises out of the flood (Romans 6:3-5). Thus, Christian
baptism turns us into participants in the Passion and Resurrection of
Christ. Thus, each baptism is also a celebration of the Paschal victory of
Jesus.
	So also Christian funerals celebrate the Resurrection: While the
world weeps and cannot be consoled, Israel knows that the Passover is
complete when the believer dies. The crossing is finished, and the
Christian passes from life to life.
	God grant you safe entry into the Promised Land. Christ Jesus has
completed your salvation and now shepherds you through this life into life
eternal. To him be glory forever!
	That's it for now. You can submit questions by mail to "Ask the
Pastor," PO Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or
just stop me on the street.
	Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches
in Jasper and Woodville and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans
Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults."

Copyright (c) 1998 by Walter P. Snyder

Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any
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