Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
Leviticus 8:31
8:31 And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and there eat it with the bread that [is] in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it.
Sin Offering of Officiating Priest—
The sins of the people were transferred in figure to the officiating priest, who was a mediator for the people. The priest could not himself become an offering for sin, and make an atonement with his life, for he was also a sinner. Therefore, instead of suffering death himself, he killed a lamb without blemish; the penalty of sin was transferred to the innocent beast, which thus became his immediate substitute, and typified the perfect offering of Jesus Christ. Through the blood of this victim, man looked forward by faith to the blood of Christ which would atone for the sins of the world (The Signs of the Times, March 14, 1878). {1BC 1111.1}
Christ is our Passover lamb and the perfect offering. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover. And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? …. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the
graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
A little later in the same day, He permitted them to touch and worship Him, for He had ascended to the Father and His sacrifice had been accepted. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. The Lord is risen indeed!
Our Father, which art in heaven,
We come into Your presence in thanksgiving, praise, and prayer. We thank You for being our Passover lamb, perfect without spot or blemish. Thank You for taking our sins and transferring them to You as our mediator. Thank You for the perfect offering of Jesus Christ. Through His sacrifice, we can look forward by faith to the blood of Christ, which would atone for the sins of the world. Thank You for showing Your people the things to come, so that when they happen, they might believe! Thank You for being the first fruit and “first born” of those that slept and for bringing before the Father a sample of the final great harvest. Thank You for accepting the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. We pray for Your blessing unto every one of us for grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. We pray for Your help to purge out the old leaven, that we may be a new lump, as You are unleavened. We thank You for all the examples You have set before us in the past that Your people may continue forward to Honor and Glorify Your name and rest on the Sabbath day according to the commandment. We pray for Your people to follow Your example and those of the past that kept Your Sabbath day Holy. The day You set aside for a Holy purpose. It is the day for Your people to rest from their labors and to worship You in Spirit and in Truth. Thank You for Your Word detailing the day of Your sacrifice, the day You rested, and the day You rose. The sixth day- Preparation day, the seventh day- Your Holy Sabbath Day and the first day- the risen day. Thank You for blessing us with the Truth that Saves. Thank You again for dying in our place and is risen again, sitting at the right hand of God, making intercession for us. Praise be and glory in Your name, and it is in Your name, Christ Jesus, our master, lord, and savior we pray. Amen.
