Before you read this post, I must preface that it is written in direct opposition to just about everything I hear in church. I don't know if that means I'm just a rebel at heart or if it's simply that I have such a difficult time conforming. Regardless of which, I often find myself at loggerheads with the narrow-minded ideologues so prevalent in my church and their refusal to consider any other possibilities. The use of the words "Because we've always done it this way...." or "Traditionally......" just don't cut it with me. That is the most colossal copout I can fathom! It is equivalent to a parent telling a child, "Because I said so!" I question everything. Case in point: Easter Week.
Disclaimer: these views are mine own. I am not a theologian by any stretch of the imagination. However, I can read and I do have a very functional brain with lovely grey matter. Being so well equipped, I can research historical Jewish documents and traditions as well as those of secular historians such as Josephus, Tacitus, and Suetonius. Just because something has the words "church, religion, doctrine, or tradition" attached to it does not mean it's true or that it is written in the proverbial stone.
Disclaimer: these views are mine own. I am not a theologian by any stretch of the imagination. However, I can read and I do have a very functional brain with lovely grey matter. Being so well equipped, I can research historical Jewish documents and traditions as well as those of secular historians such as Josephus, Tacitus, and Suetonius. Just because something has the words "church, religion, doctrine, or tradition" attached to it does not mean it's true or that it is written in the proverbial stone.
Today is Maundy Thursday, the historical day of Jesus' Last Supper as he celebrated The Passover with his disciples. I say "historically" because that is the traditional view, which I personally do not hold to. My belief is that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday, not Good Friday. Why? Because there is a differentiation in scripture from High Passover and regular Passover. High Passover would have begun on Thursday and Jesus would have had to have been crucified on Wednesday, the Preparation Day of the Passover and his body taken down from the cross PRIOR to the High Passover and placed in the tomb. The Pharisees and chief priests went to Pilate and begged him to place guards at Jesus' tomb "on the next day (Thursday) which followed the Day of Preparation" and they were to remain there until the Third Day. Little did the Roman soldiers know it would be the last post they ever guarded. Even Daniel teaches that the Messiah would be "cut off" mid-week which would also point to a Wednesday crucifixion.
Thoughts on Passover by Rabbi Daniel Lapin
We have all become so obsessed with freedom, rights, and choice that we’ve forgotten how much of our success and happiness is owed to restraint, duties, and rules. Learning to place ourselves under authority is one message of Passover. Today’s educational system largely fails to teach this important skill so necessary for obtaining and keeping a job. By contrast, the military does a splendid job teaching that the only way to get to give orders is to learn first to accept them. The road to promotion leads through obedience.
Many mistakenly believe that Passover celebrates liberation. But Moses never told Pharaoh, “Let my people go.” God’s message really was, “Let my people go so that they may worship me in the desert.” God did not free the Jews from being servants; he just freed them from being servants to Egypt. Henceforth they were to be servants to Him.
We have all become so obsessed with freedom, rights, and choice that we’ve forgotten how much of our success and happiness is owed to restraint, duties, and rules. Learning to place ourselves under authority is one message of Passover. Today’s educational system largely fails to teach this important skill so necessary for obtaining and keeping a job. By contrast, the military does a splendid job teaching that the only way to get to give orders is to learn first to accept them. The road to promotion leads through obedience.
Many mistakenly believe that Passover celebrates liberation. But Moses never told Pharaoh, “Let my people go.” God’s message really was, “Let my people go so that they may worship me in the desert.” God did not free the Jews from being servants; he just freed them from being servants to Egypt. Henceforth they were to be servants to Him.
Being enslaved by a man or a government makes less of us. However choosing to be a servant of God transforms us into free and independent champions. Passover celebrates accepting God’s rules rather than rejecting the idea of having a boss.
Passover is an annual inoculation against a false idea. We could think that people would thrive if left to their own devices, without any external system of rules. Like the small child who yells, “You’re not the boss of me,” too many adults think that freedom means indulging every personal desire.
Being enslaved by Pharaoh served a vital function. It taught the embryonic Jewish people how to take orders. Thus, Passover celebrates the years of Jewish slavery as much as it does the exodus from Egypt. While the Egyptians were certainly responsible for their cruel behavior, Jews from then on recognize that the experience was a valuable one. The slavery had a purpose, teaching that all people are enslaved. One’s only choice is whether to be enslaved to God’s rules or to a variety of bizarre human ideologies.
Being enslaved by Pharaoh served a vital function. It taught the embryonic Jewish people how to take orders. Thus, Passover celebrates the years of Jewish slavery as much as it does the exodus from Egypt. While the Egyptians were certainly responsible for their cruel behavior, Jews from then on recognize that the experience was a valuable one. The slavery had a purpose, teaching that all people are enslaved. One’s only choice is whether to be enslaved to God’s rules or to a variety of bizarre human ideologies.
On this Monday night, we’ll celebrate the Passover Seder. We will pore over a lengthy and detailed account of the Exodus, taste tear inducing bitter herbs with matzoh and solemnly drink four cups of wine to commemorate both slavery and redemption.
Paradoxically, true independence comes not through the abolition of all rules but through the acceptance of Divine rules. Moses did urge Pharaoh to let the people go. Not to free them from all authority, but to allow them to serve the One Authentic Authority. This way, by bringing rules and structure into their lives they would gain real freedoms and choices. What marvelous training for a job as well as for all of life itself.
May you all have a joyous celebration of Passover and Easter!
~Starr
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