Today, much of the Christian church celebrates that holiday-which-must-not-be-named. (See the blog post before this one if that
intrigues you). For many years, I’ve
called it “Resurrection Sunday,” and been quite pleased with that. Recently, I’ve started calling it what it is…
Pesakh, or Passover.
But this year, there is an interesting lesson in the timing of the day that sheds light on our worldview, and it is this about which I wish to briefly write.
But this year, there is an interesting lesson in the timing of the day that sheds light on our worldview, and it is this about which I wish to briefly write.
What is today?
We mark it with a name… “March,” and then we number the days in March… so this is the 27th day of March.
Was Yeshua raised from the dead on the 27th of March? Because in 2015, the Church celebrated Resurrection Sunday on April 5th. And next year, in 2017, the Church will celebrate Resurrection Sunday on April 16th.
We mark it with a name… “March,” and then we number the days in March… so this is the 27th day of March.
Was Yeshua raised from the dead on the 27th of March? Because in 2015, the Church celebrated Resurrection Sunday on April 5th. And next year, in 2017, the Church will celebrate Resurrection Sunday on April 16th.
But it gets better:
This year, the Hebrew calendar has 13 months. So the Hebrew festival of Passover, which is
very closely tied to the Christian observance of Resurrection Sunday, happens
almost a month from now. Exactly
when? We can’t be sure, because the new
month doesn’t start until two witnesses report to the Sanhedron that they saw
the New Moon over Jerusalem. And 14 days
after THAT… That will be Passover.
What’s the point?
The point is this: Human calendars are arbitrary. There’s more to it than all of that, and I’m
sure some of my readers will have strenuous points to make on this issue, but a
date… like March 27th… is just a date. If we chose to remember an event on that day,
that doesn’t mean that event happened exactly 365.25 x 1984 days ago. That means this is the date we chose to
remember it.
God’s calendar, based on the Aviv barley and the sighting of the New moon, is always in flux to some degree… this year, the barley was not Aviv. Perhaps Jerusalem will be cloudy on the first two days of the new moon, and the month will begin two months late.
God’s calendar, based on the Aviv barley and the sighting of the New moon, is always in flux to some degree… this year, the barley was not Aviv. Perhaps Jerusalem will be cloudy on the first two days of the new moon, and the month will begin two months late.
Since calendars are so malleable, does it really make sense
to get upset with your brother or your sister regarding which date they chose
to remember an event?
Should we let “soft
facts” create hard hearts?
To my Christian brothers and sisters who celebrate
Resurrection Sunday this morning, I want to say this: May the Joy of the Triumphant Risen Christ
fill your hearts and homes this and every day!
To my Karaite and Messianic brothers and sisters who will celebrate
Pesakh next month, I want to say this:
May you savor each moment of the anticipation of that Holy day!
May you savor each moment of the anticipation of that Holy day!
To my Orthodox Jewish brothers and sisters, I want to say
this:
Pesakh Samech!
Pesakh Samech!
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is, when brothers dwell
together in unity!
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