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Response to Tikvah Michael's article in FFOZ's Messiah Magazine "Easter and the Resurrection"

by James Pyles

One of the members of our congregation read Tikvah Michael's article in First Fruits of Zion's (FFOZ) Messiah Magazine issue 95 and asked for my opinion. Unfortunately, there is not online copy of Ms. Michael's article so to read the source, you'll need to contact First Fruits of Zion and request a copy. I'll try to summarize her points as best I can but do not claim to represent them as accurately as she.

In the Messianic community, Pesach (Passover) most often brings forth throughts of how our "Passover Lamb", Yeshua the Messiah died so that we could be redeemed from slavery to sin. Ms. Michael makes a good point in that Pesach and Easter aren't equivalent expressions what the Messiah has done for us. Pesach tends to focus on the suffering and death of the Messiah, conquering sin on our behalf while Easter zeros in on the resurrection and the promise of eternal life with the Almighty.

Traditional Christianity actually has three holidays to commemorate this seasion: Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter which respectively, recognize Yeshua's final entry into Jerusalem, His crucifixion, and His resurrection. Tikvah Michael, like many of us in the Messianic movement, originally came to faith in the Messiah in a traditional Christian setting. She recalls the pleasant and comforting memories of Easter and the powerful message of the resurrection of the Messiah.

After she married Boaz Michael (founder of FFOZ) and begin attending Messianic congregational services, she transitioned to celebrating Pesach but realized that the message of the resurrection was being lost. Her article suggests that it would be appropriate to develop a time of worship to recognize the resurrection of the Master. Some of her ideas include a day of eating fish since the first meal Yeshua had (as recorded in scripture) was fish, reading 1 Corinthians 15, or having a special Havdalah service based on Matthew 28:1. At no time does Ms. Michael ever suggest bringing back Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, or the "traditional" Easter ham. She simply wants us not to neglect the value of both the crucifixion and the resurrection.

There's nothing wrong with anything she says and certainly there could be quite a bit right with not limiting our celebration at this time of year to the death of the Messiah. For me though, the question is, "Is the celebration of Pesach truly limited to the crucifixion"?

The whole point had never occurred to me before reading "Easter and the Resurrection" and I did some serious pondering and praying. Then I reviewed how our congregation celebrates the time approaching Pesach and the sedar itself. On Erev Pesach (tonight, April 2, 2007) our congregation will recite the following readings in preparation for celebrating Pesach:

  • Torah: Ex. 12:21-51
  • K'tuvim: Psalm 114
  • Sh'lichim (Emissaries): Matt. 27:27-28:20

The readings from Matthew are the most critical relative to Ms. Michael's article. If you take a look at these passages in your Bible, you'll find that they cover the time from the crucifixion through the resurrection and in fact all the way to the end of the book of Matthew.

Last Shabbat (March 31, 2007, Parashat Tzav), I taught at least in part using D. Thomas Lancaster's King of the Jews (an excellent book which I highly recommend). I cited sections that addressed taking down of the Master's body from the execution stake after his death, closing him in the tomb and the sedar night (pp 190-1). I then read from the section "Mary Magdalene at the Tomb" (pg 197). My point (and this was two days before I read Ms. Michael's article) is that in the mind of our congregation, there is no "disconnect" between different points in the celebration of Pesach and the Week of Unleavened bread. No one part of the "plan" works without the others. Suffering, execution, burial, resurrection, and ascension are all really part of the same thing, recorded over about a 40 day span of time.

While I can see Tikvah Michael's point clearly, from the point of view of our congregation, nothing is left out. We celebrate our delivery from sin, our redemption, our salvation, and the promise of eternal life in the Kingdom of G-d all as part of Pesach.

Does this mean I oppose Ms. Michael's suggestion of a separate celebration for the resurrection? No. The Messianic community as a whole has many different traditions and often we don't quite "line up" with each other. Also, both in Rabbinic and Messianic traditions, we commemorate events that are not directly commanded by the Almighty. Tu B'Shevat: the New Year for Trees is traditionally celebrated on the 15th of Shevat. It is not commanded by G-d but there is nothing wrong with thanking the Almighty for the return of spring. Channukah is also not a moadim, but it is still a wonderful celebration (and the lighting of the Shabbat candles is also not a commandment of the Almighty). There is sufficient precedent for creating a celebration honoring the resurrection. (NOTE: Tikvah Michael lists the celebration of Purim as not commanded in the Bible but the Book of Esther 9:29-32 suggests that it was at least annually celebrated by the Jews in ancient Persia as established by Modechai (King Ahasurerus' viceroy) and Queen Esther).

However your heart leads you to serve the Almighty, serve Him well. The issues of tradition vs. the Word of G-d can muddy the waters at times. Probably the "cleanest" way to avoid confusion is to strictly adhere to the scriptures and disregard tradition altogether. That said, many of the traditions are beautiful services to G-d. As long as we can keep the distinction between G-d's moadim (Appointed Times) and our traditions separate and have pure motivations for all our behaviors, I believe we continue to worship using all these different times and be in service of the King.

EDIT: April 12, 2007 I am adding the following information originally posted by Chabad Lubavitch which I believe is directly related to this issue.

Yizkor and the Feast of the Messiah*

Tuesday, (April 10, 2007) is the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Acharon Shel Pesach). It is traditional to commemorate the lost of a loved one such as a parent or spouse four times a year by reciting the Yizkor prayer. The final day of Pesach is one of those days. Learn more about Yizkor and find the text to the Yizkor Memorial Prayer.

The Feast of Moshiach is also held on this date according to traditional Judaism. Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760) instituted this custom and it is considered to be a time of reflection on the coming of the Messiah and on our ultimate Redemption. Isaiah Chapter 11 is read on this occasion and at the "Messiah's meal" Matzah is eaten with four cups of wine just as on the first day of Pesach. Learn more about the Feast of Moshiach which is also called "The Third Sedar"

*Sources for Yizkor and the Feast of the Messiah were found at the Chabad Lubavitch of Idaho website. The information from Chabad Lubavitch or the links on this page do not reflect any affiliation between our two organizations. We have the utmost respect for Chabad Lubavitch and the work that they do and realize that it would be at least uncomfortable for them if any one were to consider that our two congregations have any connection. Thus I post this message out of respect.

 

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