Micah 4:1; In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.
In cycles, the life-death cycle posits that entities are “born”, at a certain initial point in time, then travel through a passage of existence, during a certain window of time, then “die” at a certain final point in time, a process that can be either take place once, reoccur a second time, or reoccur continually.
In Judaism, any round food, especially an egg symbolizes mourning. The round shape represents the cycle of life and reminds a mourner that an end is also a new beginning. On Passover night, we remember that we still mourn the loss of the Holy Temple and that we yearn for our ultimate redemption. At the same time, we express our faith that our loss is not permanent, and that the temple will be rebuilt (has been rebuilt by Christ, “Resurrection” in 3 days).
Any circumstance or emergency (such as the current COVID 19) that concentrate man’s attention to his existence on a daily basis, crystalizes for him the essential requirement for the sustenance of life. This enables him to distinguish between what he wants and what he truly needs. This encourages him to embrace the freedom of knowing what he needs and being free from those things that he might desire. When man recognizes that all he truly needs is basic and easy to come by, he is free from the grasp of materialism that enslaves so many in modern society. Such freedom is sweet.
In Jewish tradition, fish is considered a symbol of fertility. Fish dish is suitable and popular at Passover. As one of the symbols of time spent by the Jews in Egypt, Exodus 1:12; But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so, the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. The proliferation of the Israelites under harsh circumstances teaches us that we, too, can become greater through challenges. The more hardships come our way, the more we can prosper when we choose to learn and grow from our difficulties.
Man is often, or can be faced with circumstances that, are or appear bleak and bitter, but often hidden in the core of a bitter fruit, event or circumstance, is sweetness. In bitter times, we can always find something sweet in our lives. Bitter times are eventually followed by the sweetness of salvation. Hard times do not last forever, and eventually when we pass through them in faith, we are led to better times and a greater appreciation of our blessings.
There is nothing more bitter than when man exists in sin against God, and or against his fellow man. This is a state wherein man is cruel against God, and or against his fellow man. Ironically, in this state, man is a slave to sin, ruled by sin, as expressed by Paul in Romans 7:19; For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. The time period between crucifixion and resurrection should be used to meditate and remind ourselves of the bitterness we experience as victims of negative circumstances such as; loss, disease, discrimination, oppression, lack, poverty, envy, jealousy, theft, physical and mental aggression, and so on, to help us focus on the harshness of slavery to sin. This allows us to also appreciate the greatness and sweetness of God’s salvation. It reminds us that no matter how bitter a situation we may find ourselves in, God can redeem us as well. Just as He was able to free an entire people from bitter slavery, God can bring us out of our difficulties and struggles, too.
Those who are truly blessed by God, are however often seen by the world to be poor in material things. A recognizable common trait of such people is their willingness to share or give a greater proportion of the little or next to nothing, they have, to God or to their neighbour. While not knowing where the next or tomorrow’s daily bread is coming from. Only when all people are free, safe, and provided for, will the world’s redemption be complete.
In Judaism, yeast, the leavening agent that causes bread to rise, represents pride. A prideful person is all puffed up, like a risen loaf of bread. By removing any products with yeast on Passover, Jews symbolically rid themselves of pride. And just as a small amount of yeast can ruin a batch of dough on Passover, so can a small amount of pride spoil a person if allowed to grow unchecked. While Jews may enjoy unleavened bread on Passover, it is not quite as puffed up, reminding all to deflate their egos and affirm that God is our Master and we are His humble servants.
On Passover, as we celebrate our freedom and our special relationship with our God, the King of kings, we demonstrate that we are privileged people (1 Peter 2:9; But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.). Taking a first step towards your neighbour/ enemy, to render help or reconciliation, represents both faith and salvation. It represents faith because we have to trust God, that our love of Christ which is made real, by our doing what He told us to do, loving our neighbours including our enemies, is an act of faith, which brings about our redemption, and more specifically, that faith is the key to salvation. The cycle of life as expressed by crucifixion and resurrection is paraphrased by Paul in Romans 6:11; In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
