President Obama Misunderstands Passover

President Obama recently stated,

“The story of Passover…instructs each generation to remember its past,

While appreciating the beauty of freedom 

And the responsibility it entails.

This year that ancient instruction is reflected in the daily headlines

As we see modern stories of social transformation

And liberation unfolding in the Middle East and North Africa.”

Having constructed a link between the Arab uprisings

And Chosen People's experiencing the miracles of the Creator

That led them out of Egypt 

And towards the receiving of the Ten Commandments,

The President concluded,

"As Jewish families gather for this joyous celebration of freedom,

Let us all be thankful for the gifts that have been bestowed upon us,

And let us work to alleviate the suffering, poverty, injustice,

And hunger of those who are not yet free.”

This statement reveals a fundamental 

And profound misunderstanding of Passover.

Passover resulted from a judgment of God Almighty 
On the nation of Egypt

Because they would not set the people of God free from their bondage

As He had demanded through Moses and Aaron.

Because of the recalcitrance of Pharaoh.

After many miraculous, preceding judgments,

God finally determined to kill the first born in all of Egypt,

Knowing that this final judgment 

Would break the stubbornness of Pharaoh

And that he would, then, set the Israelites free.

At the first Passover, God Almighty sent a death angel 

To kill the first born in all of Egypt.

To avoid the killing of their own first born,

God gave Moses specific instructions.

The final instruction was that every Israelite family

Was to apply the blood of a lamb without defect

To the top and sides of the door frame to their home,

So that when the death angel came by he would see the blood

And “passover that home” and not kill the first born within it.

In the New Covenant we learn that Christ Jesus is our “passover lamb,”

By faith we apply the blood of Christ Jesus to our lives,

And because of this we will be “passed over,” 

Saved from, the judgment of God

That will befall all who do not believe in the Christ of God.

God in His mercy will “passover” 

Those who put their faith in the Son of God,

The perfect representative of God, God in flesh.

The celebration of Passover for Christians is the celebration,

That, by faith, through our acceptance of the blood of Christ Jesus

For the forgiveness of our sins, the judgment of God will “passover” us.

We will be “saved” for all eternity by the phenomenal grace of God.

This is the meaning of Passover for Christians

And has nothing to do with political uprisings.

The only true freedom that exists, is that found in Christ Jesus.

It is His Truth, alone, that sets a person free.