The Passovers of Jesus How long did Jesus preach the gospel? We say about three and a half years. How do we know? I have not found it anywhere that tells us that directly. By reading and understanding prophecy we can look at the things that were a pattern of Christ’s work, such as the three and a half years that it did not rain during the time of Elijah, and then Elijah prayed and the rain came. We know that the rain pointed to the out pouring of the Holy Spirit. We also know about the prophecy to come about the last martyrs whose testimony will last three and a half years before they are killed. They will lay dead in the streets for three and a half days prior to the resurrection. They are also a pattern of Christ. Christ also told us through his teachings. Luke 13 tells the parable of the fig tree. He spake also this parable; a certain Christ was warning the children of Israel to man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; repent or else they would perish. Luke 13: and he came and sought fruit thereon, 1-5. He went on and spoke about the man and found none. Then said he unto the who had a fig tree and sought fruit on it for dresser of his vineyard, behold, these three years. These are the years Christ three years I come seeking fruit on this preached the gospel. luke 13: 6-7. When the man threatened to cut it down the fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why dresser asked him to let him dig about and cumbereth it the ground? And he dung it first. This the time after the answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone Pentecost when the Holy Ghost fell and this year also, till I shall dig about it, and the disciples preached the gospel--digging dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, about it would loosen the hard soil to allow then after that thou shalt cut it down. the rain to get to it. Luke 13: 8-9. The hard Luke 13: 6-8 soil is the hard or uncircumcised heart and the rain is the Holy Ghost, and the dung fertilizes and nourishes the tree like the word of God nourishes the person. Then he says, “well”, but if not cut it down. Israel did not do right. They persecuted church and killed the apostles, therefore the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 was the cutting down of the fig tree. We can also go through the scriptures and count the Passovers. The only book that lists them is the book of John. John lists three Passovers that Jesus kept prior to his death the first one listed occurred right after his first miracle in Cana of Galilee at the beginning of his work and the last one, found in all of the books of the gospel is of course at the time of the crucifixion. Passover #1 Prior to this Passover Jesus was in Galilee and went to Jordan where he was baptizied of John. Then on to the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Then Jesus returns to
Galilee, and calls his disciples. This all found in the first chapter of John. It does not tell us how long this took. But it had to be well over forty days because Christ was in the wilderness for forty days. While Jesus was still in Galilee in Cana he went to a wedding. There he performed his first miracle. He turned the water into wine. When his mother told them that they had on wine he said something strange to her. ! ....“Jesus saith unto her, woman, what have I to do with thee? ! Mine hour is not come.” Why would he say that? Because the wine represents the blood that he would shed. John 2: 1-11. Afterwards Jesus goes to Capernaum and then to Jerusalem. He drove the money changers and the sellers of doves out of the temple. This shows how he is going to purge his house and remove all things that offend. John 2: 13-17. Jesus also told the Jews, “destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up,” John 2: 18-23, pointing to his death and resurrection. You can see that all of these things that occurred just prior to the Passover at the beginning of his ministry was a powerful lesson to us about the meaning of Passover. The win represented his blood, and he demonstrated how he will purge his house; he showed us that his temple would be built or raised up through his death and resurrection. We who serve hime are raised up to a new life within him. Passover # 2 John 6: 1-4. Prior to the second Passover Jesus preaches to multitudes on a mountain. He feeds 5000 people with 5 loaves and a few fishes. John 6: 5-14. Jesus teaches the people. The following day the people seed for Jesus. When they find him he tells them not to labor for carnal food, John 6: 27, and explains that he is the bread of life. John 6: 31-37, 47-51. Jesus knew that they just wanted food to eat but were not interested in his word. He told them that his flesh was meat indeed and that his blood was drink indeed John 6: 54-58. Here we see a powerful sermon on the true meaning of the Passover. Recall also how Jesus rebuked the devil when he tempted him in the wilderness, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeded out the mouth of God.” The Last Passover (Passover # 3) A very significant event occurred shortly before the Passover, the resurrection of Lazarus. What did Christ tell Martha? John 11: 23-26. It was this event that so angered the Jews that they decided that they must at all costs find a way to kill him. The following is a list of important events preceding Christ’s crucifixion. John 12: 1, Six days before the feast of Passover Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was. Two days before the feast of the Passover Christ teaches his disciple about the signs of his coming to Judgement and also about the destruction. He teaches them also about the parable of the 10 virgins also. You can read about this in Matthews chapter 24-25 and Mark chapter 13. While he was sill in bethany in the house of Simon the Leper, they
made a supper for him, and Mary Magdalene comes and anoints his head and feet. Matthew 26: 2-7, Mark 14: 1-9, and John 11:3. Judas becomes indignant at this supposed “waste” and conspires with the priests to kill Jesus. Christ begins to to travel to Jerusalem. He tells his disciples to bring to him a colt of an ass and he travels into Jerusalem as prophesied int the book of Isaiah. The people lay branches before him and wave palms and sing hosanna to the king. Jesus tells the disciples exactly where to prepare the Passover in an upper room. He warns and instructs his disciples because we must all drink the cup of salvation and walk as Jesus walked Luke 22: 17-18. Then he took the bread and blessed and brake it, “this is my bod”, and the cup after dinner, “this is the new testament in his blood.” After supper (found only in the book of John), Jesus girded himself and washes the disciples feet, telling them to do so also to each other. This is the work and service that we must do bowing to each other and helping our brothers to also enter into the kingdom of heaven. The beautiful sermons and prayer found only in the book of John chapters 14-17 were spoken to the apostles after supper with John leaning on his breast. Then Christ goes to the garden with Peter, James and John and prays in agony before his death. Here in this garden is where Judas and his captors meet him and Judas betrays him with a kiss. I will leave it here as we all know what proceeded,, how Jesus was interrogated, beaten savagely, mocked, spit upon, crucified with thieves, died was placed in a tomb and was resurrected after three days. We know fully well how Christ’s victory is our victory. As he said “ in this world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” All praise, honor and glory to Christ our savior, our Passover, the lamb who was slain, whose blood was shed for the saving of our souls. All glory to God in the highest who loved us so much that he sent his only begotten son that he might through him have life, through his suffering and his stripes we are healed. Give all praises to God and his son Jesus christ who gave his life as a ransom for many, Happy Passover!