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Looking back
February is remembered in the US as Black History Month, because we dare not forget an inescapable truth of the past – that people with black skin were once enslaved in America. Thus, our African-American brethren look back during black history month.
They are remembering that their ancestors’ freedom was granted by God through a great sacrifice. The Lord used the deaths of 618,000 soldiers to buy freedom for the slaves. There is a reason that our black forefathers taught and sang about Israel in Egypt so often – because they could relate to what it means to look back on a history of slavery and see the glory of freedom bought at a blood price!
This explains why our black forebears in Christ felt such kinship with Joshua. When Joshua and company celebrate Passover in Joshua 5, they are looking back to Egypt. They are remembering that God saved them from slavery. God brought them to the Promised Land by eliminating the first born of Egypt – forcing Pharaoh to release the Jews. Only those who had the blood of the Passover lamb spread over their doorway were “passed over” by the angel of death that fateful night in Egypt.
Passover is significant because it looks back; and Passover also looks ahead.
Looking ahead
Over time, the Passover service became more stylized. And one of the beautiful practices in a Passover meal is the focus not only on looking back to Egypt, but also looking ahead to the Messiah. The scriptures make it clear that the Passover does not merely celebrate the freedom from Egypt. It also rejoices the coming freedom from sin – in the sacrifice of the Messiah, the perfect Lamb of God.
This was what John the Baptizer was saying through the famous encounter recorded in John 1:29. The people of John’s day understood that he was saying this Jesus [a form of the name Joshua] is the One you look ahead to every year when you partake of Passover. He is Messiah, the Passover Lamb of God.
Even today, at the modern family Passover, there is a cup of wine set aside for the prophet Elijah, and the door is left open so Elijah may join the feast. Why do Jews do this? Because Passover is about looking ahead to the triumphant coming of the Messiah. According to the prophets, Elijah will return and precede the Messiah in establishing His coming kingdom. Therefore, leaving space for Elijah is an act of looking ahead to the Messiah’s coming.
In a similar way, we should look ahead to history yet to be written. A day is coming when Jesus, preceded by Elijah, will return to establish His perfect kingdom. People of every color, tribe, and tongue will be judged on the basis of whether they trusted Jesus. The Messiah is the perfect blood sacrifice for you, and if you trust Him you can join in the Passover celebration for eternity. As our black brethren sang in the late 19th century:
The Gospel train’s comin’
I hear it just at hand
I hear the car wheel rumblin’
And rollin’ thro’ the land
I hear the train a-comin’
She’s comin’ round the curve
She’s loosened all her steam and brakes
And strainin’ ev’ry nerve
The fare is cheap and all can go
The rich and poor are there
No second class aboard this train
No difference in the fare
Get on board little children
Get on board little children
Get on board little children
There’s room for many more
God bless,
Wayne