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We can better understand the celebration of Easter from the seven feasts God gives Israel. Three of the four spring feasts of Israel occur during the Christian celebration of Easter.

The birth, life and death of Christ, is not left to chance. In the fullness of time… Jesus is born, lives and dies according to the Father’s timing.

The death of Christ occurs the same moment as the first sacrifice for the beginning of Passover. The Feast of Unleavened Bread starts the day after Passover and lasts for seven days. His resurrection takes place on the third day, which is the Feast of First Fruits.

A male lamb, without blemish and under 1 year old is selected for the first Passover in Egypt.

The lamb is killed and its blood is applied around the door of the house. The final plague in Egypt is the Death Angel that visits every home slaying the first-born male. The only exemptions are the homes where the blood is applied. The lamb is then cooked and eaten by the family for their journey out of Egypt. The sacrificial lamb not only dies for them, but also provides life for them as they leave Egypt the next morning for the Promised Land.

God redeems the Jews from Egypt through the death of the lamb. He also provides their strength for their 40 years in the wilderness to Palestine with water from the rock and manna from Heaven.

The Christian life begins with our faith in Christ’s death for us. Trusting Him as our passover lamb takes care of where we will spend eternity. His life in us provides for our journey while here on earth.

We receive the life of Christ when He takes up residence in us at the new birth. Receiving Christ as Savior is not the end of our journey, but the beginning. Jesus refers to Himself as the water and the bread of life we feast on daily.

Just as manna is provided daily so is our bread. The word of God feeds our soul and spirit for our needs in life.

The Bible does not prevent problems, but gives us what we need to be victorious over them. The Scriptures will tell us what is wrong, what is right and also how to get right and stay right. It is the road map through our wilderness journey in life. We need a daily time with the Lord in His word in order for Him to speak to our hearts. If we only depend on a few moments Sunday mornings to feed our souls, we will be malnourished. When we talk to the Lord in prayer, we vocalize our needs, praise and worship. We carry on a dialogue with the Lord when we speak to Him in prayer and He speaks to us through His word.

The Bible is not meant to be a decoration in our homes or driven around in the car all week. It needs to be open on our laps as we feast on our manna from Heaven.

A banquet is prepared, but it is up to us to come and dine. Seven days without God’s Word and prayer makes one weak.

Steve Conwell, pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church, is heard mornings on WFLO and WVHL in “A Thought For Today.” He can be reached at SteveConwell@outlook.com.