4.28.26 ~ A Second Chance

With Passover Sheni just a few days away—May 1, 2026—let us refocus on the Passover, which belongs to the well-being offering, the peace offering, sometimes translated as the communion offering and fellowship offering. Did you notice the commonality in all the different names? Every one of these names tells you what the sacrifice is about: relationship, community, celebration, and communion. The Torah tells us that anyone may offer this to God (Num. 15), and within this category there are three different offering types: a vow offering, a free-will offering, and a thanksgiving offering, all eaten as a family. Remember Passover (Pesach), the sacrifice, we eat with other like-minded individuals. This makes sense, right?

And here is something really important that you may never consider, something that accompanies them: bring grain and wine with these offerings. In other words, we have a complete meal—a protein, a carb, and some fruit of the vine. Metaphorically speaking, God is eating with us. When you bring a peace offering, you are sharing a meal with God. Bread, wine, meat—a table set for humans and the Divine to sit down together and eat, rejoicing before the Lord (1 Cor. 10–11). Rejoicing before the Lord—not trembling, not cowering, not begging for mercy—but rejoicing, eating together!

Now, if you grew up in, or currently worship in, a traditional version of Christianity where the primary emotional posture that we bring before communion is one of guilt—where the whole point of worship is reminding yourself how unworthy you are and how angry God is at your sin, until Jesus stepped in—then you will probably miss out on the original meaning of this offering. Fortunately, that is not what is happening here. The most communal, most participatory sacrifice in the Torah is defined by joy. The people eat in God's presence, and the Torah uses and emphasizes the word rejoice to describe the environment. Because it is a communal offering, it is said that the one who brings a peace offering brings peace to the world.

And when you realize that Passover was a memorial thanksgiving offering, and that Yeshua is referenced as our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7–8), that actually takes on quite an enormous weight and adds some additional thoughts to our current understanding.

But in the sacrificial system, I want us to remember something important: Scripture will not permit eating from an atoning sacrifice. You and I can eat from a non-atoning sacrifice, but not one that carries atonement. The priest can eat from atoning sacrifices on behalf of others, but not for themselves. People themselves never eat a sin offering. Let me share a simple scriptural rule: if the people eat from it, it is not about sin. The Passover lamb is always eaten by everybody. That is kind of the whole point of Passover—the family meal, a table shared, shelamim (peace).

One more thing: the thanksgiving offering of the shelamim (peace offering) has a very important component: it commemorates a past event of God's saving significance (1 Sam. 10–11; 1 Kings 3; 2 Kings 3, 16; etc.). The peace offerings are for remembrance and gratitude. They are not transactions of guilt and sin. That kind of puts a kink in our theological hose.

But another thing—and this is a biggie. One of the most important scenes in the entire Bible is in Exodus 24, when we come to the ratification of the covenant at Mount Sinai. Starting in verse 4, you will remember (we read it not too long ago): Moses wrote down all the words, rose early, built an altar at the base of the mountain, and sent young men to prepare burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. Did you notice the sequence? First, the invitation: they send an aroma that draws God's presence. Then, the peace offering, which allows them to enjoy the presence of God with the shared meal of communion. That is the pattern: you invite God, and then you eat with Him. That is how you set the table with God. That is how we set the table for one another :-).

Shortly after this preparation, Moses took half the blood and sprinkled the other half on the altar. Do you remember this? He took the book of the covenant and read it out loud to the people, and they replied, "All the Lord has spoken we will do and obey." Moses took the remaining blood and sprinkled it on the people. "This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord is making with you regarding all these words." He took the blood and sprinkled it on the people. And then in verses 9 through 11, Moses went up with all the boys, where they got to see God. And they looked upon God, they ate, and they drank.

Happy 24th day of counting the Omer!

Shalom!
Alan