PASSION WEEK – Thursday

PREPARATION OF THE PASSOVER

You might think that telling the disciples to follow some random dude carrying a pitcher of water to whatever house he was headed to would be a risky way to find a place to eat the Passover. But a man carrying a pitcher of water would’ve been an unusual sight in most parts of Jerusalem. There was one gate in the city where the disciples would know to go to watch. The Essene Gate.

The Essenes were a community of families and celibate men descended from the righteous priest Zadok who was loyal to King David. They’re the guys who built the community of Qumran near the Dead Sea and copied and preserved the texts now called The Dead Sea Scrolls.

The Essenes had a few wonky beliefs but for the most part, were far more concerned with studying and copying the scriptures than anything else.

One of my Bible College professors used to allow us to form small teams and act out impromptu skits of things we were learning about. It was slightly corny but it worked. I think I’ve already told you about the time my classmate built a “working” miniature of the altar of incense. She burned actual incense on it while giving her 3-minute speech about it. It caught fire next to her seat. 🔥 So…. That was an exciting day.

Another time a group acted out the 12 Spies sent into Canaan. They dressed all in black and played the Mission Impossible theme as they crawled, rolled, and slid from one hiding place to another around the classroom.

I was in the group that reenacted the golden calf. Pretty sure someone wrapped a stuffed animal in aluminum foil and turned the instructor’s desk into an altar. One of my classmates played Aaron. He walked into the room wearing a priest’s white linen turban – which, upon closer inspection was… underwear. I think he’s someone’s pastor now.

When we studied the various sects and political groups in the New Testament we did a scene that sounds like the setup for a terrible joke. A Pharisee, a Sadducee, A Zealot, and an Essene all sat down at a table.

🙄 Boy, that is EXTREME Bible Nerd humor.

I was the Essene. I was draped in a black shawl and had a belt strapped to my head as a makeshift phylactery. (I don’t think the Essenes wore phylacteries but whatever) Every time I could get a word in edgewise I would start off on some long quotation of scripture and all the others would roll their eyes and groan.

🤣

☝️🤓 Not an altogether inaccurate depiction of you.

😂🤣😂🤣

Alright, smarty pants. Let’s get back to the Essenes.

Their writings show that they had decoded Daniel’s 70 Weeks prophecy and were anticipating the appearance of Messiah, whom they called by the nickname, “Melchizedek.” And you really need to see what they wrote about him…

11Q13 “THE MELCHIZEDEK SCROLL”

11Q13 is the number assigned to the scroll. It means that it was found in Cave 11, at Qumran, the 13th scroll found in the cave.

It’s a bit fragmented so it feels choppy to read but press through that. Some of the missing words scholars have been able to fill in from the context. They are in brackets. As you read, you will see references to the Dead Sea Scroll calendar we looked at earlier this week – with the “weeks” and “Jubilees.” Remember, “Melchizedek” is their name for Messiah. The people who follow Messiah are called “sons of light” – a designation that some of the apostles will use of Christians. Also note, that this was written a CENTURY before Jesus. Here is the English translation in its entirety. I’ve put some really important parts in bold.

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And concerning that which He said, In [this] year of Jubilee [each of you shall return to his property (Lev. xxv, 13); and likewise, And this is the manner of release:] every creditor shall release that which he has lent [to his neighbour. He shall not exact it of his neighbour and his brother], for God’s release [has been proclaimed] (Deut. xv, 2). [And it will be proclaimed at] the end of days concerning the captives as [He said, To proclaim liberty to the captives (Isa. lxi, 1). Its interpretation is that He] will assign them to the Sons of Heaven and to the inheritance of Melchizedek; f[or He will cast] their [lot] amid the portions of Melchize]dek, who will return them there and will proclaim to them liberty, forgiving them [the wrong-doings] of all their iniquities. And this thing will [occur] in the first week of the Jubilee that follows the nine Jubilees. And the Day of Atonement is the e[nd of the] tenth [Ju]bilee, when all the Sons of [Light] and the men of the lot of Mel[chi]zedek will be atoned for. [And] a statute concerns them [to prov]ide them with their rewards. For this is the moment of the Year of Grace for Melchizedek. [And h]e will, by his strength, judge the holy ones of God, executing judgement as it is written concerning him in the Songs of David, who said, ELOHIM has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgement (Psalms lxxxii, 1). And it was concerning him that he said, (Let the assembly of the peoples) return to the height above them; EL (god) will judge the peoples (Psalms vii, 7-8). As for that which he s[aid, How long will you] judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah (Psalms lxxxii, 2), its interpretation concerns Belial and the spirits of his lot [who] rebelled by turning away from the precepts of God to … And Melchizedek will avenge the vengeance of the judgements of God… and he will drag [them from the hand of] Belial and from the hand of all the sp[irits of] his [lot].And all the ‘gods [of Justice’] will come to his aid [to] attend to the de[struction] of Belial. And the height is … all the sons of God… this … This is the day of [Peace/Salvation] concerning which [God] spoke [through Isa]iah the prophet, who said, [How] beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who proclaims peace, who brings good news, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion: Your ELOHIM [reigns] (Isa. lii, 7). Its interpretation; the mountains are the prophets… and the messenger is the Anointed one of the spirit, concerning whom Dan[iel] said, [Until an anointed one, a prince (Dan. ix, 25)] … [And he who brings] good [news], who proclaims [salvation]: it is concerning him that it is written… [To comfort all who mourn, to grant to those who mourn in Zion] (Isa. lxi, 2-3). To comfort [those who mourn: its interpretation], to make them understand all the ages of t[ime] … In truth … will turn away from Belial… by the judgement[s] of God, as it is written concerning him, [who says to Zion]; your ELOHIM reigns. Zion is …, those who uphold the Covenant, who turn from walking [in] the way of the people. And your ELOHIM is [Melchizedek, who will save them from] the hand of Belial. As for that which He said, Then you shall send abroad the trump[et in] all the land (Lev. xxv, 9)

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They understood that Melchizedek – the Messiah – was the prince spoken of by Daniel who would be “cut off” (killed). So Melchizedek/Messiah would have to be human. BUT they also understood that Messiah would be none other than Elohim – GOD Himself. That’s incredible!! These guys had REALLY studied the scriptures closely. They also understood that Messiah would proclaim liberty to the captives, atone for sin, forgive our iniquities, and usher in a period of Grace. They knew – down to the year – when Messiah would appear and do something that would atone for sin. It’s an AMAZING document! Mind. BLOWN!

Here’s a link to the scroll on Wikipedia.

So consider this. There were Essenes in their community down near the Dead Sea all during Jesus’ life and ministry. They HAD to have heard of Him. Jesus was one of the most famous people in the land at the time, besides King Herod and the other top leaders. It’s very likely that some of their people followed Jesus around to check out His teaching and see what was like. They knew Jesus had raised the dead and performed astonishing miracles. They knew Messiah was due to appear any day.

The Essenes already know that Messiah will be both human AND Elohim Himself. They know that He would be the “prince” of Daniel who will be killed. And they know that somehow He is going to atone for sin. They don’t know all the details or HOW He will accomplish this atonement for sins, but they know He will. They had all this figured out and written down a hundred years before Jesus showed up. And every young man who went to “Essene school” learned it. There is even decent reason to speculate that John the Baptist was raised by the Essene’s after the death of his elderly parents. Remember that Zachariah was a priest. That means John could’ve been a priest too. And the Essenes were all descendants of Aaron; they were priests.

🤓 Then why weren’t they at the temple?

Oh… Because the Sadducees and Pharisees had run them out about 200 years earlier. But that’s a whole other story.

There was also an Essene quarter in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus. It’s on the map above. They even had their own gate. The Essene Community had a lot of single men. And because there weren’t many women to do the “woman’s work” of carrying water, it was one of the few communities where you might see a man carrying a pitcher of water. Not even male slaves would be sent for water. Female slaves, yes. But men, no.

So when Jesus sends Peter and John to look for a man carrying a pitcher of water, they know where to start. The Essene Gate.

“And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you; follow him; and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ And he himself will show you a large upstairs room furnished and ready; prepare for us there.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

An Essene man carrying a pitcher of water would be going to an Essene dwelling in the Essene Quarter.

It’s likely that the unnamed owner of this house, knew who Jesus was. It’s even possible that the owner may have thought of Jesus as possibly being the Messiah.

THAT is where Jesus eats the Passover.

We haven’t seen the last of the Essenes. Wait and see where they pop up again.

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WHEN WAS PASSOVER?

I had never caught it before, but in this close reading of the text, I noticed something odd in the narrative of the Passover.

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus instructs Peter and John (sometimes unnamed) to prepare the Passover meal for them. All three Gospels specify that it was on the first day of Unleavened Bread. Mark and Luke are even more specific.

“Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭17‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

“On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

“Now the first day of Unleavened Bread came, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. And so Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

And we know that the disciples observed Passover with Jesus that evening:

“When the hour came, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

John, however, writes as if the meal shared by the disciples on the night Jesus was betrayed was before Passover.

“Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come that He would depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,”
‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NASB2020‬

A few hours later, Jesus is arrested and put on trial during the night. Early the next morning, the chief priests take Jesus to Pilate. But look what John says. The chief priests had not yet eaten the Passover meal.

“Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s residence. Now it was early, and they did not enter into the governor’s residence so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.”
‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭28‬ ‭LEB‬‬

If anyone in Judea was going to eat their Passover meal on the “right” day, wouldn’t it be the chief priests? What’s going on here?

There are theories as to the role of the Essenes in this story – that maybe they celebrated Passover on a different day. I suppose that’s possible but I can’t point to any solid evidence for it.

I did find this helpful article about the way Passover was celebrated in the early first century. The bottom line is, within the 24-hour period for Passover, normal people would eat the meal in their homes early, meaning at sunset when the Jewish day began. And the priests would observe Passover at the Temple in the afternoon near the end of the day.

By the time the priests are eating their Passover lamb and drinking their wine in the afternoon, Jesus will be hanging on the cross.