EVANGELIZE THE CROSS / CRUCIFIXION, tokens of Christ our Lamb / Sacrifice

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Together with the Passover feast “for ever” for all generations, we are told to wear tokens that declare God’s miraculous deliverance for His Nationalist people(Christian true Israel). Christ also told us together with the communion Sacrament to remember His coming again (for judgement, in final fulfillment of the Passover judgement on the whole world). In Exodus 13 it says the Passover feast(and unleavened bread) should be marked on our hands and heads. I believe the Cross is the best symbol to declare His mighty Nationalist deliverance as our Lamb and soon to be Lion. His victory comes through the great accomplished legal sacrifice for us (His body and bride), finished by His great power carried out and won for us on the Cross.

Exodus 13:9 “9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.”

This is repeated in Exodus 13:16 “16 And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.”

Some would argue as the word for “frontlets between thine eyes”(zikārôn ayin) is a phrase only used in the greatest commandment which Christ quoted when He was asked what is the greatest commandment. In answering that question He started with the Hebrew prayer / law commandment “Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is one YAHWEH…”(Mar 21:29, Deu 6:4) and down in this liturgical text that Hebrews recite daily are the words about the teachings being as a sign upon your hand, frontlets between your eyes.. etc”

THE CROSS. That sign we were sealed is the Tau or T Cross symbol, which was used at all Hebrew Baptisms, marked on their foreheads (between their eyes).

In the book of Ezekiel the Cross marked on the forehead has to do with the great end times final Passover fulfillment, when the Elect are sealed from Judgement: “And YAHWEH said unto him(the cherub at the altar), Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark (tav) upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” (Ezekiel 9:4). This was a sign that the death angel would “pass over” you on the great judgement day, where we get the word Passover. There is an impending great Passover to be fulfilled when all the wicked are destroyed at Christ’s second coming.

Christ said we are to keep the tokens of His Sacrifice and the Eucharist (as done the night before the preparation day of the Passover day, two days before the feast of Unleavened bread, preparation as part of the daily thanksgiving bread and wine offered by the laity daily), and do it as a memorial till He comes. It’s important to remember the part about “till I come again” as connected to the bread and wine, as He will come in judgement to fulfill the Passover promises of destroying the wicked. When He gave the ordinance to continue to celebrate the same (as the daily remembrance thanksgiving bread was done with wine and sacrifice, fruit of the lips of praise at the Temple, and shared with friends at the Temple and brought house to house) He included the words of His return, and that He would do the communion offerings together with us on His return. This was at least celebrated on the great feasts (7 high holy days and weekly Sabbath) as the highest Sacrament on the altar, and under contexts of the normal thanksgiving “Agape meals” that those around the Temple would share in the abundance of thanksgiving bread offered on the altar at Jerusalem and the altars abroad.

So part of “the greatest commandment” was to mark His teachings as frontlets of our eyes, as a sign upon our arm, signs on our houses and gates etc. It’s not only at baptisms and consecrations that the anointing signing of the Cross is placed upon the communicants.  Also quite regularly the remembrance of this sign of the cross is impressed as a teaching to the mind and as frontlets of the eyes, looking to Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for salvation during the celebration of Communion. The Cross is such a central token as we read about marking ourselves for Passover. The main point of the markings as it says in several passages of Exodus 13 is reminding of God’s mighty National deliverance for His people, the death and destruction of the enemies of God, etc. While non-believers don’t believe the Cross brings that idea of the return of Christ and His judgement of the wicked, we cannot separate that part of the ordinance. As part of preparing and celebrating the communion / preparation for the feast of Passover / Unleavened (which is a time that includes a second great Passover of miraculous deliverance for His people) we are to wear signs and teachings of His great Salvation for His National people.

Doing this meal “in remembrance of Him” was a part of the pre-Passover meals celebrated just before the feast when those gathering shared a meal of the thanksgiving(Eucharist) bread offered earlier the same day at the Temple. Such offerings were very special to YAHWEH and were returned to the pepole afer being offered on the altar. These always included wine / drink offering and the fruit of the lips of thanksgiving.  At His “coming again” and return He would complete the fulfillment of the final Passover when all of the wicked who reject Him and war against Him are destroyed.

As Passover was a family meal, it’s not for total strangers to share in the teachings. However, there are also several verses about evangelizing the Cross to wider groups. We know there are several more passages that may indicate using the Cross as a token of evangelism to His lost bride Israel in dispersion, and as a sign at among our own people as our seal of deliverance.

John 3:14-16 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

There’s nothing more important for us believers than memorializing Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. Paul said that the wisdom of words will never bring across the full meaning. For the preaching and evangelization of the cross:

1Co 1:17-31 “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach(evangelize) the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

 

More verses on the cross/crucifixion:

Col 1:20 “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

Gal 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

1Co 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

Mat 10:38 “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”

Phl 3:18 “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:”

Mat 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Mar 8:34 “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Luk 9:23 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

 

The crucifixion shakes people up. For some people they will ask or inquire why we wear the cross. That’s the perfect opportunity to share with them the chance He gave to save Creation through His shed blood in our place. It scares away demons because it’s the legal right for our deliverance of mankind/Adamkind / the world! And for all Creation to have right to redemption through His restored Kingdom governance on earth. Even animals know that the cross is a big and important thing.

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