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The Selfsame Day
Sermonette by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)On the tenth day of the first month, known as Nisan 10, the children of Israel came up out of Jordan and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho, marking a specific time element in their journey. At that time, the Lord instructed Joshua to circumcise the children of Israel again, focusing on those born in the wilderness who had not been circumcised during the forty years of wandering. This act was completed as they prepared for significant observances. Subsequently, on the fourteenth day of the month, they kept the Passover at even in the plains of Jericho, and on the morrow after the Passover, which is the fifteenth, they ate of the old corn of the land, including unleavened cakes and parched corn, on the selfsame day. This observance occurred exactly forty years to the day after leaving Egypt, with the term selfsame indicating an exactly-dated anniversary tied to these pivotal events in their history.
The Wavesheaf and the Selfsame Day
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOn Abib/Nisan 10, as recorded in Joshua 4:19, the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho. This event aligns with a significant timeline of God's faithfulness, paralleling other key moments such as the selection of the Passover lamb in ancient Israel and Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. On this day, in the sequence of Christ's crucifixion, He entered Jerusalem on the back of an ass, symbolizing the choice of the Lamb to be sacrificed. Similarly, the crossing of the Jordan on Abib 10 marks a pivotal moment for Israel as they entered the Promised Land, setting the stage for subsequent events of sanctification and observance as they prepared to inherit the land promised by God.
Christ's Death, Resurrection, and Ascension
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughOn the tenth day of Abib, also known as Nisan, every man was to take a lamb for himself, as instructed in Exodus 12:3. This lamb, chosen on Abib/Nisan 10, was to be without blemish, a male of the first year, and kept until the fourteenth day of the same month, when it would be killed at twilight. This selection of the lamb on the tenth day marked the beginning of the preparation for the Passover, symbolizing the setting apart of an innocent and perfect offering, which would later be fulfilled in the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Nisan 14.
Chronic Difficulties
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughOn Nisan 10, which corresponds to the Sabbath in the chronology of events leading to the Passover, significant moments unfolded in Jesus Christ's ministry. On this day, while in the temple surrounded by His disciples and others, Jesus taught and spoke of His impending death and resurrection, saying that unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it produces much grain. He further expressed the purpose of His hour, asking if He should be saved from it, and instead sought for God to glorify His name. A voice from heaven then declared, affirming that God had glorified it and would glorify it again, marking Jesus as the chosen Lamb of God on Nisan 10, in accordance with the scriptures. This divine selection by God the Father, as the head of the household, fulfilled the pattern set in Exodus 12, where the head of the house selects the lamb on the tenth day of the first month, Abib/Nisan.
Countdown to Pentecost 2001
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughIn the year of Jesus Christ's crucifixion, significant events aligned with specific dates on the Hebrew calendar. On Abib/Nisan 10, a key date, Israel entered the Promised Land as recorded in Joshua 4:19, marking a parallel with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the selection of sacrificial lambs for Passover. This date holds historical and symbolic importance, reflecting the timing of crucial moments in Israel's journey and Christ's life. Regarding the observance of rituals, Joshua 5 provides insight into the events following Israel's entry into the land on Abib/Nisan 10. While the text details the circumcision at Gilgal and the keeping of Passover, it does not mention a wavesheaf offering. The absence of such an offering on or immediately after Abib/Nisan 10 suggests that it was not performed at this time, despite the significant date of entry, indicating that other preparations and observances took precedence as they settled into the land.
Passover (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOn the tenth day of the first month, known as Abib or Nisan, the selection of the lamb or goat for the Passover was to take place. This act marked the initial step in a series of nine essential procedures connected to the observance of Passover. While this selection occurred on the tenth, the subsequent eight steps were to be carried out on the fourteenth day of the month, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the Passover observance beyond a single act or day.
Deuteronomy's Major Themes
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)On Abib/Nisan 10, Israel entered the Promised Land under Joshua's leadership, marking a significant moment of transition and fulfillment of God's promise. This entry, occurring seventy days after the opening of the book of Deuteronomy, set the stage for key events that followed. On the 11th of Nisan, a mass circumcision of the males born in the wilderness began, ensuring they could participate in sacred observances. By the 14th, the newly circumcised men were able to observe their first Passover in the new homeland, followed by the celebration of the first Day of Unleavened Bread on the 15th. These events, culminating in the cessation of manna on the 16th, signaled God's directive that Israel was now to sustain itself from the land's produce, highlighting their new responsibility and independence in the land promised to them.
Christ Our Passover
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOn the tenth day of the first month, known as Abib or Nisan, the Israelites were commanded to select a lamb for each household, as detailed in Exodus 12:3-5. This lamb, without blemish and a male of the first year, was to be taken from the sheep or goats. It was separated on this day and kept until the fourteenth day of the same month, allowing the family to observe it closely during these four days. This period of observation fostered a deeper connection, as the lamb, often a cherished part of the household, was scrutinized to ensure its perfection before being sacrificed. This act of separation and examination on Abib/Nisan 10 underscores the profound significance of the lamb in the Passover, highlighting the intimate and personal nature of the sacrifice that would ultimately point to the sinless Lamb of God.
Matthew (Part Twenty-Seven)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughOn the 10th day of the first month, known as Nisan, Jesus entered Jerusalem, an event occurring just five days before His crucifixion. This significant moment paralleled the instructions given in Exodus 12, where God commanded the Israelites to choose a lamb for sacrifice on Passover on this same day. Unbeknownst to the people, they were symbolically choosing the Lamb of God, proclaiming Him as king with cries of Hosanna, meaning "Save now." Jesus deliberately dramatized the importance of this occasion on Nisan 10, publicly laying claim to His role as King and Messiah, thereby challenging the authorities in Jerusalem.
Matthew (Part Twenty-Six)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughOn the 10th day of the first month, corresponding to Abib/Nisan 10, Jesus made a dramatic entry into Jerusalem, drawing the attention of approximately 2.5 million people who were present for the Passover. This event, occurring six days before His crucifixion, was a deliberate Messianic claim, the first time He openly presented Himself as the Messiah before the entire city. The multitudes acclaimed Him as king, choosing Him as the Lamb of God to be sacrificed, fulfilling the instructions given in Exodus 12 for selecting the lamb on this specific day. The people's cries of Hosanna, meaning "save now," echoed their desire for deliverance, recognizing Him as the son of David. This dramatic act was intended to penetrate the blindness and hardness of the people, serving as a powerful witness so that when He was crucified, those same individuals would know it was the man they had acclaimed on Abib/Nisan 10.