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Messiah in Purim
This was one of many episodes in God’s dealings
with His people. The Jews were saved physically
at this point in their history. The time of their
full salvation and the complete fulfillment of
God’s prophecies given to Abraham was drawing
nigh. It happened five hundred years later with
the coming of adon Yeshua HaMashiach (the Lord
Jesus, the Messiah). He was the greater Mordecai.
Condemned to die for His people, Jesus the Messiah
became the supreme sacrifice of atonement for
the sins of Jew and Gentile alike. In Him were
truly fulfilled the prophecies of old, "…All
the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him"
(Genesis 18:18). Today we see millions of people
in all parts of the earth who have received these
blessings through Abraham’s seed, the Messiah,
flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone (Frydland
1996).
Mordecai and Esther knew for certain that Haman’s
decree was not an accident of history, but a consequence
of failings within the Jewish people. That is
why Mordecai’s response was "[He] clothed
himself in sackcloth and ashes and went out into
the midst of the City." He turned to repentance,
and urged the rest of the Jews to do likewise.
Only then did he send Esther "to come to
the King and entreat him and plead with him for
her people." Esther was also repentant. She
asked Mordecai to "Go and gather all the
Jews . . . and they should fast for me, and neither
eat nor drink for three days and nights."
In addition, Esther included herself: "I
also . . . will fast likewise." Just as the
Jews were rescued, we are redeemed by our Righteous
Messiah. True and complete redemption lies in
our own hands, as we must turn to God in complete
repentance.
Symbolism
1.) The picture of the three-day resurrection
is shown. Esther fasted for three days, and on
the third day she arose to go before the king.
2.) The story of Esther is a depiction of a Christian’s
walk in a new life. Exposing Haman is symbolic
of exposing sin. The new decree triumphs. The
old decree symbolizes Jesus triumphing over the
law of sin and death. Once Haman (sin, flesh)
was put to death, Mordecai (Holy Spirit) is given
unlimited command.
3.) The Jews were again delivered on the seventeenth
of Nisan—Firstfruits—the same day that
deliverance for the Israelites in Egypt began,
and the same day Jesus arose!
The above is just a tiny sampling from the giant
telephone size book, A
Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays. The
book includes graphics, games, puzzles, recipes,
and much more for the seven holidays in Leviticus,
Sabbath, Hanukkah, and Purim
More About Purim
| Purim
in Bible Times | Celebrating
Purim | Jewish
Customs |
| Messiah
in Purim | Purim
Links | Childrens
books |
| Audio
Purim Story | Purim
Recipes |
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