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Getting Ready for Easter The Feast Unleavened BreadAs the sun sets on Thursday, April 2, 2026, we enter a sacred window on God’s calendar: the Feast of Unleavened Bread(Nisan 15–21). Thousands of years ago, the Israelites were thrust out of Egypt in such haste that their bread had no time to rise. They carried with them the "Bread of Affliction"—flat, pierced, and striped matzah (Deuteronomy 16:3). While the Passover is about being saved from the penalty of sin, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is about being saved from the power of sin. This is the season of Sanctification—of being set apart for God’s holy purposes. The Unleavened ManIn Scripture, leaven (yeast) is often a symbol of sin. Just a little bit works its way through the whole lump of dough. God commanded Israel to scour their homes, removing every crumb of leaven before the feast began (Exodus 12:15). This "holy spring cleaning" was a physical shadow of a spiritual reality that would be fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus was the "Unleavened Man." He was the only human to live without the "yeast" of sin. After His sacrifice on the cross as our Passover Lamb, He was placed in the tomb just as the Feast of Unleavened Bread commenced. While the world saw a tragedy, God was "cleaning house." As Psalm 16:10 prophesied, God would not let His Holy One see corruption. Because Jesus was sinless, His body did not decay in the tomb. He took our sin—He who knew no sin—so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Nothing Unites Like SufferingThe Israelites called matzah the "Bread of Affliction." They were a people united by their suffering in Egypt. On Palm Sunday, the crowds shouted "Hosanna!" (Save us!) because they were suffering under the weight of Roman oppression and the "sweat and dust" of the curse (Genesis 3:19). However, Jesus did not come merely to ease our temporary suffering; He came to remove the root cause: sin. We often try to treat the symptoms of our lives—the stress, the brokenness, the anxiety—but Jesus goes to the heart. He entered the Temple, His Father’s house, and drove out the corruption, just as we are called to "cleanse out the old leaven" from our own hearts (1 Corinthians 5:7). Our Response: Is Your House Clean?This week, as we remember Jesus’ burial and His victory over sin, we are invited to a moment of confession. 1 John 1:9promises that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us. Our redemption was bought with an outstretched arm; our sanctification is maintained by walking in newness of life (Romans 6:4). As we prepare for the Resurrection, let us ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden "leaven" in our hearts, knowing that the Bread of Life has already suffered to set us free. Prayer Points
Which area of your heart is the Holy Spirit prompting you to "spring clean" today? |
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SFBA Night of Worship
Worship Night – Sunday, April 19, 2026
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