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SearchChanging of Tradition by Letting Go of Meaningless Rituals
On this visit occurred one of those periodic outbreaks of rebellion against tradition – the
expression of resentment for those ceremonial practices which Jesus deemed misrepresentative
of his Father in heaven. Not knowing Jesus was coming, Lazarus had arranged to celebrate the
Passover with friends in an adjoining village down the Jericho road. Jesus now proposed that
they celebrate the feast where they were, at Lazarus‘s house. ―But,‖ said Lazarus, ―we have no
paschal lamb.‖ And then Jesus entered upon a prolonged and convincing dissertation to the effect
that the Father in heaven was not truly concerned with such childlike and meaningless rituals.
After solemn and fervent prayer they rose, and Jesus said: ―Let the childlike and darkened minds
of my people serve their God as Moses directed; it is better that they do, but let us who have seen
the light of life no longer approach our Father by the darkness of death. Let us be free in the
knowledge of the truth of our Father‘s eternal love.‖
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That evening about twilight these four sat down and partook of the first Passover feast ever
to be celebrated by devout Jews without the paschal lamb. The unleavened bread and the wine
had been made ready for this Passover, and these emblems, which Jesus termed ―the bread of
life‖ and ―the water of life,‖ he served to his companions, and they ate in solemn conformity
with the teachings just imparted.