A MASON’S¹ PERSPECTIVE ON THE PASSOVER

When God evolved man from the apes, He gave us two things: a very large and powerful brain and the sense of a Supreme Being. The brain given was more than necessary for just hunting and foraging.   God knew the capacity of that brain – the ability to go into space, split the atom, interpret the human genome, and destroy life on earth.

I also perceive that He wanted a form of life that would acknowledge Him and understand the architecture of His universe, and that such a powerful intellect as ours must have a guidebook to live by in order to acknowledge Him and to avoid self-destruction.

It appears He had a plan for doing so.   At a certain point in the development of civilizations which He considered appropriate, He selected Abraham who was in Mesopotamia (what is now Iraq) to set forth to the Promised Land and become the father of two great semitic peoples: the Israelites - thru Isaac - and the Arabs - thru Ishmael. Isaac begat Jacob (whom God called “Israel”) from whom descended the 12 tribes². The Israelites (also known as Hebrews, for the language they spoke) were eventually welcomed in Egypt but later, as their numbers grew greatly, were enslaved. God sent a deliverer, Moses, to liberate them after imposing plagues upon the Egyptians, demonstrating not only God’s existence but also his awesome power. The culmination of this deliverance is celebrated as the Passover.

Fifty days (hence the Pentacost) after leaving Egypt God presented to the Israelites, who were united and hardened by slavery and awed by God’s deliverance, the Ten Commandments.   These commandments first state the existence of the True God (in Masonry the Supreme Architect of the Universe) and the fundamental rules for living: the first four are for between man and God, the fifth honoring parents, and the last 5 are for between man and man. Through the forty years wandering in the desert (a punishment for their sin of doubting God’s word) God – via Moses – gave many more laws and ordinances, comprising the Five Books of Moses (Torah or Pentateuch). “Shalom” (peace) is found throughout in the Torah. And after the Israelites settled in the Promised Land came Judges, Prophets and Kings, the construction of King Solomon’s Temple, captivity by the Assyrians (the loss of 10 tribes), Babylonians and Persians, the return to the promised land, constriction of the Promised Land to Judea (hence the name “Jew”) & Samaria, occupation by and liberation from the Greeks³, and occupation by Rome. During that time religion based on God and His laws was limited to Jews⁴   The writings of this entire period comprise the Old Testament. I refer to that as Phase One.

Then arose from Nazareth in Judea the man Yeshua (Jesus), who challenged the Jewish establishment on the intent of the Faith, and accentuated in Judaism the concept of love and peace.   At age 33, at the Passover supper,⁵ which according to Jewish Law must be observed in Jerusalem, commenced Jesus’ earthly demise.   After Jesus’ earthly passing his disciples spread monotheism, as the Christian religion (including the Old Testament), throughout the Roman Empire.   From there it spread to North Asia and Europe from whence it came to the New World. Thus, commencing at the Passover – the Last Supper- began Phase Two.

About 600 years after the Last Supper came Islam, a monotheistic religion whose name is peace, with strong foundations in the Old and New Testaments. Phase Three.

So Phase One was initiated by the original Passover. Phase Two commenced with the Passover as the Last Supper. Phase Three has no correlation to the Passover, but was built upon the monotheism of Phases I and II.

And now it remains to be seen if we do follow God’s laws and survive. The outlook is not good (re: Phase III).

If this perception of the Passover is essentially valid, then the following may be concluded:

• God set mankind apart from other species
• He gave us direction for survival, but left us to choose.
• Our religions stress peace, but we often do not practice it

NOTE: During the Christian Holy Week, Clear Lake Lodge 1417 of the Grand Lodge of Texas, celebrates “Passover in King Solomon’s Temple” with a meal of matzo ball soup, matzos, haroseth (a sweet relish), horse radish, gefilte fish, a full meal and mock wine.  It has been enjoyed and encouraged.

1. 1. A Jewish Mason
   2. Israel became 13 tribes after Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh were elevated to patriarchs of their respective tribes. Thus 12 tribes came into Egypt and 13 tribes left.
   3. The defeat of the Greeks by the Maccabees in a revolt against the imposition of Greek religion, the eradication of Judaism and consequent defilement of King Solomon’s Temple. The holiday Hanukah celebrates the cleansing and rededication of KST, qualifying this holiday for great significance in Masonry. Had this revolt not occur, it is very possible that Judaism, from which sprang Phases II and III would not have survived. I consider that revolt a “link in the chain.”
   4. So called because they were the remaining tribe of Judah, also including the priestly tribe of Levi (including the Priests) and part of the tribe of Benjamin.
   5. The Passover supper developed into what is now the Judaism’s Seder. It is prescribed as a recognition and celebration of the liberation from Egypt, and required relating the experience to the children, the Passover (Paschal) lamb, and eating of unleavened bread and bitter herbs (commonly horseradish). Wine needn’t have been prescribed as it was always consumed at feasts.