Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our combined written and live Sunday sermon, which is normally broadcast every Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love, sharing the Word of God, the Spirit of Jesus Christ in a way that we believe embraces the ways Jesus taught us to manage. We bring His Word to the many as opposed to the few, in order to continue the legacy created by the ministry of Jesus Christ.
You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin & USAlife & YouTube
Wedding officiant page: Wedfolio
Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list grows or changes every week. This is our current list.
- My sister Emilie has had major health issues since returning to Arizona just a short time ago. Her blood pressure has been ridiculously erratic causing massive migraines and nausea and she wishes for prayers as she prepares to visit the doctor to get these issues straightened out.
- Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog has asked that we pray for her mother’s health. She also asks for prayers for her brother’s attitude and also for Rabbi Karen’s stress levels.
- We continue our prayers for Evangelist Cal Jennings, that his health becomes steadier than it has been for far too long. We pray that his medical needs are fully met, and he has all that he requires for comfort and peace.
- We continue our prayers for JB and EB as they navigate through the maze of medical tests and specialists to get all the answers they need in both of their health issues. They are continually frustrated with the runaround they have been getting with the various referrals.
- We continue with our prayers for my niece Autumn, who has been suffering seizures due to a head injury from a car crash.
- We continue to pray for Alexis Marsh and her need for assistance to change the situation she has been living with for far too long. I have the information if you would like to know a way to help. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-alexis-gain-independence-with-a-car?lid=4uq0fo299s34&utm_source=product&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TXN_donation_alert&utm_content=internal
- We continue to pray for my Mama who has had a lot of anxiety issues lately. This week has something new. My Mama fell and broke her wrist, thankfully not on her dominant side, and also thankfully not to the point of requiring surgery to fix it. Pray the pain doesn’t drive her crazy because she is allergic to nearly all pain medications.
- We continue to pray for all sufferers and survivors of the various types of cancer, including two survivors of the disease, my Aunt Donna and my friend Kelly.
- We pray for those who are in the path of dangerous weather, and other dangerous conditions, including volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, worldwide.
- We pray for the various outreach ministries we have joined with, with their leaders, Pastor Stephen Okoth, Pastor Simon Peter Javaji, Pastor Amir Aneel, Sister Santhi Swaroopa, Pastor Duke Moenga, and others in Kissee, Nairobi, and other places in Kenya, Pakistan, and India.
- We pray also for our American outreach ministries, including Rev. Lisa Tyler on the other side of Georgia from where I am and Rabbi Karen L. Hertzog with her ministry, Way Maker Messianic Jewish and Christian Center – USA as well.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we have so many and so much to pray for this week. We pray for all those we have lost this week, no matter the cause. We pray for all those who have suffered devastating losses, like those who were caught in the tornadoes, the wildfires, the earthquakes, landslides, and erupting volcanoes this past week. We pray for those who are celebrating miracles great and small. We pray for those who have been injured, like my Mama, and those who suffered from any other form of harm. We pray for those who need spiritual support and those who need moral support as well, including Ed and Joy. We pray for those who are in the midst of medical chaos like JB, EB and others on our list. We pray for those sufferers and those lost due to cancer including my Aunt Donna and my friend Kelly along with the many others who You know, Lord. We ask all this through Your Holy Name in the name of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Hearts United ~ Evangelist Cal Jennings Original Song https://suno.com/song/e804be6a-f11c-460a-8229-df08e4ef1576
Sermon: Today, and for the remaining weeks of Lent, we will be discussing the origin of Passover, which is a Jewish tradition since the Exodus from Egypt to Israel. Today we will focus on the Old Testament description of Passover and what is known as the Passover Seder, which is the feast of Passover, the feast of unleavened bread. Now, if you would like to celebrate your own version of the Last Supper, Passover, I’ll include a recipe for unleavened bread and you can pick up a small bottle of sparkling grape juice and make this recipe for yourself. I’ve created this recipe several times and it freezes well, but make sure you freeze the pieces cut and separated by parchment paper or something similar because they tend to stick together otherwise. Our first part of Scripture today comes from the writings of Moses in the scroll of Exodus.
Exodus 12:1-12 KJV –And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.
NIV – The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb[a] for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.
Now, there are all kinds of controversies when it comes to understanding the timeline of the Last Supper, Passover, the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus after three days. People argue about the validity, the continuity, and all kinds of other things in regard to these events and how the four gospels portray them. Each day of Passover in the Judaic tradition has a specific order of events. In the case of the gospels, it is believed that Jesus and the Apostles celebrated the Passover early because Jesus knew His time on earth as a living, breathing, man, was going to end and for this reason spent the time with the rituals associated with Passover.
Matthew 26:17-19 KJV – Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the
disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for
thee to eat the passover?
And
he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto
him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy
house with my disciples.
And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready
the passover.
NIV – On the first day of the Festival of
Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us
to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell
him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the
Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the
disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
Mark 14:12-25 KJV – And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed
the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and
prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
And
he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a
pitcher of water: follow him.
And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye
to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where
I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready
for us.
And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said
unto them: and they made ready the passover.
And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they sat and did eat,
Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which
eateth with me shall betray me. And they began to be sorrowful, and to
say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? And
he answered and said unto them, It is one of the
twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. The Son of man indeed
goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is
betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born. And as
they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them,
and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he
took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all
drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of
the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink
no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the
kingdom of God.
NIV – On
the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to
sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us
to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
So
he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into
the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to
the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room,
where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show
you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us
there.”
The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told
them. So they prepared the Passover.
When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they
were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I
tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”
They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean
me?”
“It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. The
Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who
betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he
broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take
it; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they
all drank from it.
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out
for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink
again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the
kingdom of God.”
Luke 22:7-22 KJV – Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover
must be killed.
And
he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the
passover, that we may eat.
And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?
And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into
the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him
into the house where he entereth in.
And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee,
Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.
And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the
passover.
And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to
eat this passover with you before I suffer:
For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in
the kingdom of God.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take
this, and divide it among yourselves:
For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the
kingdom of God shall come.
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in
remembrance of me.
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is
the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by
whom he is betrayed!
NIV – Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on
which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John,
saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the
Passover.”
“Where
do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.
He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a
jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and
say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room,
where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show
you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”
They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared
the Passover. When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles
reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before
I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it
finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take
this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink
again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave
it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do
this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured
out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is
with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe
to that man who betrays him!”
Now, I didn’t choose to include the gospel of John with this portion due to the fact that he does not focus on the Last Supper as the other three gospels do. He focuses on the arrest, crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Now we will get into the technicalities of the Judaic calendar, which is quite different from the calendar we utilize today. Passover was set to be celebrated on what Jewish people call Nissan 14 which is described here:
Numbers 9:2-3 KJV – Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his
appointed season.
In
the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed
season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies
thereof, shall ye keep it.
NIV – “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at the appointed time. Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with all its rules and regulations.”
Jesus kept this tradition and observed the Passover on Thursday. Catholics and other Christians call this Maundy Thursday in celebration of the Last Supper. This was celebrated the day BEFORE the “day of preparation” on Friday, which is the day Jesus was crucified. This celebration is described here:
Leviticus 23:8 KJV – But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
NIV – For seven days present a food offering to the Lord. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.’”
There are reasons that the Jews wanted the crucifixion done BEFORE the celebration of Passover. This was because they didn’t want to break the fast that was ordered through tradition in the Passover. It meant they could not enter any edifice that was not cleansed, which included the palace where Pontius Pilate resided at the time. This cleansing is noted in the moment where Jesus washed the feet of His Apostles.
Now next week we get to the rest of the story regarding the trial and crucifixion of Jesus in the next sermon. The reading plan presented at the beginning of the season of Lent is still important reading because it gives all the background information we need in this world today, to provide us with strength to prove the case for Jesus and the Resurrection, not just through ancient writing, but through living the life that Jesus wants us to have, a full, eternal, and infinite existence with Him. It is through the life death, and eternal legacy of Jesus Christ that we are here today. Now, let’s show each other how faith and belief in God go hand in hand, and all of us have the opportunity to walk in the faithful steps of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The ability to do this requires us to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you are willing to do so, please leave me a note in the comments and I’ll be in touch. Now, that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
(Matthew 6:9-13)
Closing Song: We’re All One In Christianity ~ Evangelist Cal Jennings
https://suno.com/song/a6742189-6b82-424f-838e-b6d64c818e22
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Evangelist Calvin Jennings
Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition: Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright ©circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press, The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA, USA
Sermon or Study Copyright © 2025 http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Music Copyright © 2025 Cal Jennings
Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries is not to exploit fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is created through fear together as the bringers of the light of Jesus found in the midst of darkness.
