Pesach Sheni - Passover Two

What is Pesach Sheni?

A day of second chances

            Pesach Sheni, literally translated out of the Hebrew means Passover Two.  We find the first mention of it in Numbers 9:5-13,  when some of the sons of Israel were unclean due to contact with a dead body.  They approached Moses (Heb. ‘Moshe’) and asked why should they should be restrained from offering the Passover sacrifice of the L-rd ‘at the appointed time among the sons of Israel?’  Moshe took their petition before G-d, who commanded that those who were either unclean due to contact with a dead body, or, were away on a journey during Pesach (Passover) – should observe it ‘on the fourteenth day of the SECOND month according to all the statutes of the Passover.’

            In 2 Chronicles 30:1-5, we see a decree issued by King Hezekiah to Israel and Judah to observe Pesach Sheni.  But amazingly, in 2 Chronicles 30:12-21 we see something much greater taking place – we see the unclean now being consecrated before the L-rd, by the priests THROUGH the petition to G-d by the righteous King Hezekiah (v. 17-19).  With the phrase in verse 20 ‘So the L-RD heard Hezekiah and healed the people’- there was now hope when all seemed lost, cleansing for the unclean…a second chance to be forgiven.

          Today, May 18 is Pesach Sheni - a time of second chances.  Of all the feasts, festivals and appointed times on the calendar that G-d Himself instituted, only ONE has a second chance.  Why is this?  Because the Most High G-d of Heaven is VERY serious about redemption and freedom from bondage - be it from Egypt, or from sin.  Perhaps the reason G-d is SO emphatic about us remembering our freedom is because of the price that it took to GAIN that freedom; from Egypt it took the death of the firstborn, and from sin it took the death of Messiah Yeshua.

          Pesach Sheni is only regarded as a 'minor festival' on most modern Hebrew calendars, in no small part because we lack the personal accountability to say during Passover itself  - WE ARE UNCLEAN and cannot make our offerings before the L-rd as He has required.  The men who went in to Moshe (Moses) in Numbers 9:5-13 were honest with themselves AND with G-d about being unclean, because they did not wish to bring dishonor to G-d OR to themselves.

          This year at Pesach Sheni we not only have a second chance to 'get it right'....but a second chance to be forgiven, to set our hearts in order so that we have an earnest desire TO correct our behavior and set our feet back on the SOLID ground of the commandments of G-d.

          In Messiah Yeshua....