Prayer Fuel
PASSOVER
The class of six-year-old children my wife teaches proudly tell her they are all fasting. However, when break time comes nearly all of them take out their lunch boxes and tuck in!
Ramadan is a communal event. ‘’We fast’’ even though individuals may not be for a variety of reasons such as being young, sick, travelling, childbearing etc.
The Ramadan season is generally a festive holiday with banners, lights, and people in the streets. People start work late, finish work early, rest and then celebrate in the evenings.
People often love to talk about their fasting and their faith. A few may be interested in listening to another story from Jews and Christians, especially in the evenings after breaking the fast together.
Jews used to visit the Sinai for their holidays and generally have a good reputation for respecting the Bedouin, their way of life, and their environment and helping with the economy. They were last here in October 2023 during their Sukkot, Shemini Atzeet and Simchat Torah holidays but went swiftly home after the Hamas attacks.
| Passover | Easter | Ramadan | |
| Celebration | A celebration meal to remember the Lord smiting all the firstborn in Egypt and passing over all who had smeared the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. | Celebrating Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and the Devil for the whole world, particularly those who believe. | Commemorating Mohammed’s first revelation, reciting the Quran and breaking the fast together after sunset. |
| Hope | Liberation from slavery. | Dead to sin and resurrected into new and eternal life in Christ. | Seek God for mercy, forgiveness, self-improvement, and success in life. |
| Renewal | The birth of a nation and the Start of the Jewish calendar. | Rebirth of all who trust and receive Christ. | Renewal of faith and commitment to Islam. |
| Compassion | Call to remembrance their ancestors who were slaves in Egypt to be compassionate towards those who are oppressed, widows, orphans, aliens, and people in hard times. | Call to remember the selfless sacrificial love of Christ suffering and dying on the cross to pay for the transgressions of the world. Christ rising as the firstborn of a new redeemed creation. | Fasting brings a sense of solidarity with the hungry and poor. 2.5% of wealth to be given to charity as Zakat tax. |
| Saviour | YAHWEH – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who made an eternal covenant to bless them, give them their land and make them a blessing to all nations. | Jesus Christ who came to seek and save the lost and give his life as a ransom for many in the Name of the LORD. | Allah’s mercy on those who diligently fast, pray, confess the creed, give, and go on pilgrimage. |
| Fasting | For 8 days (7 in Israel), Jews avoid eating food made with leavened grain such as oatmeal, pasta, beer, and most liquors. | The Egyptian Copts fast for 55 days. After a week of preparation, the 40 days Jesus fasted, then a strict Vegan fast for Passion Week. | Abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations from dawn to dusk for 30 days of the lunar cycle. Can fast can fast other days. |
Reflection
How do you prepare yourself for Holy Week and Easter?
How could you share goodwill and fellowship with a Muslim neighbour this fasting season?
Prayer
Thanksgiving for the enduring hope we have from the Passover and Easter stories.
Thanksgiving for the faithful saints who have handed these stories down to us.
Prayer for our children to faithfully pass on the batten to their children and their children’s children.
Pray for calm and goodwill in Gaza, Israel, and the media.
Pray for peacemakers everywhere to cross boundaries of division and hatred to build bridges of peace among others.
Prayer for the Gospel to reach the furthest places on earth and to shine in the darkest places within human hearts.
