Discussing 2 Relics: Baitzah & Zeroa (two Mashiachs)
- M.Rav Michael Humphrey, Esq.

- Apr 4, 2020
- 8 min read
Pesach and the Feast of Unleavened Bread: A Deeper Spiritual Understanding
Pesach, or Passover, is celebrated during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Hag haMatzot), a
weeklong festival that holds profound spiritual lessons for Messianic Jews. Rooted in the
historical exodus from Egypt, these observances are more than mere remembrances of
ancient events. For Messianic believers, the elements of the seder, especially the Baitzah
(egg) and the Zeroa (lamb shank bone), carry deep symbolic meaning. They not only speak
of God’s past deliverance but also point to His promises for the future, all fulfilled in the
Messiah, Yeshua.
At the heart of the Pesach celebration is the act of remembering—looking back on the
miraculous deliverance God granted the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. But for those
who see Yeshua as the fulfillment of the Passover lamb, this remembrance takes on even
greater significance, foreshadowing not only the deliverance from physical slavery but from
the spiritual bondage of sin. The Baitzah and the Zeroa serve as powerful symbols of this
dual understanding of redemption.
The Baitzah (Egg) – A Symbol of Future Blessings
On the seder plate, the Baitzah, or egg, stands as a subtle yet profound symbol. It may
seem like a simple element, but its meaning is deeply rooted in Scripture and tradition.
Deuteronomy 16:16 reminds us that Israel was commanded to present festival oWerings
during the key feasts: Unleavened Bread, Weeks, and Tabernacles. The egg on the plate, in
this context, represents the festival oWering brought to the Temple during the Feast of
Unleavened Bread.
But the Baitzah is not just about ritual; it carries within it the potential for new life, making it
a powerful reminder of God's future blessings. Like an egg that has yet to hatch, it is a
symbol of what is to come. It reminds us that God’s promises are not confined to the past
but extend into the future. For Messianic Jews, the egg becomes a symbol of hope, pointing
to the second coming of the Messiah, Yeshua, when all promises will be fully realized. Just
as the egg contains the potential for life, so too does Yeshua hold the promise of life
everlasting, a life that will come into fullness when He returns.
The Zeroa (Lamb Shank Bone) – A Symbol of Atonement
At the center of the Pesach meal is the Zeroa, the lamb shank bone. For Rabbinic Jews, it
represents the lambs that were sacrificed in the Temple during Passover. However, for
Messianic Jews, it carries an even more profound meaning—it signifies Yeshua, the Lamb
of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
John the Baptist's declaration, "Behold, the Lamb of God," is not a casual statement. It is an
intentional link to the sacrificial lambs of the Passover, whose blood was shed so that
death would pass over the Israelites. In the same way, Yeshua’s sacrificial death oWers
eternal atonement for all who believe in Him. As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8,
Yeshua, our Passover Lamb, was sacrificed, and through His death, we are called to rid
ourselves of the "old leaven" of malice and wickedness, living instead in sincerity and truth.
The Zeroa is a tangible reminder of this connection between the original Passover lamb and
Yeshua’s sacrifice. Just as the blood of the lamb saved the Israelites from death in Egypt,
Yeshua’s blood saves believers from eternal death. His sacrifice is the fulfillment of what
the Passover lamb pointed towards, providing a perfect and lasting atonement for sin.
Exodus 12 – The First Pesach and God's Deliverance
The origins of Pesach are found in Exodus 12:1-31, where God gives detailed instructions
for the first Passover. The Israelites were to take a lamb, sacrifice it, and mark their
doorposts with its blood. That night, as the Lord passed through Egypt to strike down the
firstborn, He would pass over the homes marked with blood, sparing the lives within.
This act of passing over is a powerful symbol of God's mercy and deliverance. The blood of
the lamb became a sign of life and protection. In the same way, Yeshua’s blood, shed on
the cross, spares believers from eternal death. As Exodus 12:14 declares, this day of
deliverance was to be a lasting memorial for future generations, much like how Yeshua’s
sacrifice has ongoing significance for those who follow Him today.
The Symbolism of Blood – Atonement and Deliverance
The symbolism of blood in the Pesach celebration cannot be overstated. The roasted lamb
on the seder plate points back to the sacrificial system described in Leviticus 17:11: "For
the life of the flesh is in the blood...it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul."
Blood, in the biblical tradition, has always been the means by which atonement is made.
Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin.
For Messianic Jews, this understanding of blood atonement is brought to its fullest
meaning in Yeshua’s death. John 19:31-35 recounts Yeshua’s crucifixion, noting how His
bones were not broken, fulfilling the requirement for the Passover lamb in Exodus 12:6.
Yeshua, like the lambs of the original Passover, was sacrificed, and His blood provides
eternal deliverance.
The Perfection of Yeshua’s Sacrifice
In the book of Hebrews, we find the culmination of this understanding. Hebrews 9:22-28
explains that while the old covenant required the continual oWering of sacrifices, Yeshua's
sacrifice was a "once for all" act. His blood does not merely cleanse earthly things; it
purifies the heavenly reality as well, oWering eternal redemption to all who believe. His
sacrifice is the perfection of what the Passover lamb symbolized—the ultimate and final
atonement for sin.
Messiah and Pesach
Pesach not only looks back to the first Passover and the deliverance from Egypt; it also
points forward to Yeshua’s first coming as the Lamb of God and hints at His second
coming. Zechariah 9:9 prophesies the Messiah's return:
"Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation."
This future salvation is what Messianic Jews look forward to during Pesach, as they reflect on the promises yet to be fulfilled.
Key Insights for Understanding
The Baitzah symbolizes the future blessings that God has in store for His people, pointing to
Messiah’s return and the completion of His promises. The Zeroa connects the historical
Pesach lamb to Yeshua, emphasizing the enduring significance of blood for atonement.
Just as the blood on the doorposts in Egypt protected the Israelites from death, Yeshua’s
blood protects believers from spiritual death.
Pesach is more than a memorial; it is a living tradition that links the past with the future. It
reminds us of God’s deliverance from Egypt, but also of His redemptive plan in Yeshua. The
Passover lamb, the unleavened bread, and the shank bone all serve as powerful, tangible
reminders of God's deliverance, both in the Exodus and in the sacrifice of Yeshua.
Through these symbols and scriptures, Messianic Jews are reminded of their rich heritage
and the deeper spiritual truths that connect the story of Exodus to the life, death, and
resurrection of the Messiah, Yeshua.
Your exploration of the Zeroa (the shankbone) as a symbol of sacrifice and resurrection is
rich with biblical connections, particularly tying the Passover Lamb to Yeshua (Jesus) as the
Lamb of God. This connection emphasizes the significance of blood—both in the Passover
story and in the sacrifice of Yeshua—as a means of redemption, moving believers from
death to life, just as the Israelites were delivered from death in Egypt.
By connecting these concepts with verses from Hebrews, Romans, Colossians, and other
books of the New Testament, you illustrate the theological progression from the old
covenant, rooted in the Law and physical sacrifices, to the new covenant, where Yeshua's
death and resurrection fulfill these types and shadows. The passage from Romans 5
highlights how through Adam, sin and death entered the world, but through Christ, grace
and eternal life are made available to all. Similarly, the Zeroa reminds Messianic believers
of Yeshua’s victory over sin and death, leading to resurrection and eternal life.
The passage from Ezekiel 37 adds another layer of understanding, showing how the dry
bones of Israel—symbolizing the spiritual death and exile of the people—are brought back
3to life through the Spirit of God. This foreshadows the resurrection at the end of time when
those who are in Christ will be raised incorruptible, as seen in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1
Thessalonians 4.
The symbolism of bones, particularly in light of Ezekiel’s prophecy, speaks to the end-time
significance of resurrection. Bones are what remain when the flesh has decayed, but they
also represent the hope of future restoration, as the breath of God revives them. This
imagery powerfully ties into the resurrection promise through Yeshua, that even when the
body decays, God’s power will bring life again, echoing the promise of the first resurrection
in Revelation 20.
Ultimately, your analysis portrays the Zeroa not only as a symbol of past deliverance but
also as a reminder of the future resurrection and eternal life in Yeshua. This connection to
the resurrection of the saints, both at Yeshua’s resurrection (Matthew 27) and in the coming
resurrection (1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4), strengthens the believers' hope in the
promise of eternal life. Amen! This powerful connection between the Zeroa (the shankbone) and the Lamb of God, Yeshua (Jesus), brings to life the profound symbolism embedded in the story of
redemption, resurrection, and the promise of eternal life. By weaving in passages from both
the Old and New Testaments, you’ve shown how the resurrection hope is deeply rooted in
Scripture—from Job’s declaration of a living Redeemer to the prophecy of dry bones in
Ezekiel, to the final victory over death and sin in Revelation.
Job’s words in Job 19:25-26, in what is considered one of the oldest books of the Bible,
powerfully prefigure the resurrection. His confident declaration, "I know that my redeemer
liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth," echoes the hope that
believers in Yeshua hold today. Despite the physical decay of the body, Job knew that in his
flesh, he would see God—a clear anticipation of the bodily resurrection, which aligns with
New Testament promises.
In 2 Kings 2 and 2 Kings 13, the stories of Elijah and Elisha underscore the theme of the
spirit and anointing passed on, even to the bones. Elisha’s bones still carried the power to
bring life, reminding us of the eternal power of God’s Spirit and the anointing that remains
even beyond death. Jeremiah 20:9’s reference to the Word being like a fire shut up in the
bones reinforces the indwelling power of the Spirit (Ruach haKodesh) in believers,
sustaining and empowering them.
Yeshua’s promise in John 14 of the Comforter—the Holy Spirit—dwelling within us brings
this entire discussion into a personal and present reality for those who believe. The Spirit is
not only a future hope but a present reality, guiding, comforting, and empowering us as we
await the return of the Lamb who was slain, as depicted in Revelation 5. The Zeroa as the reminder of Yeshua’s sacrificial death and the Baitzah (the egg) as a symbol of His conquering kingship and coming return—is a perfect encapsulation of the dual nature of Yeshua’s work: as the SuWering Servant and the Coming King.
The imagery of the Lamb in Revelation 5 and 7 further reinforces this message. He is the
Lamb who was slain, whose blood redeems people from every nation, tribe, and tongue,
and yet He is also the One who opens the seals and brings about the final judgment and
resurrection of all things. The multitude clothed in white robes (Revelation 7) points to the
victory and eternal life promised to those who follow the Lamb.
This understanding, combined with the indwelling of the Ruach haKodesh, provides
believers with the assurance of both salvation and the coming resurrection, allowing them
to stand firm in their faith. Yeshua is indeed the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of
the world, and He is the King who will return to reign in glory. Amen!




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