Pascha Nostrum: Christ Our Passover

An ancient Christian hymn contains timeless truths from scripture that surprisingly address some of the biggest and most present issues of our day.

A sermon on the Pascha Nostrum, “Christ Our Passover,” an ancient hymn in the English tradition. The hymn is comprised of words taken directly from 1 Cor. 5:7-8; Rom. 6:9-11; and 1 Cor. 15:20-22.

*CORRECTION* In the sermon Pastor Tim refers to a pro-life demonstration that was to occur on campus this past weekend. The event was called “Relay for Life,” but was not a pro-life event, but an event to raise money for cancer research. Pastor Tim regrets the error.

Links:
Cornell Student Protests – The Ithaca Voice
Student protests around the country – NY Times

Pascha Nostrum
Alleluia.
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; *
therefore let us keep the feast,
Not with old leaven,
neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, *
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.

Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; *
death hath no more dominion over him.
For in that he died, he died unto sin once; *
but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, *
but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.

Christ is risen from the dead, *
and become the first fruits of them that slept.
For since by man came death, *
by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, *
even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.

Scripture Texts: 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Romans 6:9-11
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:20-22
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

“Pascha Nostrum: Christ Our Passover” a sermon preached by Rev. Dr. Timothy R. LeCroy on Sunday, April 28, 2024 at New Life Presbyterian Church, 950 Danby Rd., Ithaca, NY. Join us for worship every Sunday at 10:00AM. Visit us at our website at www.newlifeithaca.org.

The intro and outro music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. Please visit her website at www.sandramccracken.com.