We heard last time that the King's decree was issued on the 13th day of the first month. In other words, the day before the Passover.
So the conversation between Mordecai and Esther happened either on the 13th or the 14th day of the first month – which would also explain why Esther was horrified to hear that her cousin was in sackcloth and ashes on the Passover!!
So Esther's fast starts on the Passover. All of history is turned on its head. The feast celebrating the great victory of God over Egypt is turned into a fast lamenting the Persian decree against the Jews.
Think about it this way: under what circumstances would a Christian turn Sunday into a fast day?
It is almost inconceivable! How could one fast on the day of resurrection?
This is why Esther is so remarkable! She joins Moses and Jesus as the three people to command a canonical feast. And for us who live in the diaspora – the dispersion among the nations - she shows us what it means to live as elect exiles of the dispersion.
And in our passage tonight, she starts by keeping her eyes on the resurrection – even as she endures the cross...
Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and is the most effective way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands including all mobile platforms + newsletter.
Text-Featuring a sermon is a less expensive way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands on the right bar with optional newsletter inclusion. As low as $30/day.
