Rosh Chodesh Nisan, Nisan 1, of the Hebraic calendar, begins on the Gregorian calendar sometimes between March and April. It marks the beginning of The Hebrew Month of Nisan. Nisan is the first month of the religious calendar and the sixth month of the civil calendar.
Historically, this is the day God spoke to Moses and Aaron in Exodus 12:1-2. God said “This is the first month, the first month of your year.” Then He instructed them to prepare for the Passover.
The name “Nisan” is a Babylonian name. The Hebrew name for Nisan is Abib. You will see these two names used interchangably throughout the scriptures. Nisan became more common after the exile and the Babylonian captivity happened. The word “Nisan” means “miracles of miracles” or “double-miracles.” Coming out of Egypt, the Israelites were redeamed for the first time. When Yeshua died on the cross for us, mankind was redeamed for the second time. One time was physical for a nation. The next was spiritual for the whole earth.
REMEMBER THE PASSOVER
The people were on their way to becoming a new nation in a new land with a newly found freedom. Can you sense that Nisan is the month for new beginnnings? The first thing they needed to do was to honor God for bringing them out of slavery. Rosh Chodesh Nisan and Passover celebrate a new year of redemption.
At this next Passover, (the second one) on their way to their new land, they would begin their life of freedom. It is the same for all born-again Christians today. This is the time to celebrate our redemption and freedom. It has been provided freely from Yeshua. He loved us enough to die for us in order to pay the price for us. Our offerings today are thanksgiving offerings. These offering happen in the first or the beginning of the sacred year. Before we acknowledge anything about our lives, we must first acknowledge and honor the God who created us.
It was time for the Israelites to bring offerings of the first and the best to God to thank Him for His blessings. This is also the time for us to do the same.
The people were to always remember how God brought them out from Egypt. It was with a mighty hand. He parted the sea and allowed them to walk over on dry land. God fed them manna in the wilderness. He gave them water from a rock. They wanted for nothing in all of the 40 years of their journey. At Passover they stopped to remember and celebrate these stories. So should we.
CELEBRATING CREATION
Also, in Nisan we think about the beginning of the world. Rosh Chodesh Nisan reminds us to celebrate the miracle of creation. In the month of Tishrie we celebrate the birthday of mankind, but first came the creation where God put mankind to live. That is what we think of in Nisan. The ancients say when God first formed the world there was a connection between the heavens and earth. There was no sin to prevent God from moving among His creation and dwelling with mankind. We know that changed, but it is our hope that the work of Yeshua was the beginning of restoring this breach. So in Nisan we think of how this connection of God and Creation can exist and thrive because of our redemption by Messiah.
Another calendar note is that Nisan is known as the new year for Kings. Yeshua is coming again. He will reign with His Bride (God’s Church) forever. Will it happen on this time which we have always known as the new year for Kings and festivals? Only God knows.
If you are studying the various kings who reigned over Isreal in the Old Testament, you will know that the reign of each of these kings became official in the month of Nisan.
A TIME TO PREPARE
In our preparations for Passover, we don’t just need to prepare for the physical things. The spiritual preparations are even more important. These preparations should be daily and detailed.
How are you looking at and enjoying your gift of freedom? Does your freedom honor God?
Is anything holding you back from reaching the heights of freedom under God?
All of these things are important to consider as we approach the Passover celebration. We are reminded of these things on Rosh Chodesh Nisan.
UNLEAVENED BREAD AND RESURRECTION
As we think of the Exodus, we see and feel God’s direction of history. We realize nothing ever just “happens” without His guidance.
In this new month we allow God’s Holy Spirit to lead us and teach us. We prepare to observe The Days of Unleavened Bread. With joy we anticipate the celebration of The First Fruits of the Barley and Resurrection to new life. Our hearts are filled with excitement and great expectations.
Rosh Chodesh Nisan is the new moon. Nisan is the new moon for this month. This rhythm of God’s sky brings us into the month of Resurrection and new birth.
Under the new moon, we celebrate that Our God is with us. He has delivered and redeemed us. Our Messiah has saved us. With this new moon comes the hope of the resurrection to new life.
OTHER HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF NISAN
NEW LIFE
Nisan always ushers in the season of spring. It brings newness to the earth. The seeds that were planted in the winter months begin to make their way up into the ground. We see the bright colorful new flowers. The blossoms form on the fruit trees. All of the new foilage allows us to enjoy lovely new landscapes. The views from our windows are much more cheerful. We can also feel a growing spiritual significance. The spiritual seeds God planted in our lives back in the winter seasons of Hanukkah and Purim are beginning to sprout and grow.
Nisan is one of only two months God calls by a name instead of a number. He calls it “Chodesh HaAviv, the Month of Spring.” God’s announcement of this month ensures that Nisan remains in the time of the season of spring. This forms the backbone of the entire intricate Jewish calendar, including the leap year. So, on the calendar as spring blossoms forth, we are also blossoming spiritually. What God is producing within our hearts during Nisan brings more beauty and lovliness into the world. Each first-month rings of hope and healing from old wounds. With such newness and healing we can grow and flourish.
A TIME FOR OUR ACTIONS TO REFLECT OUR WORDS
There is the thought that a person following God will typically aspire to accomplish more today than yesterday. Passover gives us the strength and courage to jump into the more final transition of who we are as opposed to who we were. God is constantly renewing our spirits and our hearts. The concept of “becoming” is very active in the new month called Nisan.
Nisan stands out as the month with the most direct and pure expression of Divine energy. The permutation of the Name of G-d (Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh) during Nisan is in its exact order. Unlike the other months, which have scrambled forms of The Name representing concealment. Nisan represents direct revelation.
THE TIME OF THE PASSOVER
This month includes the time of the Passover. On Nisan 10 a lamb was chosen for each family. It was brought home to live with the family until Passover. On Nisan 14, the Passover Lamb was slaughtered and roasted over an open fire. The blood of the lamb was placed over the doorposts of the faithful. The blood of the lamb meant salvation and redemption.
TIME OF COMING OUT OF EGYPT (THE EXODUS)
Like the people of Israel, we too are being brought out of slavery. Our slavery is to sin. It is time for an exodus! This was the historic time of the Exodus from Egypt for the Israelites. The Exodus began as the Passover ended. We will always remember the story. Their story is our story too.
THE MONTH FOR COUNTING THE OMER
The counting of the Omer begins at Passover. 49 days (7 days of 7 weeks – 7/7’s) are counted. This is an exercise of faith, drawing God’s people closer to His ways. This observance is reminding those who participate that the 50th Day of the count will bring The Day of Pentecost. During Unleavened Bread, after Passover, the first ephod of the barley harvest is brought as an offering unto the Lord. This is a Thanksgiving offering. After the time of this offering the people may enjoy the blessings of their harvest. This was customary among God’s people. It was observed after each harvest, even long before Messiah came. His death on the cross at Passover gave meaning to the years of blind obedience to God’s instructions.
INAUGURATION OF THE WILDERNESS TABERNACLE
We know that the wilderness tabernacle first began to be inaugurated on the date of Nisan 1. On each of the first 12 days of Nisan, the Princes of the 12 Tribes of Israel brought offerings to the Tabernacle. The gifts from each tribe are significant.
Nisan 1 is also known as the first day the Aaronic priesthood was put into effect. This was the first day a fire descended from heaven onto the altar. It was the first day of the Temple sacrifices. Nisan was the first month in which sacred food was eaten inside the Tabernacle. Most important of all the first is that Nisan 1 was the first day that God dwelt among the people. It was the first time the priests gave out the priestly blessing. Nisan is definitely a month of new beginnings.
THE MONTH OF UNLEAVENED BREAD
The month in which God gave instructions for observing the 7 days of Unleavened Bread, which commence on the 7 days following Passover, happens in Nisan.
Nisan is the time of spring cleaning and spring fever. These two concepts represent the very real manner in which this energy of Nisan affects us. We are ready for new directions and new insight, ready to break free from the restraints of the past and embrace the future with new optimism and enthusiasm.
THE MONTH YESHUA DIED THEN RESURRECTED
The seventh reason is the most significant date of all. Nisan was the month when Jesus died on a cross in order to bear the price of the sins of mankind. He was buried and then resurrected from the grave during Nisan.
This is the month we celebrate His redemption of our sins. We remember and celebrate His rising from the grave to New Life. Celebrations are held concerning His giving of the gift of the hope of eternal life after resurrection. On Early Firstfruits of The Barley we rejoice in His Resurrection. It happened three days after Passover. That is when we celebrate it while we are still observing Unleavened Bread, which is symbolic of Yeshua’s life. Each of the ancient events mentioned previously are shadows and types of this one climatic event.
THE FEATURED TRIBE OF NISAN
Judah is the featured tribe for the month of Nisan. Judah is known as the King of all the tribes. Of the sons of Israel/Jacob, Judah was the brother they all looked up to for leadership when their father was absent.
A King’s job is to bring a nation’s potential into reality. He must do physical deeds that make his people’s potential really happen. It isn’t just conversation, talk, dreams or suggestions. No, this is about actual deeds. The deeds of the King bring true results toward the nation’s goals.
Yeshua and King David came from The Tribe of Judah. The Tribe of Judah teaches us how to step into our royal potential. We see numberous examples from Judah, Yeshua and David. Being from Judah was all about expressing the royal attributes of truth and courage.
FEATURED HEBREW ALPHABET FOR NISAN
Nisan is numerically connected to the mouth (Peh), and mystically, the letter of the month is Hei. The letter Hei has a gematria of five, representing the five organs of verbal expression: throat, palate, tongue, teeth, and lips. The month of Nisan brings the hidden Hei into revelation—twice. One Hei for the Exodus, and one for the future redemption of God’s people.
Think about the sound of this letter of the alphabet. Hei sounds like a breath. It is said from the Hei God created the entire world. This thought comes from the fact that He breathed the breath of life (Hei) into mankind.
CONSTELLATION OF NISAN
The constellation featured in Nisan is Aries. This word in Hebrew is “Taleh.” It means a lamb or goat. In the month of Nisan, Aries symbolizes the Pascal offering. Aries is the Ram caught in the thicket. A lamb or a ram is easily led by and willing to die for the sake of their master. Of course, we can easily see this stands for Yeshua. The stories of the ram remind us of the way He gave His life as a ransom for our sins. When you look up into the night sky and gaze at Aries, remember Jesus.
FEATURED SENSE OF NISAN
The featured sense for the month of Nisan is speech. In Nisan we are reminded that all speech needs to be guided by awareness and intentionality. It was the voice of God that created the world. It happened with the holiness of His speech. Our gift of speech must learn to reflect His holiness.
The Hebraic word for speech is “sichah.” To speak with sichah is to speek with deep, conscious, intentional communication. The Kabbalist say that speech is the final expression of a long inner process. The process begins with the intellect (Chochmah, Binah, Da’at.) It flows on to the emotions. Next it becomes a thought which finally emerges as speech.
The Talmud says, “Life and death are in the hands of the tongue.” Therefore, they suppose that our words create worlds. Therefore, let’s be careful of our speech, both in Nisan and all of the months of the year.
THE FEATURED BODY PART OF NISAN
The Right Foot is the featured limb/body part for Nisan. The right leg—is the leg that steps forward first when we attempt to jump forward. It reflects proactivity and movement, both spiritually and physically. We’re not meant to remain in potential; we’re called to keep taking positive steps forward. We must learn to move into the use of the right foot.
HIGH PRIEST’S BREASTPLATE GEM FOR JUDAH (NISAN)
The garnet is the jewel on the High Priest’s breastplate which represents the tribe of Judah. Judah is the featured tribe of the month of Nisan. The deep red garnet symbolizes leadership, courage, and divine authority. Remember this gem was the one chosen to eventually represent King David and Messiah.
PRAYER: Father, help us to move securely into the month of Nisan. Stand beside us and show us the way to go. May we honor you with our Passover, Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits celebrations. We desire to give all praise and glory to Yeshua, Our Messiah and the One who made eternal life possible for us. Teach us to be as humble as unleavened bread. Show us the newness of life that comes from being cleansed of all sin. We pray for the renewal and restoration of all the earth. May all of mankind come to call upon The Name of The Lord in this month of Nisan. Amen.