Learning From The Passover (Exodus 12:1-28) Series

This morning, we find ourselves in Exodus 12. Here, Pharaoh is about to finally, forever be popped like a tick.

Every Egyptian firstborn, from human to cow, will be killed. After this, Yahweh will give his people freedom, and lead them toward the promised land.

Now, Yahweh knows that we humans, by default, are forgetful people. He knows we lose sight of what God does for us. He knows we get distracted by earthly things (Philippians 3:19-20). And even the most amazing things that God has ever done, can be forgotten.

It's partly for this reason that Yahweh sets aside special times every year for his people to stop, and remember him, and celebrate him. The reason every day is not like another, is because of God. God teaches us to slow down, and reflect on life, and-- most importantly-- to enjoy life, and to enjoy God.

And in all of this, in the OT, the Passover has pride of place. God designed the Passover to mark the beginning of calendar year. Israelites were supposed to enter every new year, celebrating God's victory over Pharaoh, and the freedom that God gave them.

Now, when we read about the Passover, what do we do with it?

We understand that the Passover is the festival of "the Jews" (John 6:4). It's not our festival. We don't eat the Passover lamb. We don't eat unleavened bread. We don't stay in our houses all night. We read about the Passover from a distance. It's "their" festival. It's not "ours."

Why?

Our lamb, is Jesus (John 1:36). The salvation event we most celebrate, is when Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and rose again, and ascended to his Father.

And we remember all of this, not in the Passover, but when we "observe" communion. The bread we eat, is Jesus' body. The drink we drink, is Jesus' blood (John 6:43-59).

So when we read about the Passover, we read it, maybe a little confused. We aren't quite sure what to do with it.

We aren't quite sure, what to learn from it. We know it's similar to the Lord's supper. But it's also different.

Let's do this. I'm going to read the whole passage, without breaks. And as I do, think about Jesus, and his death and resurrection. Think about the Lord's supper.

And as I read, just mentally compare. How is the Passover like the Lord's supper? How is it not? And are there things we should learn here, to help us think differently about the Lord's supper?

Once we've read through the chapter, I'll offer some thoughts about this. I'm sure this type of sermon has a fancy name. I'm just not sure what it is. A meditation? A reflection? A homily? It'll be a different kind of sermon. Sort of like what I've heard done in a Presbyterian church a few times.

Fair enough? So... thinking caps on. Focus. Jesus. The Lord's supper. His death on the cross. Eating his flesh, drinking his blood. Jesus is our Lamb.

Exodus 12:

(1) And Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,

(2) "This month [is] for you the beginning of the months.

First it [is] for you as the months of the year.

(3) Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying,

"On the tenth of this month, each one shall take for themselves a lamb/goat for the family -- a lamb/goat (=a small livestock, a broad term) for the house,

(4) and if the house is too small for a lamb/goat, he shall take with his nearest neighbor to his house according to the number of people.

Each one according to what he can eat, you shall count out portions on the lamb/goat.

(5) A lamb/goat without defect, a male, one year old it shall be for you.

From the young ram-lambs or from the young goats you shall take,

(6) and it shall be for you for keeping until the fourteenth day of this month,

and they shall kill it-- all the assembly of the congregation of Israel-- at twilight,

(7) and they shall take from the blood,

and they shall put it upon the two doorposts and upon the upper doorpost-- upon the houses where they are eating in them--

(8) and they shall eat the flesh on this night.

Roasted in fire, with unleavened bread, upon bitter herbs, they shall eat it.

(9) You shall not eat from it raw or boiled in water, but only by roasted in fire-- its head, with its legs, and with its inner parts--

(10) and you shall not leave over from it until morning,

while/but the remnant from it in the morning, in the fire you shall burn it,

(11) and like this you shall eat it: your waist fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand,