Moses 8 JESUS - OUR PASSOVER LAMB
Exodus 12:1-13:16 12:43-13:16
1 Corinthians 13:16
C. The Promised Protection
b. Described
The first sacrifice God gave Israel was the Passover Lamb, by whose blood they were spared and by whose meat they were strengthened for the journey ahead. When Jesus Christ began His ministry, John the Baptizer, sent to announce Him as Isaiah's Servant messiah (Isa. 40:1; Mt. 3:3) he said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” (Jn. 1:29). This meant Jesus was the suffering Lamb pictured in chapter 53 who was "Led to the slaughter" (53:7)..
This sacrificial death of Jesus, the God Man, who paid our sin debt on Calvary was not only prophesied (Isa. 53; Ps. 22; Zech. 1l:12, etc), it was pictured in the Jewish sacrificial system. The oldest and simplest was the “burnt offerings” offered by men like Abel (Gen. 4:4) and Jacob (Gen. 31:54).
But it was God who offered the first sacrifice when at the Garden of Eden, He killed and spilled an animal’s blood, to use its hide to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:21). This is the first sacrificial picture of our salvation in Christ.
Jesus the Lamb God offers for us. The saved, in heaven, says John the Apostle are clothed in “white robes” (Rev. 7:13. Why? Because, he says, “These are they who. . . have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’ (Rev. 7:14).
All sacrificed animals in the OT are pictures of Jesus Christ. And this is true of the PASSOVER LAMB, the national sacrifice of the Jewish people, practiced annually until this day. Paul ties this in to the Christian church. He says, Get rid of the old yeast. . . For Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival. . .with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth “ (I Cor. 5:7, 8).
So let us go back to this dark, bright night - dark for the loss and bright for the saved and look at Jesus the Passover Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
I. THE LAMB REQUIRED
First, the Lamb was needed, and its blood placed upon the door if one was to escape the awful judgement of God. The need was UNIVERSAL. Both Egyptian and Hebrew would not be spared without the blood. Why?
1. God’s Rejection (Jn. 3: Rom. 7:18).
To all of Adam’s race, red - yellow - black - white, God says the firstborn must die because our first birth will not do. Jesus told Nicodemas, the religious leader - “You must be born again” (Jn. 3 ). Paul said in his flesh (unredeemed human nature) lived no good thing (Rom. 7:18).
2. God’s Retribution (Ex. 7:4).
Our sins not covered by the blood of Christ, will be punished by God. When Hebrew babies were fed to the river and Hebrew sons, husbands and fathers were beaten to death in the fields, many a Hebrew wife and mother cried “Where is God?”
God, my friends, then as now was keeping records. God says of all the plagues, “I will lay my hand on Egypt. . . with mighty acts of judgment” (Ex. 7:4). The Bible says, “. . .man is destined to die once, and after that to face the judgment” (Heb. 9:27).
To be spared from this we a sacrifice God has give us. As the song says, “O my loving brother/ when the world is on fire/ You’ll need my Jesus to be your Savior.” God will punish our sins, either in us or in the substitute He has provided.
II. THE LAMB CHOSEN
Each Hebrew family, probably by the father, tselected a lamb. It was chosen before it died. Jesus was chosen by the Father before creation, before there was a world to save. Rev. 13:8 calls Him “the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.” It was chosen on the tenth day of the month. Ten is the number of completion (ten fingers, toes, commandments).
God, like Israel made preparations. Gal 4:4-5 says, “ . . .when the time had fully come, god sent his Son . . . to redeem. . .”
The universal Greek language, to preach the Gospel with and the Roman peace and roads to carry and protect God’s missionaries were in place. Jewish synagogues, all over the world to furnish preaching stations for the heralds of Jesus were in place.
The time was RIGHT. All of human history was doing the bidding of God, preparing the way for His Son. Ladies and gentlemen, when Egypt was running wild, it didn’t seem like God was in control, but He was. He always is!
The lamb was to be spotless, with no defects and was to be kept and watched for four days. Our Lord’s life was open to all. He talked in the churches, in the streets and on the mountain tops for all to see. His enemies watched Him like a hawk and reported His words. Jesus charged all who saw to convict Him of sin if they could. (Jn. 8:24). John said, “. . .in him is no sin” ( 1 Jn. 3:5). Pilate said he found no fault in Him (Mt. 27:19-24). Even Judas said he had betrayed innocent blood (Mt. 27:4).
The Lamb was no doubt loved by the family, especially the children. God saw Jesus beginning His walk to the cross at John’s baptism and couldn’t remain silent. His great voice thundered “This is my beloved Son. . .” (Mt. 3:17).
In the sorrow of the lamb’s throat being cut, can’t we see the sorrow of God who loves us enough to let His Son die in our place, by our own hands? The lamb was to be one year old, not young and not old, but in the strength and prime of its life, in the time of health, with many more years to enjoy life, with no thoughts of death. In His early 30's, in the prime of health, life and goals, Jesus died.
III. THE LAMB SLAUGHTERED
1. The priority of It
The Passover lamb was chosen to die. That was its mission. On the 14th day of the month the lamb was taken outside and killed so that its blood poured out.
The lamb was not there to be ADMIRED or to be IMITATED as an example of meekness and trust. The lamb was there to be killed. Our Lord taught truth, showed love and lived a moral, godly life - but the reason He came was to die, to be taken outside His city, to be pierced so his blood would flow down His body, down His cross, down to the earth below; up to heaven at His ascension and out to the whole world in the preaching of the gospel.
We sing “O precious is the flow/ That makes us white as snow!” Paul set the example for all gospel preachers when he said to a church he he was coming to, “. . .I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).
We do need to follow Christ’s example. We do need to be meek and lowly and submit to the knife if it is God’s will. But first we must be saved, we must be forgiven, we must be born again, so we will have the desire and the power to live such a life.
And that is found only at the foot of the cross where we confess our sins and by faith claim our Savior and sing, “What can wash away my sin/ Nothing but the blood of Jesus/ What can make me whole again/ Nothing but the blood of Jesus/ O precious is the flow/ No other fount I know/ Nothing but the blood of Jesus.)
2. The Personal Involvement In It
(Ex. 12:3; Acts 12:23)
God’s word says “the whole community of Israel (12:3), every home in Israel, was to do this. You say, “I don’t like this old fashioned blood religion of yours brother Bob, Just tell how to be a good person.”
Well, brother, the blood religion is not mine. And you are already a part of blood religion. This whole human race, you and me, with sins just like those of the Jews and Romans who killed the Lord, have the blood of God’s Son on our hands.
The vast majority of pilgrims who gathered at the Temple on the Pentecost following the cross had no part whatsoever in the trial, the beatings and the murder of Jesus. But Peter said “. . .you. . .put him to death by nailing him to the cross” (Acts 2:23). The one we killed is the one who saves us by the death we caused. He who dies by our hands dies in our place. Only God could come up with a plan of salvation like that.
IV. THE LAMB APPLIED (12:7)
1. The Blood Applied By God
To be saved from the plague of death the Israelites had to take a branch of hyssop, a common scrub brush, and put blood on both sides of the door and above the door.
And since the lamb may have been killed at the door and since drops of blood would invariably fall on the threshold - we had blood on the right and left; blood above and blood below!
What a picture of Jesus - blood on the right and left from the nails in His hand; blood above from the crown of thorns; and blood below from the nail through His feet. Jesus is the door to heaven (Jn. 10:7) and God has sacrificed His Son as that blood stained door. The question is, have you entered in? Have you applied the blood, by repentance and faith upon your heart and life?
2. The Blood Applied By Sinners
By faith the Israelites put the blood on the door. Families with no lamb could come to a neighbor’s home. The door of salvation leaves no one out. God says, “Whosoever will, let him come!”
What a picture of witnessing - saying, “Come get under the cross with me as my brother, my sister in Christ. The blood was on the outside for all to see. We are to be open and public with our faith. Our theme should be “I’ll tell the world that I’m a Christian/ I’m not ashamed His name to bear.”
The Passover became the beginning of a new year (12:2). The Jewish Calendar was changed to make Nissan (Abib) the first month of the year symbolizing their new beginning. How appropriate! That would be like us making Easter - New Year’s Day.
To the world, becoming a Christian would mean the end of life, the end of freedom, the end of joy. But to the saved, it is the beginning of a new and joyous life.
The blood was applied with the common hyssop that grew on the walls. To the person with gold rings on his fingers - use the hyssop! To the priest with oil on his hands - use the hyssop. To the slave with callouses on his hands - use the hyssop. We all come as sinners to the cross where the ground is level.
In killing and cooking the Lamb not one bone was to be broken. Why? Because when soldiers came to break the legs of Jesus and the others on the cross to hasten death. The others’ legs were broken but not Jesus’. God saw to it that He was already dead, the Bible says, “. . .so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, ‘not one of his bones will be broken!’” (Jn. 19:36). Note one mark was placed on Jesus’ body without His and the Father’s permission.
V. THE LAMB EATEN (12:8-20)
1. The Salvation Appreciated
After the blood was applied the family gathered around the table to eat the lamb. What a picture of church, of the family of God, gathered together in joyful appreciation of a common salvation.
2. The Salvation Appropriated.
In Jn. 6:53 Jesus says, “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood you have no life in you” (Jn. 6:53). The blood pictures justification - forgiveness, but the eating pictures regeneration - the new birth that issues in the new life that is to grow more and more like Jesus.
The Lamb was roasted by fire - the living Jesus we serve and draw our strength from is the one who sacrificed Himself for us as a burnt offering. Heb. 12 says His death for us is our motivation to live for Him.
It was eaten with bitter herbs. This reminded Israel of her bitter slavery years and speaks to us of the bitterness of life before we met the Lord.
It was eaten with bread without yeast (leaven). This points to their haste. They had no time to wait for bread to rise. But it also applies to the power and responsibility the new birth gives us to constantly rid ourselves of sin as we gather at the Lord’s Table to observe the Lord’s Supper. Listen to Paul. . .
In 1 Cor. 5:27-28
“. . .whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats. . .”
I Cor. 5:7-8
“Get rid of the old yeast. . .For Christ, our Passover has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.”
We cannot be perfect. But every time we think of Calvary we ought to aim at it harder than ever before.
The Lamb was eaten by people dressed and ready to leave. Their sandals were on, their shirts (cloaks) were tucked in (their loins were girded - 1 Pet. 1:13), and their walking sticks were in their hand. The idea was haste (12:11). They had to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. If death came to you today, if the Lord returned today, would He find you busy and faithful in His service?
The meal could not be eaten by any foreigner unless he went through the ritual of circumcision. The Lord’s Supper is for the saved and for the saved alone. This is not designed to insult the outsider but to tell him he must be saved and bring him into the fold.
VI. THE LAMB REMEMBERED
(Ex. 12:14-20; 24-28; 43-51; 13:1-16)
1. The Passover Supper: Salvation in Christ
(Ex. 12:1-16; 43-51; 1 Cor. 5:6-8).
The Passover night they were born and the Passover Lamb that made it possible were to be remembered three ways:
(1) The Passover Supper.
(2) The Festival of Unleavened Bread.
(3) The Dedication of the Firstborn to God. The first speaks of our salvation in Christ, the second of our sins given up for Christ and the third, of our sacrifices for Christ. And each of these memorials was for the children, to teach them the things of God.
This Passover supper became an ordinance (12:24), the first of Israel’s seven annual religious festivals (12:24). With it their religious year began. And like our Lord’s Supper it was used to teach the children of each generation the things of God.
God said, “And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” (12:26,27).
The church is always just one generation from paganism and it is the task of Christian parents to pass on the faith. We are good at passing on “do’s and don’ts,” morals and ethics. But we must pass on the loving sacrifice of Jesus and tell our children they must be forgiven, they must be saved, they must be born again, they must accept Jesus Christ as the Lord of their lives and their Savior from sin.
2. The Festival of Unleavened Bread: Sins Given Up for Christ (13:1-2; 11-13).
Israel had no leavened bread when they left. To remember this, the Passover on the 14th of Nissan, in years to come would go immediately into the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread from the 15th through the 21st. Giving up sins is not something we do at the Lord’s Supper services, it is to be a way of life.
During this time no yeast (leaven) was allowed in their houses. They ate unleavened bread for seven days - eight counting Passover. In 1 Corinthians 5 where Paul calls Jesus our Passover he tells us “. . .keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor. 5:8). Leaven in the New Testament is used as a symbol of sin (Lk. 12:1; Mk. 8:15; Mt. 16:6; Gal. 5:9).
In other words, as we go through this “Pilgrim Journey” of life, with the cross behind us, as the beginning of our new life in Christ, and with heavenly Canaan before us, we are to put sin and sins out of our lives and out of our homes, and teach our children to do the same.
We do not do it to be saved, the blood took care of that, but because we are saved. The Christian life can be summed up with three looks! We look back at the cross and say, “Thank you!” We look forward to heaven and say, “Thank you!” We look inward and upward and say, “Search me, O God, and know my heart. . . See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139). And when we do that, God says, “Thank you!”
3. The Dedication of the Firstborn: Sacrifices Made for Christ (13:1-16)
God commanded Israel to remember this night. They were to give their firstborn - children and animals to God. Thus, not just once a year, but every time a firstborn child or animal came into the world, they remembered. The animal, if clean, was sacrificed to the Lord (Lev. 12; Nu. 18:14-19).
An animal or silver was offered in place of a child, or if the family was poor - two pigeons or doves. That’s what Joseph and Mary gave for Jesus (Lk. 2:21-24).
Application: It is not enough to give up our sins (Unleavened Bread), we must be willing to give up our very selves and our sons and daughters and possessions to the service of God. Why? Because He gave His Son, the Passover Lamb for us.
Hershel Hobbs told of a Baptist Pastor preaching at a mission conference at a Baptist college. The last night dozens of students came forward slowly, one at a time to commit to foreign mission work. The pastor’s heart almost exploded with joy and gratitude to God for using him. Then he saw his daughter coming forward. When she got to him, before the thought, he said, “Honey, I didn’t mean for you to come.”
