Because they did not have time to wait for the bread to rise, the Hebrews were instructed to make bread without yeast (“unleavened bread”) as they prepared for their exodus from slavery in Egypt. They were told to remove all yeast from the house because it was also a symbol of sin. (Exodus 12:15, 13:7). Christ is the perfect sacrifice for our sin. He is our Passover. We should not have anything to do with any past sins (“old leaven”) because He has freed us from the shackles of sin.
In the Old Testament, a lamb had to be used as a sacrifice to temporarily cover the sins of man. This is due to the sin brought onto man in the Garden of Eden. On the night that the children of Israel were to leave Egypt, the family was to sacrifice a lamb without blemish and sprinkle the blood on the doorposts. As the Angel of the Lord went through destroying the first-born Egyptians, would Passover the homes where the blood was applied to the door posts.
• Exodus 12:21, Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
• Isaiah 53:7, He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
• John 19:14, And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
• Revelation 5:6, And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
The blood represents life.
• Leviticus 17:11, For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Where is the lamb?
• Genesis 22:7, And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
Here Abraham’s faith was tested. He was to offer his son Isaac unto the Lord. When Isaac asked where the lamb was, Abraham’s reply was “God will provide himself a lamb.” God was not requiring a human sacrifice, but rather, He wanted Abraham to sacrifice Isaac in his heart. This would signify that Abraham loved God more and showed his commitment to obey God.
Behold the Lamb:
• John 1:29, The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Every day a lamb was sacrificed for the people’s sins in the Temple (Exodus 29). Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be led like a lamb to be slain (Isaiah 53). A life had to be given to pay for the sins of the people. Here, John realized who Jesus was and pronounced that they were to look to Jesus for the pardon of their sins. Because Christ delivered us from sin, we should have nothing to do with the past. We are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ.
• 1 Peter 1:18-19, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Worthy is the Lamb:
• Revelation 5:12, Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
John glances around the throne room and hears the voices of all the heavenly angels. The voices of all the angels are stating with a loud voice that the Lamb is Worthy. The Lamb is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing. Jesus deserves this praise because of what He has done for us. Because of His sacrifice for man, we are to give Him glory, honor and praise. All the heavenly creatures praise Him. Notice that each animal in paradise, on earth, under the earth, in the ocean, and all that is in them praise God and to the Lamb. Everything ever created is giving praise to God.
• The First lamb covered man.
• The Second Lamb covered the world.
• There is and Never will be a need for a third lamb.
