EASTER 2025: THE PASSOVER LAMB (3 of 3)
MATTHEW 26:17-29
#Easter2025
FLASHBACK (tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Flashback/Film)
In narrative storytelling, there is a technique called “flashback” that is commonly used. ‘Flashback” is a narrative technique in which we are shown events that took place before the episode's main action. Those events may have taken place on-screen earlier, but may also be new scenes showing the viewer new story points or introducing new characters.
There are several great examples of “flashbacks” that are used in epic movies that everyone has seen and so they make for good examples:
For example, in the epic animated masterpiece “Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back,” (2010) while Zartog is trying to communicate with the humans, he does a bad impression of Ham. Ham shows up behind him and says Piddles the Clown does a better impression of him than that. There is then the flashback scene to Piddles the Clown imitating the monkey chatter impression. A classic flashback that simplifies the complicated storyline.
Another great example of this is the action-packed “Shaolin Soccer” (2001) which features the character Sing trying to convince an old soccer coach of the value of Kung Fu. Everyone in the audience knows the value of Kung Fu, but the soccer coach in the movie didn’t. Weird plot point, but okay. While Sing is describing Kung Fu, there are flashbacks to an ancient master performing techniques described, a master played by the same actor as the coach. It is very convincing that if you know Kung Fu you are also a good soccer player. Important for the movie and important for any aspiring soccer players.
Perhaps the best use of flashback of all time was in the best sequel ever to hit the market, Frozen II (2019), when at the beginning of the movie Young Anna and Elsa are being told about the enchanted forest by their parents and the scenes are shown. Dynamic. Impactful. The visuals were stunning, but more importantly we learn why the enchanted forest is there. Every enchanted forest deserves an origin story.
Why mention flashbacks? Today, we are going to talk all about Easter, but there will be a flashback. The flashback is super important! So, when it comes, don’t be alarmed! The flashback is meant to help us understand what is going on and WHY. It is the WHY that is most important. The WHY is what we are after and the flashback will help us understand the WHY.
TRANSITION
Let’s read about what happened on that first Easter Morning and then settle on the why.
THE RESURRECTION EVENT
READ MATTHEW 28:1-10 (ESV)
“Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
Let us take a few moments and look at some of the basics of the resurrection event itself.
By the manner people in Jesus’ time counted days, it was the third day that Jesus was in the tomb and the day of the week was Sunday. Pull up any calendar and the default has Sunday as the first day of the week and on this first day, very very early, women were headed to Jesus’ tomb to finish preparing Jesus’ body for burial. I sorta wished they had went at noon and then we could sleep in on Easter, but these eager ladies wanted to take care of the dead body of Jesus. Basically, because of their beliefs, they did a rush job with the body on Friday when He died and were coming back to finish preparing the body.
Matthew 28:2 tells us that when an angel broke into the physical plane of existence the earth quaked and the angel rolled back the stone from the entrance to the tomb. A stone was put in front of entrances to tombs to keep out grave robbers and scavenging animals. The angel rolled away the stone so that people could look in and see that Jesus was not there, but that He had risen from the dead.
Verse 4 tells us that there were guards at the tomb, which was not normal, but there were guards present at the tomb of Jesus because Jesus’ trial and death had been emotionally charged and politically sticky. The Jews asked for the guards to be there so that the disciples could not steal Jesus’ body away or that nothing else would happen that would compromise Jesus’ dead body from staying in the tomb. It was done and not only was there a guard posted, but the tomb was sealed by the Romans in a particular way so anyone would know if the tomb had been opened and then closed again.
The emotion attached to these soldiers at the tomb is: fear. The word used in this verse in the original language is the word that gives us our English word “phobia.” This word means fear laced with reverence, dread, and most accurately terror. The seasoned warriors of Rome passed out cold when the angelic beings arrived on the scene, the earth shook, and the angel rolled back the stone. This was nothing any of them had ever experienced before. These men lost consciousness and I can imagine that in the midst of this angel appearing the men felt cold and clammy, felt lightheaded, then perhaps in a flash they were hot and sweaty, their stomach turned over in knots, their legs felt weak… and BAM!... they were out and looked dead.
Matthew 28:5-7 describes what the angel says to the ladies when they arrive at the tomb. They are significant statements:
* Do not be afraid (verse 5)
* Jesus was crucified which ended in His death (verse 5)
* Jesus is no longer dead, but rose from the dead (verse 6)
* Go tell the disciples Jesus is no longer dead (verse 7)
* Jesus will meet them in Galilee, which was in the north (verse 7)
In verse 8, we see a mix of emotions with the women who arrive at the tomb. They felt fear, but the angel(s) tells them not to be afraid. They feel fear because of the unknown. No one had ever risen themselves from the dead before making this a completely unknown experience! No one had done it before and, by the way, no one has done it since. Just Jesus. Just Jesus of Nazareth. Just Jesus Christ. Just Jesus the Son of God. Jesus told them this is what He would do, but they didn’t understand.
Verse 8 tells us that they also felt joy. Joy is an emotion that encompasses happiness and excitement and thrill and contentment all rolled into one. Great joy or exceeding joy is often associated with Jesus in the Gospels (Luke 1:44, Luke 2:10, Matthew 2:10, Luke 24:52).
TRANSITION
We now have some of the basics down. Jesus died. He was put in a tomb. He was left for three days and these ladies go to finish off His burial. They can’t do that because He is no longer dead, but risen. The angels tell them this. They also meet Him in person and He tells them the same. He tells the women to let the disciples know that He is up and about and to meet Him up north. Those are the basics.
But remember, yes, those are the basics, but we aren’t interested in the what, when, where, or how this morning… we are interested in the WHY.
* WHY is Jesus significant?
* WHY is Jesus’ death important?
* WHY is Jesus’ resurrection important?
These are all important WHY questions and they all have the same answer. The answer comes from a flashback! Let’s flash back just a few days prior:
Jesus resurrected on Sunday. Flashback to Thursday night. Perhaps it is a scene where the ladies are falling at His feet and the camera cuts to Thursday night in the upper room with Jesus and His followers. The meaning of WHY clear.
Jesus was in the tomb dead on Saturday. Perhaps it is a scene where Peter or Andrew or Thomas are looking out a window in sadness and the camera moves closer and closer to their eyeball and the scene from the upper room plays out in their memory. The meaning of WHY clear.
Jesus was on the cross late on Friday. Perhaps it is a scene where Jesus is suffering in agony on the cross, but John or Mary narrate the events that occurred on Thursday in the upper room giving what they are seeing meaning. The meaning of WHY clear.
Jesus was being beaten early on Friday. Perhaps as Jesus is beaten, spit upon, and has to carry His own cross to His place of death, scenes echo in His mind from just the night before when He was in the upper room with His disciples. The meaning of WHY clear.
What happened on Thursday?
FLASHBACK TO MATTHEW 26
READ MATTHEW 26:17-29 (ESV)
“Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will You have us prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 When it was evening, He reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, He said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to Him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with Me will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray Him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.”
Matthew 26 recounts for us Jesus’ time with His disciples in the Upper Room on the Thursday before He died. Just a few hours before He was wrongly arrested, illegally tried, and sentenced to death though innocent, Jesus explains WHY all of it was about to happen. He knew it would happen. Jesus knew WHY He would suffer, die, and then rise to life. He told us the WHY.
Plot twist! What we may not realize is that there is a flashback inside the flashback also giving us answers to the WHY. The flashback settles in Exodus 12 as the People of Israel are escaping from Egypt and they sacrifice a lamb to mark their homes for salvation and deliverance.
FLASHBACK TO EXODUS 12
READ EXODUS 12:12-14 (ESV)
"For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.”
TRANSITION
What is happening?
JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN TO GIVE HIS BODY
Jesus Christ physically died and physically rose back to life giving us His body as a sacrifice. On that Thursday night, Jesus is celebrating Passover with His disciples and indicates to them that He is the sacrificial lamb that they really need. Jesus is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The Passover Meal takes on new significance because of Who Jesus is and what He is about to do.
* WHY is Jesus significant?
* WHY is Jesus’ death important?
* WHY is Jesus’ resurrection important?
Because Jesus offered Himself freely for us to be our sacrifice. Jesus of Nazareth was a real historical living breathing human being. He lived in His flesh and blood. He also died in His flesh and blood. Yet… Jesus did not stay dead! Easter is about serving a Living Savior! Jesus Christ rose from the grave showing that He is indeed the Son of God and He can indeed offer salvation. God instituted Passover generations before so that when Jesus came along, He could totally and utterly fulfill what we need for salvation and deliverance.
READ EPHESIANS 5:2 (ESV)
“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
What else is happening?
JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN TO GIVE HIS BLOOD
Jesus Christ physically died and physically rose back to life giving us His blood as payment for sin. On that Thursday night, Jesus is celebrating Passover with His disciples and indicates to them that His blood will be payment for sin on their behalf. The Passover Meal takes on new significance because of Who Jesus is and what He is about to do.
* WHY is Jesus significant?
* WHY is Jesus’ death important?
* WHY is Jesus’ resurrection important?
Because Jesus offered Himself freely for us to be payment for sin. When we think about what Jesus did, huge important words come to mind: Propitiation, Atonement, Justification. These are all $5 church words with which we try and wrap our mind around what Jesus paid with His blood. God instituted Passover generations before so that when Jesus came along, He could totally and utterly fulfill what we need for payment for our sins.
READ HEBREWS 9:13-14 (ESV)
“For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
CHALLENGE
Today is Easter!
May we celebrate that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has marked us with His blood and death passes over us.
Today is Easter!
May we celebrate that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died, but then rose back to life offering us cleansing from an evil conscience and the guilt that comes with it.
TRANSITION
I have one more thought before we finish today.
ONE MORE FLASHBACK
I’d like to talk about one more flashback. It is not from the Bible, but it might be something that you experience. It is a bit of an unsettling thought, but it is a necessary thought nevertheless. I would like you to imagine that your life is ending and your life flashes before your eyes. Call it a flashback if you’d like. Life with your parents and brothers or sisters flashes before your eyes. Maybe you reveled in being an only child. Sports. Friends. Dating. Marriage if that is your path. Children and grandchildren. All the places you have worked. All the hobbies or trips you enjoyed. In all of that… in all of that flashback at the end of your life… where is Jesus?
* Is He that box you checked when you were younger so your parents would leave you alone?
* Do you call Him when in trouble and then put Him back on the shelf when life is good?
* Do you have an abiding relationship with the Savior?
As your flashback over your life, did you choose Jesus or not. If I might be so bold, not choosing Jesus is making a choice. I would like to encourage you and challenge you to read, pray, ask, question, and investigate Jesus because flashing back over our lives and finding that Jesus was nowhere to be found leads us nowhere good.
GOSPEL
Once upon a time there was God. He loved us so much that He created us. We chose to sin. Everyone chooses to sin. Sin is doing opposite of what God wants for us. That sin separates us from God and if we are honest, destroys us on the inside a little at a time. Guilt and shame happens. God knew, before He ever created us, that we would sin. He provided the way, the truth, and the only way for life… that is Jesus. He dropped hints along the way of what He would do. Prophecies are hints. The Bible is full of hints. Passover is one of those huge hints that points right to Jesus as our covering for sin. You do not have to accept Jesus, but I pray that you understand He came that we might have life and have it to the full. Jesus is the Passover lamb for us.
PRAY
