THE SACRIFICE OF THE LORD’S PASSOVER.
Exodus 12:21-28.
EXODUS 12:21. Moses gave specific instructions to “the elders of Israel,” the heads of families, to “choose out a lamb” and “kill the Passover.”
EXODUS 12:22. The “blood” of the lamb was to be placed in a “basin,” and “a bunch of hyssop” dipped in the blood and then used to “strike the lintel and the two side posts” of his house with blood.
It seems significant that ‘hyssop’ was present at the crucifixion of Jesus (cf. John 19:28-30).
Those who remained in the house would be protected by the blood when the avenging angel came, so It was imperative that nobody went outdoors “until the morning.”
We are, as we say, covered by the blood of Jesus. ‘Without the shedding of blood there is no remission’ (cf. Hebrews 9:22). The blood of Jesus covers all our sins, for all eternity (cf. 1 John 1:7).
EXODUS 12:23. When the LORD “passed through” to smite the Egyptians, He would “pass over” the blood-smeared doors, and not allow “the Destroyer” to “come into your houses to smite” (cf. Hebrews 11:28).
EXODUS 12:24. The sprinkling of the blood was unique to the first Passover in Egypt, but the rest of the ritual was to be kept as an “ordinance” for all perpetuity (cf. Exodus 12:14).
EXODUS 12:25. Thus, when they would eventually come to the promised land, they should use the feast of the Passover to look back to the great deliverance which the LORD wrought for Israel in Egypt. It also anticipates ‘Christ our Passover, sacrificed for us’ (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:7).
EXODUS 12:26. We should encourage enquiring minds by carefully teaching our children the things of the LORD. ‘One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts’ (cf. Psalm 145:4).
EXODUS 12:27. When Israelite children enquired, the answer ready to hand would be, “It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover.” The history is retold year by year, just as the story of our Communion is retold week by week.
When Moses finished instructing the people, they “bowed their heads and worshipped.”
EXODUS 12:28. Thereafter they went away and “did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.” As for the Communion, Jesus said, ‘This do in remembrance of Me’ (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:24-25).
