What Does It Mean To Us?

What Does It Mean To Us?

Exodus 12:1-14

“I can hear you, the rest of the world can hear you and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.” (President George W. Bush September 14, 2001 Ground Zero) For the last six years we have paused, on a personal level and on a national level to remember the events of September 11, 2001. A time to reflect on the attacks, attackers, victims, and most importantly the sacrifices made. What does it mean to us?

“Yesterday, December seventh, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” (President Franklin D. Roosevelt December 8, 1941 Congress) We pause every year on December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day, to remember the attacks, attackers, victims, and most importantly the sacrifices made. What does it mean to us?

September 11th is fresh in our minds, close to our hearts, alive in our reality. This event is fresh enough for us it will evoke strong emotions. December 7th 1941 is fading for some, lost in history, not forgotten, but not fresh and alive in our thoughts. These dates serve as a memorial for us, to never forget the sacrifice for our freedom. As we come to the communion table this morning we are to remember this sacrifice for our freedom. We need not allow Jesus’ death, its purpose, its methods, its achievements to fade from our minds. What does it mean to us?

I am preaching this morning from Exodus 12:1-14, the Passover instructions from God, through Moses, to the Israelites, what does it mean to us. Three main points I want to bring to your attention, the three ways the lamb is spoken of in the text. The three ways the Lamb relates to our lives.

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As we pick up in v.3 the first thing we see is a birth of a nation. God said this is the beginning of months. The Nation of Israel is formed in these passages, the people as a whole is being saved from the tyrannical rule of Pharaoh and separated from the pagan Egyptians. We can see here the start of our salvation, how we are set apart from the rest of the world as a special people for the Lord. The Passover is an Old Testament foreshadowing of the salvation through Jesus Christ. This salvation is for everyone through a lamb, the Lamb is a specific Lamb, and the Lamb is a personal Lamb.

A LAMB – v.3 Addressed to the nation of Israelites as a whole. Everyone needs a lamb, a sacrifice, every man a lamb. The sacrifice is mandated, protection is required from the penalty of disobedience. Hebrews (9:22) tells us without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.

v.6-11 A Lamb is to be slaughtered and the blood is to be smeared on the door post. Any house that does not have the blood on the door will be subject to judgment. The meat is to be consumed completely, leaving nothing behind. And they are to eat this meal dressed ready to go on a moment’s notice.

Jesus is a Lamb. Slaughtered to cover our sin. Nothing of Jesus is to be wasted; we are to waste no time consuming all we can of Jesus Christ for the time of departure is growing near.

THE LAMB – v.4 Speaks of a specific lamb, addressed to the household. This lamb is for every man, every man is held accountable for receiving The Lamb. Rabbinical tradition said one Lamb for a house hold of at least 10-20 people. If your house hold was too small you could go in with a neighbor and share a lamb. The lamb was not meant to be wasted or abandoned. V.10 says you shall leave nothing of it for the morning. If there was lamb left over you could have shared it with someone nearby. Who missed out because The Lamb was not shared?

John the Baptist recognized who The Lamb was in Jn 1:29 “John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Paul recognized who The Lamb was in II Cor 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Paul knew Jesus was the one substituted for our sin, the sin of each person.

Jesus is The Lamb for every man. All religions and all paths do not lead to God, only one is right, only The Lamb is right. Mat 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Pro 16:25 “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”