By Mark Collins, UMC
“That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.” Exodus 12: 27 KJV
It is exciting to look back through the Old Testament and see God’s intention and plan of salvation through our Savior Jesus Christ. I can see Christ more in the Passover than any other tradition. The Passover was a Jewish festival to remember the exodus of the Hebrews from captivity in Egypt. They were to eat only unleavened bread because in haste they left Egypt. This fest was centered on the sacrificial lamb. For Christians today Christ is our Passover, The Lamb of God.
The lamb was to be a male of the first year in its prime; this notes the strength and sufficiency of our Lord Jesus on whom our burdens were laid. The lamb was to be without blemish; Christ was without sin. The Perfect Sacrifice that ended the need for any other sacrifices. The lamb was to be slain and roasted with fire, killed by the whole congregation in the evening. Remember the suffering of our Lord and how they were all in agreement “But they cried saying crucify him, crucify him.” (Luke 23:21).
The crucifixion and His death on the cross were in the evening. Not a bone of the lamb was to be broken, John 19:33-36 tells us that not a bone of Jesus was broken.
The blood of the lamb was to be sprinkled upon the door post of the house so the Lord would pass over that house. They would be saved from judgment and only the firstborn of the Egyptians were killed.
“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. “ (Romans 5:9).
Because of Christ’s sacrifice, those who have placed their faith in Him are protected by His Blood.
“For the wages of sin is death,” but Christ through His resurrection has conquered death.
The lamb was not to be looked upon only, but to be fed upon; so in Christ by faith we are fed. The lamb provided physical strength for the journey ahead as in Christ we must receive spiritual strength and nourishment. The lamb was to be all eaten: those that, by faith, feed upon Christ must feed upon a whole Christ. They must take not only Christ and His crown but also take Christ and His yoke, Christ and His cross, as well.
The Passover feast was to be an ordinance forever. As long as we live we must continue feeding upon Christ and rejoicing in Him always, with thankful mention of the great things He has done for us.
“Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:8)
They eat the Passover in haste with shoes on ready to leave Egypt, we too must take Christ the Passover lamb ready to leave our old way.
I urge you, if you haven’t trusted in Christ, to also make haste. Don’t wait another minute.
