The LORD Jesus Christ- Our Passover

Christ Our Passover

1 Corinthians 5:7,8… Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened.  For indeed Christ our Passover, was sacrificed for us.  Therefore let us keep the feast , not with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 

 When the Apostle Paul- under the anointing of the Holy Spirit wrote this to the Corinthian church (who were predominantly non-Jewish believers), he was encouraging them and all true Christians throughout the Church Age to deliberately and very soberly observe the spring feasts of Passover and by implication Unleavened Bread and  Firstfruits.  This essay will present an overview of these three Holy Days of Israel and the Church… and then will delve more comprehensively in the eternal significance of Passover.

Last September (2011) I wrote a post entitled The Blessings of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur which is linked at the bottom of this detailed study.  In it I delineate a very brief description of all seven Holy Feasts of YHVH, and how critical it is for the true church of the Living GOD to walk in these important truths.  Each one points to the LORD Jesus Christ and His followers empowered by the Holy Spirit; encompassing the natural and spiritual seed of Abraham… the prophetic significance of each of the seven is staggering!

Romans 15:4… For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

  

Overview of Passover

Passover and Unleavened Bread commemorate GOD’s deliverance of Israel out of Egypt.  Pesach (PAY-sahk) means to ‘pass over’.  The Passover meal, seder (SAY der), celebrates this historic event.  The LORD sent Moses to lead the children of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land.  When the reigning Pharaoh was first confronted by Moses, he refused to let the people go.  His heart was hard against the Hebrew children, and after the LORD sent nine plagues which did not soften his heart… the LORD said the firstborn males of every house would die unless the door-frame of that house was covered with the blood of a perfect lamb. That night the LORD “passed over” the homes with blood on the door-frames.  The tenth plague brought death to the firstborn sons of Egypt, even so far as taking the life of Pharaoh’s own son.  Finally, Pharaoh let the children of Israel go.  Passover thereby became a lasting ordinance for generations forever.  In Leviticus the LORD said that on the fourteenth day of the first month Nisan (of the religious not civil calendar) the LORD’s Passover was to begin at twilight.

Jesus ate the Passover with His disciples, before His passion, saying that He had eagerly desired to eat this Passover with them… and that He would not eat it again until the Kingdom of GOD comes (Luke 22:7-16).  After the Passover meal, they sang a hymn and went to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30).  The hymn sung during Passover is the Hallel which includes Psalm 118:22… “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.”  Jesus is the capstone that the builders rejected (Matthew 21:42; 1 Peter 2:7).

Jesus was crucified as “the Lamb of GOD who takes away the sin of the world”  (John 1:29).  The LORD’s supper is a remembrance of his sacrifice as the perfect Passover Lamb and the fulfillment of the new covenant between GOD and man (Luke 22:20; 1st Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 2:11-13).  Prophecy of this sacrifice is found in Psalm 22.  The Hebrew prophet Isaiah also spoke of the sufferings and sacrifice of the Messiah, and how that sacrifice would be the ultimate atonement for the sins of GOD’s people (Isaiah 53).

As revealed in Exodus 12:5 the Passover lamb must be a perfect male with no spot or blemish.  The cup of the LORD’s Supper is the third cup of the Passover Seder, the  cup of redemption.  The bread of the LORD’s Supper is the afikomen.  It is the matzoh that is broken, hidden, found, bought for a price, and then eaten to end the meal.  The Greek word means “I came”.

Overview of the Feast of Unleavened Bread

In Leviticus 23- Hag HaMazot (Hawg Hah MAHT zot) known as the “Feast of Unleavened Bread”, is mentioned as a separate feast on the 15th day of this same month as Passover (15th-21st of Nisan).  Today however, the feasts of Pesach, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits have all been incorporated into the celebration of Passover, and reference to Passover means all three feasts.  Passover celebrate for eight days, Nisan 14-21.  The LORD said that for seven days the children of Israel must eat unleavened bread.  This bread without yeast, made in a hurry represents how the LORD brought the Israelites out of Egypt in great haste.

In Scripture, leaven generally represents sin.  To Orthodox Jews even having leaven present in one’s home is forbidden during this special celebration.  Today, cleansing the house before Passover is a symbolic search to remove any sin, hypocrisy, or wickedness.  Unleavened Bread is one of the three pilgrimage feasts when all Jewish males were required to go to Jerusalem “to appear before the LORD” (Deuteronomy 16:16).

Matzot is the plural for matzoh or matzah.   This unleavened bread is a prime symbol of Passover.  Leaven as stated represents sin (Luke 12:1; 1 Corinthians 5:8).  Matzah stands for “without sin” and is a picture of our LORD Jesus Christ, the only human being ever without sin.  Jesus said that the “bread of GOD is He who comes down from Heaven, “the living bread” which a man may eat and not die (John 6:32;35;41;48).

The Messiah conquered the grave with His resurrection because He was not a sinner under the curse of death.  Jesus was scourged and pierced at His crucifixion, as the prophet Isaiah proclaimed, “By His stripes we are healed…” (Isaiah 53:5).  It bears repeating:  All of the festivals instituted by GOD, including Passover and Unleavened Bread are “shadows of things to come” (Colossians 2:17).

Christ the Firstfruits

 Overview of Firstfruits

On Yom HaBikkurim (Yom Hah-Bee-koo-REEM) the Jewish people offered the first ripe sheaf (firstfruits) of barley to the LORD as an act of dedicating the harvest to Him.  On Passover, a marked sheaf of grain was bundled and left standing in the field.  On the next day, the first day of Unleavened Bread, the sheaf was cut and prepared for the offering on the third day.  On this third day, Yom Habikkurim, the priest waved the sheaf before the LORD.

Counting the days (omer) then begins and continues until the day after the seventh Sabbath, the 50th day, which is called Shavuot or Pentecost (the next feast on the calendar).  Jewish people rarely celebrate Yom HaBikkurim today, but it has great significance for the followers of Jesus as the most important day of the year, the day of Jesus’ resurrection!  Please note Jesus was not crucified on a Friday, He was crucified on a Wednesday (a high Holy Day= a non-Saturday Sabbath) and was exactly three days and three nights (72 hours) in the tomb as He predicted.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23… but now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection from the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.  But each one in his own order:  Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

Fascinating Biblical events that happened on this day (16 of Nisan):

• The manna, which GOD provided from Heaven as food for the Israelites while they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, stopped after they crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land (Joshua 5:10-12).
• Queen Esther risked her life to save the Jewish people from annihilation (Esther 3:12 thru 5:7).
• The Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day (Luke 24:44-47).

The “Deep Things of GOD” in the Feast of Passover

What has been presented thus far is the more elementary or basic teaching about these three significant Feasts of Israel, and how they relate to the victorious Christian life.  And yet there is so much more!  Therefore for the serious Biblical Christian student, let us focus more thoughtfully and dig more deeply that we may mine the profound treasures that are in GOD’s Word according to His pattern of prophetic type and its fulfillment.  This will focus intently on the Feast of Passover.

The Scriptures in the Old Testament where this Feast is dealt with are Exodus 12:1-4; 21-29; Leviticus 23:4-5; Numbers 33:3; Deuteronomy 16:1-8.  The Scriptures in the New Testament where this Feast finds fulfillment are Matthew 26:1-2, 17-75; 27:1-66; Mark Chapters 14 & 15; Luke Chapters 22 & 23; John Chapters 18 & 19; Hebrews 11:28.  The Gospel writers record for us the details of the crucifixion of Jesus, therefore these chapters should be read as we look deeply into this particular Feast.  The fulfillment is always greater than the prophetic type, as the substance is greater than the shadow that points to it.  There is so much more to the Scriptures in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, that we will spend a 1000 years studying at the feet of our Lord Jesus as He reveals to us so many of the deep things of GOD hidden in His Holy Word.

A.  The Beginning of Months- (Exodus 12:2)

The Feast of Passover became the beginning of months (Exodus 12:2) of the sacred year to the nation of Israel, because GOD chose to change the calendar for them, that the past may be forgotten as GOD introduced a new beginning.  This Feast was therefore the foundation of their experience in GOD… and the LORD had so much more for them in the months that lay ahead, as seen in the subsequent Feasts (see The Blessings of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur).

B.  The Four Days of the Hidden Lamb- (Exodus 12:3-6)

GOD commanded Israel to take a lamb on the 10th day of Nisan and set it aside until the 14th day of the month.  This speaks to the careful inspection of and setting apart of this lamb for death in 4 days.  It was therefore ordained to die in due time.  This is fulfilled in two necessary manners: historically (weekly) and dispensationally.

1. Weekly: In the events of the week of crucifixion, Jesus had His triumphal entry on the 10th day of Nisan (Palm Sunday) and was crucified on the 14th day- Wednesday… 4 days later.  He was scrutinized by the people, the elders of Israel- first proclaimed the Son of David and coming King, and then rejected (Luke 19:37; Matthew 22:15-24).

2.  Dispensationally:   The Scriptures show that “a day unto the LORD is as a 1000 years and 1000 years as one day” (Psalm 90:4; Genesis 2:17; 2 Peter 3:8).  When Adam sinned, GOD set His lamb, Jesus Christ, aside for death.  Jesus Christ was foreordained to die.  From Adam to Christ we have 4 days of the LORD, or 4000 years:  4 days in the LORD’s accounting.  The Scripture speaks of the Lamb of GOD being set aside to die for man.

1 Peter 1:18-21… knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish or spot.  He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in GOD, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in GOD.

C.  A Lamb of the First Year- (Exodus 12:5; 11:4-7; 12:29-30)

 This expression does not mean a year old lamb, but rather a firstborn lamb- which is Holy unto the LORD and therefore set aside and given to GOD (Exodus 13:11-13).  The theme of the “Firstborn” runs throughout the whole of the Scriptures.  Cain is set aside for Abel; Ishmael is set aside for Isaac; Esau is set aside for Jacob; and the nation of Egypt is set aside for the children of Israel.  GOD even said that Israel was His “Firstborn” (Exodus 4:22-23).

This setting aside of the firstborn after the flesh (i.e. after that which is natural), and the bringing in of GOD’s firstborn (i.e. after that which is spiritual) make a profound distinction between the first or natural birth of a human, and the second or spiritual birth that we experience in Christ.  The first birth condemns us as sinners while the second birth constitutes us as saints.  Also this setting aside pointed back to the fact that it was the First Adam who brought in sin and death by his disobedient to the Father, placing mankind in the house of bondage to satan.  It also pointed forward to the fact that the LORD Jesus Christ, the Lamb of GOD would be His Firstborn Son.  He was both the Firstborn of Mary, and the Firstborn of GOD’s new creation (Matthew 1:21-25; Revelation 3:14; Colossians 1:15, 18; Romans 8:29).

Blood of the innocent Lamb atoning

D.  A Male- (Exodus 12:5)

Sometimes in other sacrifices the animal gender is not an issue, but in the Feast of Passover the lamb must be a male.  Romans 5:12 states that “By one man sin entered the world and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men.”  Adam as the first male sinned, and so a male must die for sin.  Adam as the male was the seed-bearer of the whole unborn human race, which defines Headship and hence responsibility.  Therefore when he sinned and suffered the fall, all of mankind as yet in his loins sinned and fell.  We have all done what Adam did, for we were all-male and female-in Adam.

E.  Without Spot or Blemish- (Exodus 12:5)

 The twelve tribes of Israel were to inspect the lamb that was to die for them, and make certain that it met GOD’s standard:  perfect in every way, and without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:18-20).  In remarkable fulfillment we can all see how all who ‘inspected’ Jesus Christ- the Holy Lamb of GOD- found Him to be perfect, without fault, without spot or blemish.  Please note for further study Scripture portions of some of those who inspected GOD’s Lamb:

1. Pontius Pilate- (John 18:28, 38; 19:4-6; Matthew 27:1-25)
2. Herod- (Luke 23:8-12)
3. Annas- (Luke 3:2; John 18:13, 24)
4. Caiaphas- (John 11:49-53; 18:13-14, 19-24,28)
5. Judas- (Matthew 27:3-10)
6. The Centurion- (Matthew 27:54)
7. Repentant thief on the cross beside Him- (Luke 23:39-43)

All would have to admit that there was no fault, no spot nor blemish in Him.  Before these men, and now before all mankind throughout human history- Jesus was the Lamb of GOD, slaughtered before His shearers (Isaiah 53:7; Acts 8:32-33; Psalm 38:11-15; 39:1-2; Matthew 26:62-63; 27:12-14).

F.  A Lamb for each House- (Exodus 12:3-5)

This is profound and yet it demands human responsibility.  GOD’s divine intention was that all come to experience household salvation.  It was “a lamb for a house”.  Those who would know the saving benefits of the Passover lamb could do so by being in and of the household of faith.  GOD promises on His terms that salvation for a household is also available to New Testament believers in the Lamb of GOD  (please read Genesis 7:1; Joshua 24:15; Genesis 18:19; John 4:46-54; Acts 16:15, 31; 18:3, 8; Luke 19:5-10).

Note also the progressive revelation of The Lamb in Scripture:

1. A lamb for a house- (Exodus 12:3-4)
2. A lamb for a nation- (Exodus 29:38-42)
3. A lamb for the whole world- (John 1:29, 36; Revelation 5:12)

Isaac served as a type of Christ to be sacrificed by his father Abraham-

Genesis 22:7-8… But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!… Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”  And Abraham said, “My son, GOD will provide Himself, the lamb for a burnt offering.”

This ‘double entendre’ signifies that GOD would establish a prophetic pattern by providing a ram in the thicket for Abraham’s sacrifice instead of his special son, which would allow GOD the Father in covenant with Abraham 2000 years later to offer His only begotten Son Jesus as the atoning perfect Lamb who takes away the sin of the whole world!  How sublime, precious, and beautiful is our Holy GOD!

G.  Kill it in the Evening- Exodus 12:6… Literally between two evenings

The lamb must be killed in the evening of the 14th day.  It was not the spotless life of the Lamb that brought deliverance, but rather its death.  The sinless life of Jesus only condemns the sinner.  It is His substitutionary death that brings salvation… first His saving death, then His saving life (Romans 5:8-10).  Christ Jesus was slain “between the two evenings” in the week of the crucifixion.  He was slain the 14th day at evening, as well as on the 4th day of the LORD (Mark 15:33).  The hours of crucifixion 9am-3pm were the hours which fulfilled between two evenings.

H.  The Whole Assembly shall Kill it- (Exodus 12:6)

The whole congregation of Israel was involved in the death of the Passover lamb.  The Gospels show how the Sanhedrin, the Priests, and the people of Israel all clamored for the crucifixion of Jesus and for His blood to be shed (John 19:15; Luke 23:23; Mark 15:33; Matthew 27:4, 25).

I.  The Blood must be Applied to the Lintel and the Door Posts- (Exodus 12:7, 13, 22)

The blood was the evidence that death had taken place.  Then the blood had to be sprinkled on the lintel and the two side posts of the door.  What was done with the blood was very important to the LORD.

1. The blood must be shed.  This was the evidence of death.
2. The blood must be sprinkled.  This was the evidence of application.
3. The blood must be applied in a Triune manner:  on the lintel, and on the two side posts.  It symbolized that the Triune GOD was involved in man’s salvation (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).  Salvation is through a Triune Name- the LORD Jesus Christ!
4. The blood was to be the token on the door of every house in order for deliverance to be effective.  The absence of blood brought judgment by the death angel.
5. The blood must be applied with hyssop.  Hyssop comes from a lowly shrub.  It speaks of the humility and lowliness of faith, which applies the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 11:28).
6. The blood must be applied in faith and obedience to the Word of the LORD through the Gospel given to Moses.

In fulfillment we see that when Jesus died on the Cross, He was both the Lamb  and the blood-sprinkled door.  In His death He is the Lamb, but in His resurrection He is the Door- the only entrance of the Household of faith, the Household of the Living GOD (John 10:19).  His blood must be lifted up, exalted, for the Triune GOD was involved in the work of redemption (Acts 20:28; Matthew 26:26-28; Hebrews 9:14).  It is by faith that the sinner accepts the sprinkled blood of Jesus as the token of his deliverance.  The blood must not be trodden under foot! (Colossians 1:13-14; Hebrews 9:22; 11:28; 10:29). 

J.  The Body of the Lamb must be Eaten- (Exodus 12:8-10)

The LORD Almighty was also particular about the body of the lamb, as much as of the blood.  Both the body and blood point to the body and blood of Jesus, the Lamb of GOD (Matthew 26:26-28).

1. It had to be eaten the same night.
2. It was to be eaten with unleavened bread, for there was no sin in Jesus.
3. It was to be eaten with bitter herbs because Calvary was a bitter experience, and sin is a bitter bondage to satan.
4. It was not to be eaten raw, but rather had to be roasted with fire.  This typifies Jesus’ experiencing the sufferings of the fire of GOD’s holiness at Calvary.
5. It was not to be soaked with water, because then it cannot be roasted.  So the Gospel message of Christ’s atonement is not be “watered down”.
6. Anything remaining after the Feast was to be burnt.  In the Exodus no Egyptian was to touch the body of the saving lamb.

The complete fulfillment is seen in the fact that Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb, suffered and died in the same night.  He experienced the burning fires of Calvary (Hebrews 12:29).  He was without sin, unleavened by any stain of evil.  He totally experienced the bitter sufferings of the cross.  Therefore the Gospel must never be presented as if Christ was just a martyr, or diluted in any manner.  It must be shared faithfully and exactly as it took place before GOD and man (2 Corinthians 5:7-8; 11:23-30; John 6:53-55; 19:29).  Each Israelite must feed on the ‘virtues’ of the lamb;  the head, the legs, and the inward parts were to be fed upon.  So we as believers feed on Christ’s mind (the head), the walk of Christ (the legs) and the inward motives and affections of Christ (the inward parts).

K.  How the Lamb was to be Eaten- (Exodus 12:11)

The Passover lamb was not to be eaten in a casual or sloppy manner. It had to be eaten in a hurry, ready for departure from Egypt ‘the House of Bondage.’

1. Loins were to be girded- (Ephesians 6:14; Luke 12:3-5; 1 Peter 1:13; Jeremiah 1:17).
2. Shoes must be on their feet- (Ephesians 6:15; Isaiah 52:7).
3. Staff must be in hand- (Hebrews 11:13).
4. The lamb must be eaten in haste- (Hebrews 11:13; Exodus 12:11).

Therefore everything was to be deliberate as ready for departure, in a state of vigilant readiness.  So the believer in Christ has his loins girded about with truth, his feet must be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, and with the sword of the Spirit in his hand, as he continually partakes of Christ (Ephesians 6:13-17).  There is no time for the true believer to play around in Egypt which is a type of the carnal world, getting ever darker.  We are pilgrims and strangers en route for the heavenly country and heavenly City of GOD (Hebrews 11:10-16; 12:22-29; 13:14; 1 Peter 1:13; 2:11).

L.  The LORD’s Passover- (Exodus 12:11-13; 23)

There is a double truth and meaning implicit in this title.  The ‘pass-over’ for the Egyptians meant death and judgment on the firstborn.  The ‘pass-over’ for the obedient meant divine protection and life.  The destroying angel would not touch any house where the blood was.  The covering blood was again the token of faith and obedience.  The true believer in Christ also passes over from death to life through faith in Christ’s sacrificial blood (Romans 3:24-25; 1 John 3:14).  No plague will come near our dwelling as we continue to experience this faith in Christ’s finished work (Psalm 91:1-10).

M.  A Memorial (Exodus 12:14)

The Passover was to be a memorial and ordinance forever to all their generations.  It was to be kept as a Feast unto the LORD.  It was a perpetual memorial of redemption and deliverance from Egypt’s life of sin and bondage.  Jesus instituted the ordinance of the LORD’s Supper to replace the Passover Supper.  The Table of the LORD is a memorial Feast for He asks us to “do this in remembrance of Me” (Matthew 26:26-28).

N.  The Midnight Hour- (Exodus 11:4-6; 12:29-30)

The Feast was to be held just before midnight, for that is when the death angel would go throughout Egypt and strike the firstborn of man and beast if no blood was evident.  The “Midnight Hour” is  always significant of the end of the age.  It is the darkest hour before the dawn of a new day.  At midnight there would be a great cry made as the death angel smited every house which had rejected the Passover lamb.  All these Scripture verses point to the end of the age (Matthew 25:6; Job 34:20; Judges 16:3; Mark 13:35; Luke 11:5; Exodus 11:4-6).

O.  This is very deep:  At the Going down of the Sun- (Deuteronomy 16:2, 6)

 When the LORD gave further instructions concerning the Passover Feast He stressed that it was to be at the going down of the sun.  The Prophet Amos foretold a day when GOD would cause the sun to go down at noon, and thus turn their Feasts into mourning (Amos 8:9-10).  Amazingly both these Scriptures were fulfilled and evidenced at the crucifixion.  When Jesus died on the cross, the sun was darkened at midday for three hours… from noon to evening.  This turned the Jews’ Feast of Passover into mourning for “the only Son” (Mark 14:33-34; Matthew 27:45-46).  The sun, the natural light of the world, was darkened in connection with the SON, the spiritual light of the world.

P.  Where His Name was Recorded- (Deuteronomy 16:2, 6; 12:5-14, 18, 21)

The Passover was also to be kept in the place where GOD would place His Name.  This place was the Tabernacle of the LORD once they came into the land of promise.  It was later on at the Temple of the LORD in the city of Jerusalem… for here was where GOD recorded His Name.  Thus the Passover was kept just outside the city of Jerusalem in the full view of the Temple of GOD where He had recorded His Name.  It was in this Temple that GOD tore the veil in connection with the death of His Lamb (1 Kings 8:12-30; Matthew 27:50-51).

Q.  Not a Bone was to be Broken- (Exodus 12:46; Psalm 34:20)

In the eating of the Passover lamb, GOD strictly commanded that no bones were to be broken.  Without a doubt this was not understood until the death of Jesus Christ.  The soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves to accelerate their death due to the lateness of the day.  But when they came to Jesus they found that He was already dead, for He had surrendered His spirit to the Father in death.  He was not a disobedient sheep needing His legs to be broken like the two thieves.

Thus GOD watched over His Word to fulfill it, both type and prophecy, as in the Law and the Psalms (also Acts 13:27; John 19:33-37).

The Full Wrath of GOD on the Perfect Lamb

R.  Safety in the House inside the Door- (Exodus 12:22-24)

None of the Israelites were to go outside the house until GOD commanded it.  Thus safety and security were conditional upon obedience, by staying inside the blood-sprinkled door and the household of faith, feeding on the lamb.  If any Israelite presumed to leave the house, stepping outside that door- there was no guarantee of safety, for he would have been met by the death-angel in the land.

Thus the Biblical Christian believer’s security is to stay inside the blood-sprinkled door (Christ, John 10:9), and in the church (which is His house:  1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:18-22; Hebrews 3:1-5).  Any disobedience borders on the great sin of presumption, and treading under the blood of the covenant (Hebrews 10:26-29).  We must all stay under the covering blood!

S.  Explanation of the Service (Exodus 12:25-28)

The LORD commanded Israel to keep this service forever and especially when they came into the land of promise.  When the little children would ask in time about the meaning of the service, the parents were to explain its origin and the purpose in keeping it.  Even more so is the responsibility of leadership in the church as well as the father, the high priest of each home to explain the New Testament fulfillment of the Old Testament Passover.  This would of necessity include the finished work of Christ on the Cross, as well as the LORD’s Table where this service is commemorated (1 Corinthians 5:6-8; 11:23-34; Matthew 26:26-28).

T.  Redemption makes Division and Difference- (Exodus 11:7; 8:23)

In the process of delivering Israel from the house of bondage, the LORD said that He would put a difference between the Israelites and the Egyptians, which is a division of redemption.  So it is that redemption makes the difference between the true believer and the unbeliever, creating a division in the human race into two classes:  those that are saved, and those that are lost (Romans 3:22; 10:12).

U.  Spoiling the Egyptians- (Exodus 12:31-36, 40-42)

With the death of the firstborn of man and beast, Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and told them to quickly get out of Egypt.  In their haste to get rid of them, the  Israelites took from the Egyptians jewels of gold and silver, clothing, and anything else they required.  This was in fulfillment of the prophetic word given to Abraham over 400 years before (Genesis 15:13-21).  It was also Israel’s payday for many years of toil and slavery.  This was the substance that the Israelites would give to the LORD for the building of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness (Exodus 25:1-9).

So it is that Christ spoiled principalities and powers in His triumph on the cross, and at His exodus or ascension, and now the believing church partakes of these spoils won through His death (Colossians 2:10; Isaiah 53:12; Judges 5:12; Psalm 68:18; Ephesians 4:8-10).

V.  The Exodus on Eagle’s Wings- Exodus 12:40-42; 19:1-6

Israel as a nation had been preserved through all of the ten plagues which fell on Egypt.  Now at the midnight hour, they experienced the great exodus…. going out to the wilderness.  The LORD reminded them later at Mt. Sinai that this delivering power from Egypt was the power of eagle’s wings.  There He brought them unto Himself in the wilderness.

All of this precious symbolism finds its ultimate fulfillment in the church of the Last Days when it we are taken to a place of preservation prepared by GOD.  The true church in the end times will know the preserving power of GOD in the midst of great plagues of wrath on a godless world (Acts 7:38; Revelation 12:6, 14).  The LORD likens Himself to a great eagle caring for its own (Deuteronomy 32:11; Luke 17:32-37; Isaiah 40:31; Psalm 103:1-4).

W.  The Healing Power in the Lamb- (2 Chronicles 30:13-20; Psalm 105:37)

As the children of Israel feasted on the body of the slain and roasted Passover Lamb, it appears that there was a great manifestation of the healing power of the LORD.  The Psalmist tells us that there was not one feeble person among them when He brought them forth. It is also remarkable that when  King Hezekiah restored the Feast of Passover back to the nation, that the LORD healed the people.

If healing took place under the typical lamb, how much more shall the people of the LORD find healing in the true Lamb, the LORD Jesus Christ, as we feast upon Him (Exodus 15:26; 3 John 2; Isaiah 53; Mark 16:15-20).

X.  The Church of the Firstborn- (Exodus 4:22-23; Hebrews 12:22-24)

The nation of Israel is spoken of as the church in the wilderness (Acts 7:38).  It is also referred to as GOD’s son, His firstborn.  As seen earlier, the emphasis that GOD placed on the firstborn is critically important.  The firstborn lamb must die.  Those who rejected the firstborn lamb had their firstborn slain.  All Israelites and all Egyptians must face the truth of the firstborn.

Thus the ultimate fulfillment is seen in the following:

1. Jesus Christ is GOD’s firstborn Lamb, the firstborn of Mary.
2. He is the firstborn from death, the firstborn of the dead, and the firstborn of all new creation.
3. The first Adam sinned and brought all his unborn race under death.
4. GOD set aside the firstborn after the fleshly birth, and brings in His firstborn after the new and second and heavenly birth.
5. GOD set aside Egypt as the first of nations, and brings in Israel as His firstborn, the firstborn church.

Thus Paul in the referenced Hebrews passage speaks of the church of the firstborn who have come to the blood of Jesus, which speaks better things than that of Abel’s.  One only becomes a member of the church of the firstborn by accepting Jesus Christ, GOD’s firstborn Lamb, and by the new and spiritual birth.

• Thus all the details of this glorious Feast find wonderful fulfillment in Christ who is our Passover Lamb, with His finished work on the Cross; He who was sacrificed for us.  When Jesus Himself closed off the old ceremony of the body and blood of the lamb, and established the new with the bread and the wine of His communion table- He closed one age… and with His resurrection, ascension, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost He initiated the final age of grace known as the Church Age.  Prepare to meet the LORD at His Glorious Appearing!

References used:

• Feasts & Holidays of the Bible- Jewish Roots of Believers in Yeshua (Jesus)-  Rose Publishing (2004)
• The Feasts of Israel-  Kevin J. Connor (1980) Please note:  Dr. Connor’s many books are worthy of serious study.  I have five titles of his extensive catalog and intend to acquire more.  They are available on Amazon or on his personal website here.

For additional personal edification in this Holy Season, please study prayerfully:

• The Power of His Resurrection
• “3 Days & 3 Nights in the Heart of the Earth”… and “A Quantum Hologram of Christ’s Resurrection?”

 

“Oh the Deep Deep Love Of Jesus”