The Passover Lamb – Exodus 12
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The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:29
There are several occurrences of the foreshadowing of Jesus throughout the book of Exodus. But for today we are going to look at Jesus, the Passover Lamb.
Most believers know that celebrating the Lord’s Supper is first of all to remember, always, the sacrifice of Jesus. But this poignant and meaningful observance is also a reminder of the Passover from long ago.
Passover foreshadowed all that Jesus was and all that He did.
He was the sinless Lamb of God. His blood purchased the redemption of every believer.
We see God’s salvation of the Hebrew people as He covered them with the blood of the lamb. (Exodus 12:12 & 13)
By faith Moses kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Hebrews 11:28
With that, let’s read about Jesus in the Old Testament book of Exodus.
Exodus chapter 11 ends with Pharoah’s hard-hearted grasp on the Hebrew people. But his mere grasp was no match for the power of God.
Pharaoh was a symbol of Satan. If you have ever seen photos of any of the Pharaoh’s crowns from antiquity, you will notice a cobra is integrated into the crown. The serpent symbolizes our adversary.
Egypt had endured nine plagues from the Lord. The arrogant Pharaoh would not relent and free the people. The final plague unleashed would be utterly devastating. But God’s children would not be touched.
The people were told to take a lamb for their whole household. If their household was too small to consume one lamb, then small families could join together to share one lamb...”according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb.” Exodus 12:4
God gave the people specific instructions. The first step was to set aside their lamb on the fourteenth day of the month. This was to reestablish the Hebrew new year. This wasn’t just an arbitrary day on the calendar. This divine rescue would always be a reminder of the unbreakable covenant of God.
Each step had a purpose. Each step pointed to the blood of the Lamb-Jesus.
So, Moses gave the people these instructions:
- A male lamb that was one year old was to be set aside.
- It could have no imperfection.
- It was to be kept until twilight on the 14th day. The slaughter of the lamb on this day and at this time became the moment of divine deliverance.
- Blood was to be applied to the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they lamb would be eaten.
- They shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs
- It was to be roasted in fire, and all of it was to be eaten.
- What remained of it had to be burned with fire.
How does all of this give us a picture of Jesus?
Well let’s take a look.
The Passover Lamb
The spotless lamb would have been bred for the single purpose of being sacrificed. But we know that little lamb could not really cleanse sinners. He was just a symbol of the Life that would come to save sinners.
All of its blood was caught in a basin. The blood had no effect if left in the basin. It had to be applied to the doorposts and lintel of each house. Then the Lord would pass over them, protecting the first born in every house.
The people applied the blood with the branches of a hyssop plant. Do you remember when hyssop was used in the crucifixion of Jesus? (John 19:29)
All of the lamb was then roasted in the fire with bitter herbs. The bitterness of the herbs was a reminder of godly sorrow.
The people ate unleavened bread. Leavened bread symbolized sin. The devastation of sin grows in lukewarm hearts.
Then the people feasted together as a new and holy nation.
And thus, you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So, you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.
‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Now 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 the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Exodus 12:11 & 13
Jesus- The Lamb of God
The Lamb of God was spotless.
You were redeemed, “…with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
Have you ever realized that the doorposts and the lintel of the doorways where the blood was applied, represents the cross? Just as they symbolize God’s protection, and a reminder of His unbroken covenant, so the cross is reminder of His continued provision.
“…Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”
When believers are born again, the blood of Christ shed on the cross, sets us apart. We are transferred from death to life.
The Hebrew people had to apply the blood for it to be effective. If left in the basin they would have died. If we don’t submit to the cleansing blood of Christ, we are rejecting His sacrifice.
The unleavened bread eaten by the people symbolizes the bread of the Last Supper. Here, Jesus told the disciples that His body would be broken for all who believed.
Committed believers take seriously the command to memorialize the sacrifice of the Savior.
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
Matthew 26:26
As in the day of the Passover, believers are to keep the feast, together as the body of Christ. We should always remember, together, the sacrifice of our Lord. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
“Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.“
1 Corinthians 5:8
As Seed Basket continues to find Jesus in the Old Testament, there should be no doubt that it is still relevant and changeless. Anyone who teaches otherwise has never submitted to the Lamb of God.
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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