Happy Passover

Today, I want to take a little detour to celebrate the Passover. Unfortunately, we call it Easter today after the Babylonian goddess Astarte, the Queen of Heaven. That’s an entirely different sermon that would probably get me into trouble anyway. Be that as it may, we are celebrating the Passover, not Easter which was a pagan festival that was adapted into Christianity.

What I want you to see today is that Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover. He is our Passover Lamb! It says in 1 Corinthians 5:7, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” Open your Bible and follow along as we go through Exodus 12. This is going to be quick, but worthwhile if you will take time to open your Bible and follow along.

The Passover was introduced by God to the Israelites in the book of Exodus right before He was about to bring the tenth plague on the Egyptians that would kill the firstborn male child in every home. However, he told the Israelites in Exodus 12 that if they wanted their firstborn males to live, they would have to go into their flocks and do the following eleven things.

First, they were to select a Lamb on the 10^th day of Nisan (v.3). Second, the Lamb was to be an unblemished male (v.5). Third, the Lamb was to be kept among them for what amounted to 3½ days (v.6a). Fourth, the Lamb was to be killed on the fourteenth of Nisan (v.6a). Fifth, the blood of the Lamb was to be applied to the top and sides of the door of their home (v.7). Sixth, once the Lamb was dead, it was to be roasted in fire (v.8). Seventh, they had to eat the Lamb (v.11a). Eighth, we also notice in v.46 that none of its bones were to be broken. Ninth, they had be girded (dressed) and ready to go (v.11b). Tenth, the blood on the household caused God's judgment to pass over it (v.13). Eleventh, once the Lamb was killed, no leaven was to be eaten or even found in the house (v.15).

Now, it gets interesting. All eleven of these things were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb. I wish I could go into much more detail, but time does not allow it here. However, this will be my topic Sunday morning at Borderland.

First, Jesus entered the eastern gate on the 10^th day of Nisan (April 6^th), thus the lamb was selected. Second, Jesus was an unblemished male. Pilate said in John 18:38 “…I find no fault in Him at all.” Peter, when speaking of Jesus said in 1 Peter 1:19 that we are redeemed “…with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” Third, Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem for 3½ days after He had entered the city on the 10^th day of Nisan (April 6^th). Fourth, Jesus was killed on the fourteenth day of Nisan which on our Julian calendar is April 10^th. The same ones who cried, “Hosanna”, at His triumphal entry just three days earlier cried out, “Crucify Him!” Oh, how a crowd can change so quickly! Fifth, Jesus has made his blood available and it is the only way that we are going to escape judgment and death. Hebrews 9:12 says, “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Sixth, Jesus endured the fire of God's judgment, by descending into Hell and taking our punishment upon Himself. He was our burnt (sin) offering. Seventh, we too, must appropriate Jesus Christ. We do this symbolically at the Communion table and literally by accepting him into our lives as Lord and Savior. Eighth, none of Jesus’ bones were broken (John 19:31-36). Ninth, we too, should live in expectancy of the imminent return of Jesus Christ and should always be ready to go at a moments notice. Tenth, when we apply the blood of Jesus to our lives, God's judgment passes over us. Eleventh, once we have applied the blood of Jesus Christ to our lives, sin (leaven) should not be found in our homes. John said in 1 John 3:6, “Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” How about you? Is Jesus your Passover Lamb?