Teaching Notes
A New Month
Exodus 12:1-2: And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. The Lord marks this new beginning for Israel by rearranging the calendar and the month of Abib becomes the beginning of their year. Today, it is known by the Jews as the month of Nisan. The name change took place during the Babylonian captivity, and they pronounced it "Nissanu."
The Lord's Passover
vv.3-28 God is giving them instruction for an observance that should take place every year. This may all seem like just a bit of Jewish history until we read the words of John the Baptist in Joh 1:29 and Paul's words in 1 Corinthians chapter 5 when he calls Jesus "Christ our Passover Lamb" (1Co 5:7-8). In every detail, the Passover looks back to the time that God's judgment passed over the houses with the lamb's blood on them and looked forward to the ultimate Passover sacrifice of the Lamb of God - Jesus Christ.
Selected on the 10th Day of Nisan
1. Notice that the Lamb was to be selected on the 10th day of Nisan (Exo 12:3). We also know that on that very same day, Nisan 10, 32 AD, Jesus told his disciples to go and lose the colt in Mat 21:2. That very same day, Jesus entered the eastern gate voluntarily submitting himself to be the sacrificial Lamb fulfilling Passover.
Unblemished Male
2. Notice that the Lamb was to be an unblemished male (Ex 12:5). Unblemished means to not be damaged or marked in any way; perfect. So too, Jesus was unblemished by sin (Joh 18:38; 1Pe 1:19)
Kept for 3.5 Days
3. Notice also that the Passover Lamb was be kept among them for what amounted to 3 ½ days (Exo 12:6). So too, entered the city on the 10th, walked the streets of Jerusalem for 3 ½ days before be was arrested, tried, and sentenced on the 14th day of Nisan.
Killed on the 14th of Nisan
4. Notice that the Lamb was to be killed on the fourteenth of Nisan at evening (Exo 12:6).vSo too, Jesus was killed at evening on the 14th day of Nisan. The same ones who cried, "Hosanna", at His triumphal entry three days later cried, "Crucify Him!"
Blood Applied
5. Notice that the blood of the Lamb was to be applied to the top and sides of the door (Exo 12:7; Heb 9:12).
Roasted in Fire
6. Notice that the Lamb was to be roasted in fire (Exo 12:8). So too, Jesus endured the fire of God's judgment, taking the punishment for the world's sin upon Himself. He literally became the burnt offered for the world, therefore, paying our sin debt. In the Old Testament, the burnt offering was made twice per day to atone for the sins of the nation. It was the first offering that Noah made when he exited the ark in Gen 8:20 and when Abraham offered up his son, Isaac, in Gen 22:2. Therefore, Jesus became our burnt offering to permanently atone or take away our sins. He satisfied our sin debt.
Eat the Lamb
7. Notice that they had to eat the Lamb (Exo 12:11). We too must appropriate and internalize Jesus Christ. For centuries the church has done this through the communion table (1Co 11:24-25). For most, this has been purely symbolic, while for some, it has been literal. Either way, the entire event looked forward to a New Covenant that God is going to make with the Nation of Israel one day and has very little to do with the Body of Christ.
None of Its Bones Broken
8. Notice that none of the lamb's bones were to be broken (Exo 12:46). In the crucifixion account, none of Jesus' bones were broken (Joh 19:31-36).
Ready to Go
9. Notice also that they were to eat the lamb ready to go (Exo 12:11). We too should live our lives ready to go (1Th5:2). We too should be ready to go at a moment's notice!
God's Judgment
10. Notice also that the blood on the household caused God's judgment to pass over the home (Exo 12:13). So too, when except what Christ did for us on the cross, judgment passes over us (Heb 9:13-14; Eph 2:13). The only way for any of us to escape the judgment of God is to apply the blood to our hearts (Rom 2:3)
No Yeast to be Found
11. Notice that once the Lamb was killed, no leaven was to be eaten or even found in the house (Exo 12:15). Leaven in the Bible is always a picture of sin. Once we have accepted the sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf, we will not by any stretch of the imagination become sinless, but we will become righteous in God's eyes. Paul says in Rom 4:21-25, when speaking of Abraham that just as he received righteousness because of his belief, so do we.
Judgment Fell
v.29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. Notice that judgment fell on all of those who did not apply the blood to the doorposts of their homes that night. So to those who rejected our Lord was shut up in blindness and ultimately perished because of their unbelief.
What about us today? Do we believe? Have we placed our faith in the sacrificed Passover Lamb?
Paul declared the gospel in 1Co15:1-4, Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Those verses contain the only hope for a lost and dying world.
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