The Passover Lamb

It amazes me when ignorant men challenge the divine authenticity of God's Word. Even a cursory glance at the miraculous connections of Scripture prove that no mere man could have been it's author. God had to have been the source! The very fact that one Man, Jesus, so perfectly fulfilled countless types and prophecies is evidence that simply cannot be disputed. One such marvelous example of this is found regarding the feast of Passover, which is being celebrated this week. The divine and miraculous connections are beautiful evidences that God, by His Spirit, penned the Word of God.

In the Old Testament, the Passover was celebrated because the angel of death "passed over" the children of Israel and paved their way to exit the bondage of Egypt (Exod 12:14). Death passed over because there was blood on their doorposts. In the New Testament, Paul clearly interprets this feast for us: Jesus is our Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5:7-8). "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (Jn 1:29).

Notice His complete antitypical fulfillment:

1. Passover was the beginning of months (Exod 12:2). This feast became the first month of the sacred year to the nation of Israel. Similarly, this Passover experience typifies the believer's justification, that is, their foundation experience in God, the beginning of our three-fold salvation (justification, sanctification and glorification). The very fact that it took place in the 1st month showed that God had more in mind for them in the months that lay ahead (typified by Pentecost and Tabernacles).

2. The lamb was to be held for 4 days (Exod 12:3-6). The Israelites were to take the lamb on the 10th day and kill it on the 14th. Similarly, Jesus entered Jerusalem on the 10th day, and was crucified on the 14th (Lk 19:37; Matt 22:15-24).

3. It was to be a lamb of the first year (Exod 12:5). In other words, it was to be a firstborn lamb. Similarly, Jesus was the firstborn Son of God, the firstborn of Mary, and the firstborn of God's new creation (Matt 1:21-25; Rev 3:14; Col 1:15; Rom 8:29).

4. It was to be a male lamb (Exod 12:5). By one man sin entered into the world, and so death passed upon all men (Rom 5:12), therefore, similarly a male had to die as the second federal head of all creation; the last Adam.

5. It was to be a lamb without spot or blemish (Exod 12:5). Peter tells us how Jesus fulfilled this requirement. He was sinless, spotless and without blame (1 Pet 1:18-20). The Israelites were asked to inspect the Passover lamb to ensure it was spotless. Similarly, Jesus was inspected by many men, and was found blameless. He was inspected by: Pilate (Jn 18:28, 38), Herod (Lk 23:8-12), Annas (Lk 3:2; Jn 18:13, 24), Caiphas (Jn 11:49-53; 18:13-14), Judas (Matt 27:54), the Centurion (Matt 27:54), and the repentant thief (Lk 23:39-43). All found Him to be perfect!

6. It was to be a lamb for a house (Exod 12:3-5). Similarly, Jesus is the Lamb of God for all those in the household of faith (Jn 1:29; Gal 6:10).

7. They were to kill it in the evening (Exod 12:6). This literally means, "between two evenings". Similarly, Jesus was crucified between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm (Mk 15:33).

8. The whole assembly was to kill it (Exod 12:6). The whole congregation of Israel was involved in the death of the Passover lamb. Similarly, the Sanhedrin, priests, and the people of Israel all begged for the crucifixion of Jesus (Jn 19:15; Lk 23:23; Mk 15:33; Matt 27:4, 25).

9. The blood of the lamb was to be applied to the lintel and the door posts (Exod 12:7, 13, 22). What was done with the blood was very important to God. The blood must be shed (evidence of death), the blood must be sprinkled (evidence of application), and it must be sprinkled in a triune manner (lintel and 2 doorposts), signifying Christ's involvement in man's triune salvation. The blood was to be a token in order for deliverance to take place. Also, it was to be applied with hyssop. Hyssop comes from a lowly shrub, which speaks of the lowliness of faith, which applies the blood of Christ (Eph 2:8; Heb 11:28).

10. It was to be a memorial (Exod 12:14). Similarly, the Lord's Supper is our memorial feast (Matt 26:26-28).

11. Not a bone was to be broken (Exod 12:46; Ps 34:20). The method of crucifixion called for the legs to be broken to hasten the death of the sufferer. The 2 thieves on Jesus' right and left had their legs broken. But Jesus' legs were not. He was already dead. He was not a disobedient Lamb, needing His legs to be broken. He accepted the fact that He was there to die. Men unwittingly fulfilled this prophecy (Acts 13:27; Jn 19:33-37).

12. The Egyptians were spoiled of their goods (Exod 12:31-36, 40-42). Similarly, Christ spoiled principalities and powers by His triumph on the cross. The believing church partakes of these spoils won through His death (Col 2:10; Isa 53:12; Eph 4:8-10).

13. Healing is provided (Ps 105:37). It seems that as God brought the Israelites forth, there was not a "feeble" person among them. Similarly, by Christ's stripes we are healed (Isa 53; Exod 15:26).

In appropriating this truth, believers are to eat the body of the Lamb (Exod 12:8-10), even as Jesus commanded us: "And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me" (1 Cor 11:24 ). The Israelites were to eat the head, legs and the purtenance (inward parts). So the believer is to continually feed upon the virtues of Christ's mind (head), His walk with God (legs), and His inward motives and affections (inward parts), (Jn 6:53-55). Included as a part of this Passover feast was the feast of unleavened bread (typifies baptism) and the feast of the sheaf of firstfruits (typifies resurrection and newness of life).

Who can fail to recognize such a divine and miraculous antitypical fulfilment? Only a willingly ignorant man!

"Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast..." (1 Cor 5:7-8).