Passover

To God, in Eternity Past, the death of Jesus Christ was an accomplished fact long before it became a reality. Therefore, the Father recognized as sufficient the symbolic offering of the sacrificial lamb throughout the Old Testament. In Old Testament times, they gave testimony by ceremony. The ceremonies gave testimony to the death of Christ and the work of Christ on the cross that was to come. 1 Peter 1:19-20; Eph. 3:11.

“but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you” (1 Peter 1:19-20, NASB)

“This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Ephesians 3:11, NASB)

Thus, the shed blood of the animal became an atonement or covering for the guilty Old Testament sinner. God passed over the sins of the people until the coming of the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world. Exodus 12:13; John 1:29.

“'The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:13, NASB)

“The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NASB)

God Himself provided His own Lamb, who gave Himself willingly, to become the Passover Sacrifice. In 1 Corinthians 5:7, “For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.” Acts 2:23; Rev. 13:8; John 10:18.

“Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7, NASB)

“this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.” (Acts 2:23, NASB)

“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.” (Revelation 13:8, NASB)

“"No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."” (John 10:18, NASB)

Our Lord’s substitutionary spiritual death on the Cross provided the means to reconcile the world (unlimited atonement) to God that through appropriation of His saving grace, eternal life might be bestowed upon all who believe. Eph. 2:8-9.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB)

At the last Passover, Jesus showed His disciples that there would be no more Passover Feasts after this one - no more killing of lambs. The Passover Feast was just a shadow (picture) of Christ Himself who would bring a greater deliverance to the people - salvation. Jesus also showed that the shadow was soon to become the reality and that they would soon look back to the Cross instead of looking forward to it. Col. 2:17; Heb. 10:1.

“things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” (Colossians 2:17, NASB)

“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.” (Hebrews 10:1, NASB)

The Passover of the Age of Israel became the Communion table in the Church Age. The purpose of the Communion table is harmony, remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ, restoration to fellowship with God via confession of sin biblically, and fellowship. 1 Cor. 11:20-34.

“and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25, NASB)

“Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-28, NASB)

The First Passover

The Children of Israel had been slaves in Egypt for 400 years. The time of their deliverance had come. In spite of the plagues, Pharaoh had refused to let them go. Exodus 11:1-10.

“Now the LORD said to Moses, "One more plague I will bring on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out from here completely.” (Exodus 11:1, NASB)

In Exodus 11:2, “hearing of the people” means they were not listening to Pharaoh. In Exodus 11:4, “I am” refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. Exodus 12:12.

“"Speak now in the hearing of the people that each man ask from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor for articles of silver and articles of gold."” (Exodus 11:2, NASB)

“Moses said, "Thus says the LORD, 'About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt,” (Exodus 11:4, NASB)

“'For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the LORD.” (Exodus 12:12, NASB)

In Exodus 11:7, “distinction between the Egyptians and Israel” refers to the difference between the unbeliever and the believer. God protects His own. Rom. 8:1.

“'But against any of the sons of Israel a dog will not even bark, whether against man or beast, that you may understand how the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.'” (Exodus 11:7, NASB)

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1, NASB)

In Exodus 12:2, the principle was that as of the 14th of April (Passover), the Jews would begin a new life that would go from bondage to freedom in one night. All time would be measured in terms of regeneration rather than in terms of natural birth - from the point of liberation from bondage.

“"This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.” (Exodus 12:2, NASB)

In Exodus 12:3, “all the congregation of Israel” means that everyone had to get this information. “Each one” means that each person has to accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah for themselves. “A lamb for each household” means that each had to eat of that lamb, which is a picture of faith belief in Jesus Christ, their Messiah.

“"Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers' households, a lamb for each household.” (Exodus 12:3, NASB)

In Exodus 12:5, “unblemished” refers to the impeccability of the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior.

“'Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.” (Exodus 12:5, NASB)

In Exodus 12:6, “until the fourteenth day” refers to when the lamb was slain, which speaks of the day Jesus Christ would die spiritually as our substitute on the Cross. The tenth day in Exodus 12:3 speaks of our Lord’s virgin birth (incarnation). The eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth days speak of public ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ who was without blemish, without sin. The Jews watched the Passover lamb for three days to make sure it was entirely perfect. “At twilight” means between the evenings. Passover was unique among the feasts. It was a memorial that looked forward anticipating the future atoning work of our Lord on the Cross.

“'You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight.” (Exodus 12:6, NASB)

In Exodus 12:7, the blood of the lamb was to be painted on the two door posts and on the door lintel of the houses the Jews occupied. The blood only on the door wherein they were eating.

“'Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.” (Exodus 12:7, NASB)

In Exodus 12:8, “that same night” refers to the Passover night. “Roasted with fire” refers to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ being judged for our sins. “Shall eat” is a picture of non-meritorious faith. “Unleavened bread” represents the sinless humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ in hypostatic union. “Bitter herbs” was a reminder of the principle of grace. No one ever earns or deserves grace. This is a picture of salvation by grace. 2 Cor. 5:12; 1 Peter 2:24; Rom. 5:8; Isaiah 53:5-6.

“'They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.” (Exodus 12:8, NASB)

“We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.” (2 Corinthians 5:12, NASB)

“and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24, NASB)

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, NASB)

“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.” (Isaiah 53:5-6, NASB)

In Exodus 12:9, we have the description of how to properly prepare the lamb. “Do not eat any of it raw” is an admonition to cook the lamb by roasting only. Roasting the lamb by fire recognizes that the Lord Jesus Christ would be judged for all sins of mankind on the Cross. “Or boiled at all with water” means that there will be only one way to prepare the lamb and is a reference to no substitute for the blood of Jesus Christ such as ceremonialism or ritualism. “Its head” is a reference to the believer’s mental attitude and decision making. “And its legs” refers to service or being in a position to serve. “Along with its entrails” refers to the power inside the believer to serve.

“'Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with water, but rather roasted with fire, both its head and its legs along with its entrails.” (Exodus 12:9, NASB)

In Exodus 12:10, if you don’t eat (believe), the alternative is fire (judgment). John 3:18.

“'And you shall not leave any of it over until morning, but whatever is left of it until morning, you shall burn with fire.” (Exodus 12:10, NASB)

“"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18, NASB)

In Exodus 12:11 was given a four-fold standard operating procedure for eating. “With your loins girded” refers to clothes that you can walk or move quickly. Once you eat, be ready to move. How? By knowing God’s Word in the mind, convert it to epignosis knowledge by faith, thus functioning daily under the grace apparatus for perception while staying in fellowship. 2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 1:9; Phil. 3:13; Heb. 12:13-15.

“'Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste—it is the LORD'S Passover.” (Exodus 12:11, NASB)

“Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:” (2 Peter 1:1, NASB)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NASB)

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,” (Philippians 3:13, NASB)

“and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;” (Hebrews 12:13-15, NASB)

In Exodus 12:11, “sandals on your feet” refers to production as the result of being in fellowship. “Your staff in your hand” refers to the Word of God that contain His promises on which to lean using faith-rest. “You shall eat it in haste” refers to the believer learning a maximum amount of the Word of God in minimum time. This is quick transfer of gnosis to epignosis in the right lobe of the soul. In Exodus 12:12, the alternative is “judgment” (fire) which comes from God. John 3:36.

“"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."” (John 3:36, NASB)

In Exodus 12:13, Passover connotes eternal security as well as salvation. Everyone in Christ is secure forever. Everyone in the house is secure. Being in the house refers to belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, which is a picture of Christ in the believer and the believer in Christ. John 14:20.

“"In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” (John 14:20, NASB)

In Exodus 12:14, “memorial” means anticipating and remembering. Jews in the Old Testament looked forward to the Cross. We look back to the Cross. They had the lamb and the unleavened bread. They only had the blood on the door-posts on the first Passover in 1441 BC. From then on, the Jews didn’t live in houses and there were no posts in the tents. They used the cup representing the fruit of the vine, not wine - no leaven.

“'Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance.” (Exodus 12:14, NASB)

Exodus 12:26-27 was a command to the Israelites. The verbal and pictured Word, the plan of salvation was passed down from parent to child in each believing family as follows: 1) man was born a sinner; 2) sin has come between man and God, so man cannot come into the presence of God until something is done about his sinful state; 3) God’s promise was that someday, at the right time, God would send His perfect Son into the world to take away sin; 4) until then, the sin must be covered in God’s sight; 5) a lamb, perfect and innocent, must be offered, its blood to be shed and sprinkled as an atonement for sin; 6) when the Son of God (Lamb of God) came, He would not merely cover, but would remove sin and its penalty.

“"And when your children say to you, 'What does this rite mean to you?' you shall say, 'It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.'" And the people bowed low and worshiped.” (Exodus 12:26-27, NASB)

The application of Exodus 12:26-27 is that today, salvation is the same at it was in Old Testament times - believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, in Old Testament times in God’s sight, this was already an accomplished fact. Jesus Christ gave His life freely. Jews brought their sacrifices to the Levitical priest by their free will. We also accept the work of Jesus Christ through our free will. The Feast of the Passover should have been a continual reminder of the One who was to come and would die spiritually in their place. Instead, it became merely a ritual or a ceremony which they went through, with little realization of the Person it represented. 1 Peter 1:19-20; John 10:18; Lev. 1:3.

“'If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer it, a male without defect; he shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD.” (Leviticus 1:3, NASB)

The Last Passover

In Old Testament times, they gave testimony by ceremony. The ceremony of slaying the lamb was a testimony to the future death of Christ on the Cross. The ceremony of the Day of Atonement (sprinkling of the blood) was a ceremony that spoke of the future substitutionary spiritual death of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

At the Last Passover, Jesus Christ wanted to show His disciples that there would be no more Passover Feasts after this one. No more killing of lambs. The Passover Feast was just a shadow or picture of Christ Himself who would bring a greater deliverance to the people through salvation. The shadow would soon become the reality. They would soon look back to the Cross instead of forward to it. Col. 2:17; Heb. 10:1.

“things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” (Colossians 2:17, NASB)

At the Last Passover, a love feast was eaten before communion. Judas left between Matthew 26:25 and Matthew 26:26 according to John 13:30-32. Judas was present at the Love Feast, but he departed before communion. All the time Jesus was giving out the communion elements to His eleven disciples, Judas was betraying Him.

“And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself."” (Matthew 26:25, NASB)

“While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."” (Matthew 26:26, NASB)

“So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night. Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.” (John 13:30-32, NASB)

In Matthew 26:28, “the covenant” refers to the New Covenant of salvation by grace. The Passover was then changed into the Lord’s table, our communion table, looking back to the Cross. God has a perfect plan and a perfect timetable. God’s Lamb was to die at the very time when the Jewish Passover took place, which, for all these years, looked forward to the death of the Lamb. John 18:28, John 18:39. See category on the New Covenant to Israel.

“for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28, NASB)

“Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.” (John 18:28, NASB)

“"But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?"” (John 18:39, NASB)

Even while the Roman officials were pronouncing judgment on the Lord Jesus Christ, the preparation for the Passover began. John 19:14.

“Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, "Behold, your King!"” (John 19:14, NASB)

Little did they realize that prophecy was being fulfilled by rejecting the One who came to save them. John 1:11.

“He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.” (John 1:11, NASB)

So the Lamb, without spot and blemish, Jesus Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 1 Cor. 5:7.

“Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7, NASB)