CHRIST, OUR PASSOVER LAMB

Isaiah 53:3-7

 

John 1:32-36 – And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ “And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”  Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

A.                 The Old Testament

1.                  Has lots of types, figures, and prophecies which foreshadow the coming of Christ

2.                  None is probably more powerful than the Paschal Lamb and the observance of the Passover

 

B.                 The Passover sacrifice portrays the sacrifice of Christ is great detail

1.                  Each part of the Passover memorial shows another part of the Lord’s sacrifice that would be fulfilled

2.                  The blood shed on the Jewish altars had no real meaning until the true Lamb of God shed His blood on the cross

3.                  To get the full meaning of the Passover memorial and its relation to Christ’s sacrifice – We will look at Exodus 12

4.                  Then we will be able to see the pattern of the “TYPE” and the “ANTI-TYPE” revealed

 

 

I.                   LET’S LOOK AT THE PASSOVER LAMB

A.                 The Paschal Lamb (means it relates to the Jewish Passover)

1.                  Is a fitting type of Jesus Christ

2.                  The lamb was a yearling

a.                   Neither in infancy

b.                  Nor yet in old age

 

3.                  He represented the strength of manhood in our Lord who died for us

 

B.                 The meekness and innocence of a lamb

1.                  Typified the willingness of our Savior to submit to His Father’s will

2.                   Listen to John again – John 1:29 – The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

 

C.                 Even in prophecy

1.                  Christ was portrayed as a lamb being slain for His people

2.                  Isaiah 53:7 – He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.

 

D.                Isn’t it fitting that our Lord was pictured as the Passover Lamb?

 

II.                THE LAMB WAS ALSO CHOSEN BY THE FATHER

A.                 The Passover lamb

1.                  Was chosen by the father (Exodus 12:3)

2.                  In the same way Christ was chosen by His Father (John 3:16)

 

B.                 Each house was to provide its own Passover lamb

1.                  Just as God supplied one lamb for His house

2.                  His house? – The Lord’s church

3.                  Paul wrote of Jesus in Ephesians 1:7 – In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…

4.                  There is only one house for which our Lord was sacrificed

5.                  1 Timothy 3:15 – but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

 

C.                 That house is the church

 

III.             THE LAMB WAS ALSO KEPT FOR INSPECTION

A.                 We are told that the Passover lamb

1.                  Was taken on the 10th day of the first month of the year

2.                  It was then killed on the 14th day – Exodus 12:6

 

B.                 So it was kept for inspection for four days

1.                  So it is significant that Jesus Christ

a.                   Entered Jerusalem in the sight of the multitude on the day the lamb was taken

b.                  And that He died on the day and hour that the Passover lamb was killed

 

2.                  The lamb had to be inspected to make sure it was without blemish and free from disease

3.                  Christ was

a.                   Taken (imprisoned)

b.                  Inspected (put on trial)

c.                   And pronounced perfect by the ruler of the people

d.                   Pilate declares in Luke 23:14 – “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people.  And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him.

 

IV.              THE LAMB WAS TO BE WITHOUT BLEMISH

A.                 The Passover lamb

1.                  Had to be carefully inspected and found without blemish (Exodus 12:5)

2.                  Just as the Passover lamb was without blemish…So Was Christ

3.                  Peter says we have been redeemed in 1 Peter 1:19 – with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

 

B.                 As 1 Peter 2:22 says Jesus is the one “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.”

 

C.                 Also interesting to note

1.                  Jesus was place on the cross at the time of the morning offering (3rd hour)

2.                  He died at the time of the evening sacrifice (9th hour)

3.                  Like the Passover lamb who was roasted on crossed sticks – So Christ was place on a cross for us

 

 

 

 

V.                 ANOTHER COMPARISON – NO BONES WERE BROKEN

A.                 The congregation

1.                  Joined in slaying the Passover lamb

2.                  Jews and Gentiles joined in crucifying the Lord

 

B.                 God was careful to specify that no bones were to be broken

1.                  In the Passover lamb – Exodus 12:46

2.                  This was also true in the sacrifice of the Lamb of God of our Passover

3.                  Psalm 34:20 – He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken

4.                   John 19:32-36 – Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him.  But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. (v.36) For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”

 

VI.              THEN WE SEE THE BLOOD APPLIED

A.                 One of the most gripping parts of this “type” is the application of the blood

1.                  The blood of the Passover lamb - Sprinkled on the doorposts and lintels (Ex. 12:7)

2.                  Those protected by that blood had to literally pass through the blood to enter into the house of safety

 

B.                 In like manner

1.                  The blood of Christ was shed to protect His house – The church

2.                  Paul told the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:28 – Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

 

C.                 The Hebrews had safety only in the house protected by the blood of the Passover lamb

 

D.                In the same way

1.                  We have protection only in the house protected by the blood of Jesus Christ

2.                  There is no other refuge

 

VII.           WE ALSO SEE THE NEED OF BEING REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD

A.                 The Hebrews were redeemed from the death angel by the blood of the Passover lamb

1.                  The blood that was applied to their house

2.                  Christians are redeemed only by the blood of Christ

 

B.                 The blood that purchased His church

1.                   Colossians 1:13, 14 – He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

2.                  Peter also tells us we are redeemed by the blood of Christ

3.                   1 Peter 1:18-19 – Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition form your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

 

C.                 Apostle John wrote about one of the beauties of being IN Christ in 1 John 1:7 – But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

 

VIII.        THEN WE SEE THE SUPPER EATEN

A.                 The eating of the Passover meal

1.                  Was only for those who were protected and sheltered by the blood

2.                  In other words – By those who were in that house

3.                  If it were any different – The Passover would have had no meaning at all

 

B.                 The Lord’s Supper

1.                  In the same way is eaten by only those who have come into Christ and found refuge in His house

2.                  His house which is the church (1Timothy 3:15)

 

C.                 With Israel

1.                  The Passover supper was instituted in Egypt

2.                  But it was mainly observed after they had been freed from Egyptian bondage

 

D.                The Lord’s Supper

1.                  Was instituted outside the church

2.                  That is it was instituted before the church was established

3.                  But the supper was to be eaten by those on the inside of His church

 

E.                 Israel ate the Passover meal

1.                  With unleavened bread

2.                  And bitter herbs – Num. 9:11

 

F.                  Christians eat the Lord’s supper

1.                  With the Unleavened bread of sincerity and truth

2.                  In the midst of bitter trials – 1 Cor. 5:7-8

 

IX.              WE SEE THE PASSOVER SUPPER WAS A LASTING MEMORIAL

A.                 As Israel observed the Passover supper

1.                  It served as a memorial of the passing over of the angel of death – Ex. 12:11-14

2.                  As we observe the Lord’s supper – It is done in memory of the death of our Passover lamb – Jesus Christ

3.                  His sacrifice means death no longer has power over us

 

B.                 Israel celebrated their deliverance of bondage from the Egyptians during the Passover

 

C.                 Christians celebrate our deliverance from the bondage of sin

1.                  This too is a lasting memorial

2.                  Luke 22:19 – …do this in remembrance of Me.

 

X.                 FINALLY THE MEMORIAL IS EXPLAINED

A.                 When Israel observed the Passover

1.                  They were to explain the meaning of the Passover

2.                  To Generation after generation – Deut. 16:3

3.                  Those not born at the time of the Exodus had to be told the importance of the Passover

 

 

 

 

B.                 In the same way

1.                  Christians are to instruct one another

2.                  Reminding each other of the meaning and significance of the Lord’s supper

3.                  1 Cor. 11:23-26 – For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; of this in remembrance of Me.”  In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.:  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

 

XI.              IN CLOSING

A.                 Here are some important reminders

1.                  Never overlook the place of blood in our redemption

2.                  To find refuge Israel had to be in the house sheltered by blood

3.                  We to must be in the “house sheltered by the blood” – That is the body of Christ

4.                  That means we must seek and find His church in order to enter it for refuge

5.                  We must pass through the blood to enter into His house

6.                  This we do through baptism

7.                  We are baptized into Christ Jesus…Baptized into His death – Romans 6:3,4

 

B.                 Study the scriptures

1.                  If you are not protected by the Blood of the Passover Lamb

2.                  Find out what you need to do to enter into the house of God

3.                  We pray you will enter into that refuge by being baptized and having your sins washed away (Acts 2:38)

4.                  But don’t take my word for it – See what scripture says