Ep. 29. Exodus 11-12 | The Passover
EPISODE 29
THE PASSOVER: EXODUS 11-12
The Passover is a beautiful picture of Christ's death for our salvation. Let's try putting ourselves into the Hebrews' mind frame in Egypt. On the fourteenth day of the month, we should sacrifice a lamb that has lived with us for a little while. We will take the blood of the lamb and paint our doorframes with it. We will eat the lamb with readiness. It is a somber moment. This feast is not a time for frivolity but sober thinking. At midnight, God comes through the land, bringing judgment on all not covered by the blood. Again, God distinguishes between those who belong to him and those who don't. With a shout and a cry of sorrow, we, the slaves, are thrust out of captivity into life and freedom.
On the last night of his life, Jesus celebrates Passover with his disciples. At the end of the supper, he took the bread and declared, "This is my body broken for you." After the bread, he took the wine and said, "This is the blood of the New Covenant shed for you." Jesus takes ownership of the Passover, declaring himself the lamb and his blood the saving force. Having lived with us for a little while, he sheds his blood for the salvation of all who would believe. It isn't an accident Jesus died in conjunction with the Passover celebration, but we will talk about that more in Leviticus.
The Hebrews fled without adding yeast (leaven) to their bread. And so the celebration would always include unleavened bread. We, too, find that we, followers of Jesus, are not leavened with the false teaching of those who would draw us away from Jesus. We are new in Christ.
So now we, people of faith, celebrate the Lord's supper, communion, or the Eucharist as a remembrance of the work of Jesus on the cross, faithfully proclaiming his death until he returns. I find it interesting that some believers celebrate the Passover regularly since it commemorates the Hebrew deliverance from Egypt. It seems to me that Jesus redefined the celebration and changed it into something new in him. It appears to be another example of the practical worldly experience melting away in light of the greater glory of the spiritual truth of salvation in Jesus Christ. He is the new Passover lamb and has been sacrificed for us. I have many other thoughts on this matter, but I'll save those for conversations we will have in the coming days.
Oh, and don't miss the "mixed multitude" that went up with the Hebrews. These are the forerunners of us Gentiles who have been and will be included in the grace of God and his promised blessing.
ADDITIONAL READING: 1 Corinthians 11, 1 Corinthians 5:7, Matthew 26, Exodus 4:22-23, Exodus 3:21-22, Genesis 15:14,
