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P A S S O V E R &
M E S S I A H
Pesach The story of the Egyptian
Passover is found in Exodus 12. The student of the Scriptures should not let
the familiarity of this passage keep him or her from continuing to study it over
and over again.
Passover, a Sacrifice. The Passover was a sacrifice. Modern theologians
dispute this but without any basis. It was an unusual sacrifice. In many
respects, it differed from the later sacrifices of the Law, but in some
aspects it was similar to what later became the sin offering, combined with
the peace offering. It is very important to realize its sacrificial aspect. The proofs of its
sacrificial characteristics are clear and abundant. The details of the
selection of the lamb, "year old males without defect"
(Exodus 12:5), the method of sprinkling the blood with hyssop (Exodus 12:22),
and the disposal of the remains of the meal (Exodus 12:10), all testify to
its sacrificial character. ln fact, Moses himself says, "It is the Passover
sacrifice to the Lord" (Exodus 12:27).
The purpose of this sacrifice was that the blood of the Passover lamb would
be sprinkled on the doorposts and the lintels of the Jewish homes, so that
the homes would be protected from the destroying angel. It is impossible for
any theologian who takes the Scriptures seriously to come to any other
conclusion. Exodus 12:13 says, "The blood will be a sign for you on the
houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No
destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt."
In other words, the Passover is a gospel before the gospel. The Passover was
not only a sacrifice, it was a festive meal. It later became the basis of
what is known in the Law as the "peace offering." The peace
offering was not an offering for peace; it was a meal eaten together by
people who were at peace with one another. Later, in the temple days, the
peace offering was shared with the priests, who represented God, and the offerer. It became a feast between God and man.
The peace offering always followed the sin offering. It is a picture of our
fellowship with our Lord. All of this is typified by the peaceful fellowship
which the one who partakes of the Passover meal experiences. "But if we
walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, & the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from every
sin"(1 John 1:7).
The Passover feast looked forward to "the Lamb of God, who takes away
the sin of the world" (John 1:29). "Christ, our Passover lamb,
[who] has been sacrificed" (I Corinthians 5:1), becomes "Christ
in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27).
Passover, a Commemoration All over the world, the
Egyptian Passover is remembered each year in Jewish homes. "This is a
day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall
celebrate it as a festival to the Lord.....a
lasting ordinance" (Exodus 12:14). It was celebrated for the first
time before deliverance was accomplished. A new calendar was reckoned from
it. "This month is to be for you the first month" (Exodus
12:2). The month of the Exodus, from then on, would be the first of the year.
The Passover, a sacrifice; the Passover, a feast; the Passover, a memorial;
all became the Passover, a prophecy. "Christ our Passover is
sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:1). For us, the past is crowned
with His sacrifice. For us, we have fed on the bread of God, and we now live
in communion with Him. For us, the memorial of deliverance is celebrated at
His table. Here we now eat of the sacrifice as God spoke to the Israelites, "with
your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet, and your staff
in your hand" (Exodus .12:11). We look forward, by His grace, to the time
when we all eat with Him in His kingdom. The past, the present, and the future are filled with our Passover Lamb. P R A I S E G O D ! For further
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