Our journey on the road to the resurrection this week takes us to the Passover scene in the book of Exodus. The reason we stop here is because the things that take place in this story provide a picture of what God has done for us Christ. We have the privilege of looking back through time at this amazing event and it helps us see the sovereign hand God at work in and through the lives of His people.

When we read the Passover story we’re told of how God’s people were living in bondage, suffering at the hands of their oppressors, and the prospect of enjoying any type of new life was basically outside the realm of possibility.

It’s at this point we’re reminded of what God said in Exodus 3:7, “I have indeed seen the misery of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.” In verse 8 we read, “So—I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians.” God has not forgotten about His people or His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The promise God made was really pretty simple…He would provide a place where His people could enjoy life in the midst of His presence. Now—here at the beginning of Exodus…that’s not what we find. What we do find is troubling—His people are in bondage, being beaten and brutalized with little hope of experiencing the blessing of God’s promise. But—let’s not forget, this is the beginning of the story not the end.

What happens next is truly amazing. God raise’s up a deliverer, brings judgment on the oppressors and then institutes a process whereby His people will not forget what He is going to do for them. This is a picture of what He has done for us as well through Jesus. He was raised up (John 1:29) – He took God’s judgment for our sin (2 Cor 5:21) – He instituted a process to help us remember what He did for us (Mat 26:26-29).  

Our hope today is that we will see the parallel between what God did in the Passover to what He has done for us in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.   

1. The selection of a sacrificial animal.

Moses gave specific instructions concerning the sacrifice required in order for the people of God to escape the judgment coming on all of Egypt. In verses 4-6 we’re given some of the details about animal to be chosen for the sacrifice.

A. The sacrifice is to be a lamb. A lamb pictures innocence, meekness and patience. We also think of a lamb as basically defenseless.

B. The lamb was to be a year old. This would signify that the lamb had grown into maturity. It would have been just beginning to experience the prime of life.

C. The lamb was to be separated from the rest of the flock. Taken in to the household and cared for.

D. This lamb was to be “without defect.” The sacrifice had to be their best…perfect in every way.

As we read these details for the sacrifice—you can’t help but think of the parallels to Christ. The prophet Isaiah said a servant was coming from God “who was like a lamb” (53:7). When we think about Jesus—we know the Bible talks about Him with terms like innocent, meek and good (2 Cor 10:1). We know that He was cut down in the prime of life. We know that Peter refers to Him as “a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19). We know that He was like us in our humanity but was separate from us by His deity (Mat 16:16ff).

Let’s remember what John the Baptist said about Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:29) and not forget what the apostle Paul said, “Jesus is our Passover Lamb” (1 Cor 5:7). A bit of good news for us this morning would be—like He did for the children of Israel in Egypt, God not only provided the sacrifice…He also pointed Him out so we wouldn’t miss Him…Amen.

2. The significance of the sacrificial lamb.

In verses 6-30 we read that Moses continues to give specific instructions to the people concerning the Passover meal. That being said—at some point you know the people had to be wondering what all of this means? (Significance)

Notice if you will at least 4 significant things about the Passover lamb that also signifies the work of Christ.

A. The Passover lamb was to be slaughtered in the community during the afternoon hours.

B. The blood of the sacrifice was to be caught in basins and then applied to the doorframes of the house as a sign that the inhabitants had consecrated themselves to Yahweh.

C. The blood shielded the people from the power of the destroyer.

D. The whole event would become an ordinance to remind the people of who God is.

Let’s consider for a moment what significance these things have with Christ and what that means to us today. First of all, the hill of Golgotha was within the precincts of Jerusalem and Jesus dies about 3pm (Mark 15:33ff). It’s not a coincidence that Jesus was nailed to the cross on the Day of Preparation and died at the time the sacrificial lamb was slain during the Passover. It’s a fulfillment of prophesy…He’s our Passover Lamb.

What does that mean to us today? When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we’re reminded of Jesus sacrificial death on the cross at Calvary. Among this community of believers—we remember His death by eating a small piece of bread that signifies His body (Mat 26:26). Like the Israelites of the Exodus—this is part of an ordinance we are to keep. In keeping this ordinance—it serves as a reminder and a tool to teach our children about the God we serve.

When we think about the blood applied to the doorframes of the Israelite homes…we know from Scripture that the blood prevented them from suffering the judgment of God that was coming to everyone who rejected His plan of salvation.

The Israelites were headed to a place where they could live in the midst of God’s presence…but they were being prevented from this by the Egyptians. Being forced to live in bondage they had no hope of getting to the Promised Land on their own. They needed help. They needed God to deliver them from the hands of their captors. 

What does that mean to us today? The Passover and the Exodus picture bondage and redemption. The Israelite bondage pictures man’s captivity to sin and the blood of the Passover lamb pictures price of redemption. There’s no way anyone will ever get to the Promised Land of heaven without the help of a God.

In the Passover story the deliver was Moses and the lamb without defect was an animal. But—for us today the deliver is Jesus and the Lamb that was slain is Jesus also. You and I must learn just like the Israelites did back then—in order to escape the wrath of God’s judgment and live…something or for us someone had to die. That someone was Jesus. When we ask Him to cover our sin with His blood we can escape the wrath of God’s judgment.

When this happens in the life of a person—their bondage to the power of sin is broken and they begin to experience new life as a person redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. We’re reminded of the price of redemption by drinking the juice from a small cup.

We must move on as we journey on the road to the resurrection. The Passover has shown us that God can and will deliver His people safely to the Promised Land. He proved that not even the power of Pharaoh and all the so-called gods of Egypt can thwart His plan. The children of Israel have a new hope.

In the resurrection we learn that not even the power of death can thwart the plan of God. The resurrection offers hope of new life after the grave. Hope and a promise from God that all who accept His plan of salvation will be delivered into the city who’s architect and builder is God (Heb 11:8). The only thing that will prevent the promise from becoming a reality is refusing to have the blood of Christ—our Passover Lamb...being applied to your life.