Passover Devotion

Passover is Redemption's story for Israel & Church. Col 2:16-17; Matt 5:17; Luke 24:19-27

1. Redemption – Saved by the Blood of the Lamb – Forgiveness of sin – Freedom from slavery. Aren’t we too saved by the Blood of the Lamb?

The Cup speaks of the Lambs Shed Blood, applied at Passover. They sprinkled it on the doorposts and on the lintel of their homes. Col 1:13-14; Matt 27:3-4; 6-9; 23-25

Israel obeyed God and applied the blood of the lamb to themselves Seeing the lamb's blood God passed over His people in Egypt and they passed from death to life. Heb 11:28 Exodus 12:21-23 Without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sin. Hebrews 9:22 During the Passover meal they drank from the cup 4 times. Each cup focussed on a different aspect of God's redemption.

1. Cup Sanctification. I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 6:6a

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

2. Cup of Praise. I will rescue you from their bondage. Exodus 6:6b Slavery is like sin.

If the Son makes you free you shall be free indeed. John 8:36

3. Cup of Redemption. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm. Exodus 6:6c,

1 Peter 1:18-19 ... you were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Matthew 26:27-28 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

4. Cup of Consummation. I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Ex 6:7

Matthew 26:29: But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom. Jesus Refrained from drinking this cup at that time. He couldn't until the kingdom comes and it will be fulfilled.

Revelation 21:3: And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

Jesus was slain at 3 pm on the 14th day of Nissan. His blood was shed on the cross for us. Col 1:20: and by Him (Christ) to reconcile all things to Himself (God),by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Believers must apply the blood of the Lamb to their lives. Firstly, we do this when we ask God to save us from our sins. Secondly, we do it when we confess the sins that we commit each day. 1 John 1:7, 9: 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. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. John 8:36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

2. Regeneration – Born again, by receiving the Lamb into our lives.

The Lamb was presented on the 10th day showing no blemish. Matt 27:19; 23-25

Jesus Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on the 10th day of Nissan. (483 years or 69 weeks)

The Lamb was slain for Israel on the 14th day at 3pm. The lamb was innocent, yet he died for the guilty. Isaiah 53:7a He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter.

Israel obeyed God, selecting and sacrificing the spotless lambs for her sin.

John the Baptist said, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29 For indeed Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. 1 Corinthians 5:7b

The Lamb was received into their lives as they ate. Israel received Him and were saved.

The Passover Lamb is fulfilled in Jesus the Lamb of God who died in our place taking God's judgment. When we believe Christ died for us He comes into our hearts. And with Him we receive forgiveness of sin, freedom from bondage, abundant life, eternal life. Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. We receive Christ into our life once! Any lamb left was burned.

3. Righteousness - The Unleavened Bread – The imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.

The Bread is a Righteous Life, made without yeast, roasted, pierced and broken in 3. The second piece was broken in two wrapped in a napkin, hidden & brought out after 3 days.

Israel ate unleavened bread for 7 days. 7 is the perfect or complete number. It speaks of all their life. This became the beginning of their year!!! Why? Because they had been redeemed, saved from slavery. For Israel this was a new start, a new life of faith walking with God to a new destination, the promised land. Israel ate unleavened bread for 7 days, picturing their continual need of God's righteousness throughout their lives. They were forgiven, set free, made righteous. This righteousness is imputed by faith.

Jesus, fulfilled the Unleavened Bread. He is sinless, made from a new lump of dough. He was pierced, roasted, broken and slain for us.

Jesus the 2nd member of the trinity was broken, buried then rose again after 3 days.

Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat; this is My body. --> (Unleavened Bread)!!!

God gives the Bread of Life to all who receive it by faith. John 6:32-35 2 Cor 5:21: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

Christ's righteous life is imputed to us through faith. Phil 3:9

For believers salvation is only the beginning of a new life with God walking by faith to a new destination. If anyone be in Christ he is a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17. We must also continue to walk by faith in Christ. Colossians 2:6, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (the verb keep is in the present tense)

What is our response to all that God has done in sending His Son to save us from sin? What must we do? Believe in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

The children of Israel searched their homes before Passover and removed all leaven – a symbol of sin. Then after exposing their sin they applied the blood of the lamb to their homes. We must do the same. 1 Corinthians 11:27–29 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

Firstly, make it very personal. Jesus doesn't want us to believe He died only for the world. He wants us to believe that He died for you and for me!!! It must be personal. We must avail ourselves of all that Christ has done for us to justify, sanctify and glorify us.

God has provided Christ's blood to redeem us, to cleanse us from sin, through a new covenant. Hebrews 8:7-13; 1 Peter 1:18-19 Firstly, we must repent of our sins and be washed in the Christ's blood. Secondly, we must examine our lives each day asking for forgiveness and cleansing when we sin.

God has provided the spotless Lamb, Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sin. We must receive Him into our lives by faith.

God has provided the unleavened bread, Jesus Christ the righteous One to make us righteous and spotless before God. Jude 24 We receive and remain in Christ's perfect righteousness by faith. We will never please God through the law or our good deeds.

Secondly, Make it practical, Israel were required to search their homes and remove all leaven from them. Anyone who had leaven or ate bread with leaven was to be cut off from Israel. This include their wine. Yeast (leaven) is required to ferment wine. The wine drunk at Passover would have just been grape juice. Leaven is a picture of sin. Sin spreads and causes others to fall unless it is dealt with.

Believers have been saved by sacrifice of the Lamb. We share Christ's righteous and enjoy the blessings of the new covenant. We stand faultless before the throne of God. Believers are still required to examine themselves and confess any sin. 1 Cor 11:26-32

Then we should seek God's grace to live righteously practicing what we are positionally in Christ.