The Perfect, Chosen Lamb
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Preparing for a big holiday meal - for a big holiday
Depending on the holiday - choosing a turkey, a ham, etc. - finding the perfect one to fit the occasion and the family gathering
Some holidays more so than others
This week, often look at the events, daily, how this winds down to Friday
Sharp focus today on today, this day in history
PASSOVER - Why this particular Sunday matters
1) The Passover Lamb
1) The Passover Lamb
Old Testament - Passover - huge, major holiday
Commemorating the start of the exodus from Egypt
To remember what YHWH did for His people - delivered, miraculously
Because… Ex 34:6
“The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;
READ Ex. 12:1-13 - The inaugural Passover
The date of the festival, Passover, was to be in accordance with the first full moon in the Hebrew calendar month, Nisan, the first month of their year
Hebrew calendar/month was approx 29.5 days (29, 30 alternating)
First full moon started the counting
(This fluctuation is why the date of Resurrection Sunday (and Passover) changes yearly)
A sacrificial lamb had to be selected
The date was always Nisan 10 - 10th day of the first month
On this day - Nisan 10
Every man, head of the household/family was to select a lamb that would be the right size for his household to eat
Without blemish, spotless, perfect (otherwise it was not a suitable sacrifice)
The sacrificial lamb was then examined the following days, ensuring it was spotless, innocent, for the sacrifice
Four days later - Nissan 14
The Passover lamb was to be slaughtered "between the evenings," which meant after sunset on the 14th day of the first month, and before the beginning of the 15th day
The paschal lamb was to be slaughtered the evening of Nissan 14 - and, in Egypt, the blood spread on the doorposts to be seen the following daylight time
Shed blood = complete sacrifice
Shed blood - YHWH spared them, judgement passed
Behold the Lamb
Behold the Lamb
READ John 12:12-18 - Triumphal Entry
Jerusalem - swells with people
20,000 - 30,000 population
100,000 - 150,000 on this day, this week
The date: Nisan 10
This was the day for pilgrims, coming for the Passover, to select their lambs
(sold in the temple and surrounding)
4 days following this, these selected Lambs will be slaughtered
Great “parade” - mimicking a “Triumph” parade
Jesus, disciples, those witnessing Lazarus raised, Lazarus is here, too
People knew He was rumored to be Messiah - the anointed King
Jesus, on a colt of a donkey
Hardly the conquering champion expected
4 days later, Nisan 14, evening of Thursday into Friday (Friday 9:00 - 3:00 is Nisan 14 into 15)
THE Passover Lamb will be slaughtered
This timing is no coincidence
Jesus - rides into Jerusalem (“O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem”)
THE Selected Lamb
To be sacrificed, offered for the WORLD
How would the crowd respond?
Un-Seeing Eyes
Un-Seeing Eyes
For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they would see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.’
(Also rehearsed by Paul in Acts 28:27)
This Selection Day, this Passover - unlike any other
People have forgotten the meaning
“Going through the motions”
Jesus fully intended for this to be the LAST Passover
The work was finished with this Passover Lamb
What Jesus, openly, was saying
“HERE I AM, THE LAMB YOU NEED AND HAVE BEEN AWAITING”
Check after verse 18 - people went to see Him, evident to them, do they get it?
The Lamb was Chosen, Selected
The perfect, innocent Lamb
Jesus, God in flesh, was the perfect size, for the household of all mankind
Jesus, the Passover lamb was to be slaughtered "between the evenings," which meant after sunset on the 14th day of the first month, and before the beginning of the 15th day
CLOSE - What Jesus said then, is what He says today
Come, taste and see
There is no excuse not to see Him - His work and majesty is evident
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
We have the Word - have you heard and (hopefully) believe
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
We have the Word - have you shared what you know to be true?
Otherwise, this “parade” of the church and Jesus is dismissed
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
Share His Word, let the Holy Spirit work in hearts!
By the end of Jesus’ week of the Passion
The onlookers and pretenders check out
By the end of this world, this life here
If you are merely an onlooker, a pretender, you’ll check out
And Jesus’ response to that will be:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
“Hosanna” = “Save us now” - true then, true now
Creation - displays the glory of Jesus
The Holy Spirit - testifies of the truth
If you know and accept the truth
Invite some others to see Him, too
They see Creation - every day - so they know God is real (they DO)
Let them see the Holy Spirit in you - so they will accept that very Lamb
Sacrificed for them, and you
TODAY
Jesus offers Himself, for you
By Friday - we’ll celebrate that finished work
Take time this week to thank Him
If you need to…evaluate this Lamb, this Savior
Personally selected by the Father - for you!
OH…Be encouraged, Jesus did everything perfectly, and people saw him, talked with him, experienced him, and still turned away from him, rejecting him.
You - be guided by the Holy Spirit, and do your best to show Jesus to others, and then the work is on the Holy Spirit to further influence that person.
Unless you are really not trying, do not blame yourself for others rejecting him, if you are sincerely living the best disciple surrendered life you can
