THE Lamb
Easter 2025 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 16 viewsHoly Week is a phenomenal time of preparation for the celebration to come. One thing that makes it even more phenomenal is recognizing the clear connections between Christ and the Passover. The disciples also saw this connection and used the phrase "the lamb" or "the Passover lamb" frequently. Seeing the connections between Christ's actions before Easter and the sacrifices of Passover brings a new meaning and appreciation for the profoundness of our Easter celebration.
Notes
Transcript
Roots in the Old Testament
Roots in the Old Testament
Shalom v’boker tov! (Hello and Good Morning)
The Old Testament sets the stage for everything we see in the life of Christ
This is often associated with what’s called Covenant Theology or the belief that God began revelation with his creation at the garden of eden and continues through to us today.
Christian “holy week” matches up with Jewish observances of Passover.
I own a lot of Jewish stuff.
Understanding the symbolism of Passover helps us to see the significance of the actions of Christ.
On Palm Sunday, when Jesus was entering Jerusalem and being “received” as a savior, devout Jews were bringing their sacrificial lambs to be “received” by the priests for examination.
On Thursday, when Jesus was arrested, most Jews were having their sacrifices vetted as blemishless and worth of sacrifice by the authorities… just as Jesus was examined and found innocent by Pilot.
On Friday, when Jesus was crucified… the Passover lambs were being slaughtered.
Crazy coincidence… or was God setting up a divine appointment to help us understand?
Jesus, The Passover Lamb
Jesus, The Passover Lamb
The connection at Easter isn’t an accident… the apostles talk about it a lot.
Paul… 1 Cor 5:6-8
6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new unleavened batch, as indeed you are. For Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old leaven or with the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Peter… 1 Peter 1:18-19
18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.
Paul and Peter are connecting our struggle with sin (leaven) and Christ’s station as the redeemer of our souls (the lamb) directly with the events of Passover.
Begs the Question… what is Christ being tied to? Passover is the celebration of God’s Redemption of the Hebrew People
The sacrifice was to be blemishless Ex 12:5
5 You must have an unblemished animal, a year-old male; you may take it from either the sheep or the goats.
Recall that Jesus was declared innocent by Pontius Pilate.
The sacrifice is “held” for several days Ex 12:6
6 You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight.
Recall that Jesus arrived in Jerusalem and several times warned people that “his time had not yet come” which mimics the “waiting” to sacrifice the lamb.
The sacrifice was divided into blood and body Ex 12:7-8)
7 They must take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where they eat them. 8 They are to eat the meat that night; they should eat it, roasted over the fire along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
Recall that Jesus specifically calls out the body and blood during the last supper (communion) as symbols of what God would do to redeem us.
One coincidence can be dismissed as interesting, but the story of Christ’s arrival in Jerusalem, death, and resurrection are all coating in allegorical meaning harkening back to the Passover in Exodus.
The Significance of the Lamb
The Significance of the Lamb
Why is this significant? What does it add?
Recall the first instance of sacrifice in the Bible… Gen 3:21
21 The Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.
The death of the innocent impressed the “cost of sin” on mankind.
Recall the events of Passover… Ex 12:12-13
12 “I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night and strike every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, both people and animals. I am the Lord; I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt. 13 The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a distinguishing mark for you; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will be among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
The sacrifice of the Passover demonstrates God’s desire to free us from the consequences of sin.
Christ is… the final lamb.
Revelation illustrates this allegory beautifully Rev 5:11-14
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. 12 They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing! 13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Passover Lamb’s Identity…
Before selection… “A Lamb”
Once selected… “The Lamb”
Once sacrificed… “Our Lamb”
