The Passover Lamb is Prepared
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Text: Matthew 26:17-29
17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?”
18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ”
19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.
24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Main Point/FCF:
Application:
Passover Explained (17-19)
Passover Explained (17-19)
OT Background of Passover
OT Background of Passover
Exodus 12-13
Primary passages that deal with the institution and description of the Passover holiday are Exodus 12-13
Joseph, one of the 12 sons of Jacob, aka “Israel,” was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers because they were jealous of him. But, through a long series of events and God’s providence, he rose to power and became the second most powerful man in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself.
But, Exodus tells us that...
8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.
10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”
11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.
Worse than this, when Pharoah realized that the Israelites were still increasing in numbers, he began exterminating male babies by having them thrown into the Nile River.
But one mother refused to hand over her baby and instead put him in a basket and floated him down the river, trusting that God would take care of him. Ironically, this little Hebrew baby was found by none other than the daughter of Pharaoh himself. Instead of killing him, she raised the little boy herself and gave him the name Moses.
Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s palace, but as an adult, he witnessed the persecution and abuse that his people received at the hands of the Egyptians. One day when he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave, he could stand it no longer, so he struck the Egyptian and killed him.
Now, a murderer, he fled Egypt. Years went by, Moses married and had a family of his own, and then one day God appeared to him in a burning bush and told him to go back to Egypt and lead God’s people out of slavery.
Moses reluctantly obeyed, confronting the new Pharaoh and uttering those famous words, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go...’”
Pharoah, of course, refuses. So, Moses announces that God is going to strike Egypt with plagues until Pharoah relents and releases the Israelites from slavery.
Nine times Moses confronts Pharaoh and demands the release of the Hebrews, and nine times Pharoah refuses (or says ‘yes’ and then changes his mind). Nine horrible plagues are poured out on the Egyptians—the Nile River turns to blood (Ex 7); frogs, gnats, and flies (Ex 8); all their livestock die, an outbreak of boils spreads through Egypt, severe hail rains down (Ex 9); a terrible swarm of locusts devours all the crops, then darkness covers the land in the middle of the day (Ex 10).
Finally, Moses confronts Pharoah a tenth time and says that the worst plague is about to be unleashed—every firstborn male, both human and livestock—will die throughout all of Egypt.
4 So Moses said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, 5 and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. 6 There shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again.
But, God provided a way to escape this terrible judgement, but only if you followed the instructions.
3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household.
4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb.
5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.
7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it.
9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. 10 And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.
11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord.
13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.
And the rest, as they say, is history. Israel obeyed God’s instructions and the angel of death came that night and killed the firstborn sons of all those who rejected God’s word, including the son of Pharoah himself. Pharoah finally relented and let the Hebrews go, so they exited Egypt.
Of course, Pharoah then had a change of heart and pursued after them and caught up to them at the banks of the Red Sea, where God, through Moses, parted the waters and the people of Israel crossed over on dry ground. The army of Egypt, however, was caught in the waters and perished.
This Passover event and the Exodus from Egypt would become the primary identifying story for the nation of Israel. It was a time when God showed up and showed out and delivered his people from desperation and captivity. And it was so important that this Passover sacrifice and meal was commanded to be celebrated as a holiday from that point forward, and is still celebrated by practicing Jews to this day.
14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.
15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.
This Passover meal is a highly symbolic meal. Each component of the meal represents something from this story. There are bitter herbs to represent the bitterness of the slavery of God’s people, and these bitter herbs get dipped into saltwater which represents the tears of the Hebrew people in slavery. There’s an apple/cinnamon/nut mixture that represents the mortar that Pharoah made the Israelites make, but it’s sweet to represent the sweetness of freedom.
There’s the roasted lamb which represents the sacrifice that atoned for their sins and averted God’s wrath. There’s wine which represented both the blood of the sacrifice and the bounty of God’s provision to come in the Promised Land. And then there’s the unleavened bread which symbolized that they would be leaving Egypt quickly and wouldn’t have time to wait for bread to rise. And this unleavened bread is also a symbol of purity.
I don’t have time to explain further all the different symbols in the Passover meal, but there’s a great video that explains this that I’ve posted to our Facebook page and our ChurchTrac app if you’d like to learn more about this.
It was, in fact, so important to their identity as a people and so revealing of God’s character—both his mercy and his judgement—that the month of Passover became the first month in the Jewish calendar:
2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you.
Jesus celebrated Passover the night of his betrayal. (17-18)
Jesus celebrated Passover the night of his betrayal. (17-18)
When we pick up this story, we see Jesus, a Jew, observing Passover with his disciples. This was a big deal for Jews. It was one of three holidays in the Jewish calendar that had to be celebrated in Jerusalem. So, hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of Jews journeyed from all over the region of Palestine to come to Israel. Passover had to be eaten inside of Jerusalem, which is why we see Jesus directing his disciples to make preparations inside the city.
And what’s not directly stated, but is implied in this passage, is that part of those preparations would have included the sacrifice of a spotless lamb. Which means that the night that Jesus was betrayed, more likely than not, he took a spotless lamb to the temple to offer as the sacrifice for him and his disciples. Obviously, Jesus needed no atonement for his sins, but his disciples certainly did. And, it was important as a picture of what was to come. And just imagine for a moment the weight of that moment as Jesus watched the lamb be slaughtered and butchered before his eyes, knowing that in a few hours, he would be offered up in a similar fashion as the spotless lamb of God for the sins of his people.
And so, as countless sacrificial lambs were being slaughtered and prepared as a sacrifice for the sins of the people, another sacrifice was being prepared. THE spotless lamb of God who takes away the sins of not just the Jews but the whole world was being prepared.
Sacrifice prepared (20-25)
Sacrifice prepared (20-25)
Judas’ betrayal was part of a pattern. (23)
Judas’ betrayal was part of a pattern. (23)
23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.
John makes it clear that Jesus saw his betrayal as the fulfillment of Scripture, part of a larger pattern that we see in Scripture of God’s chosen people being betrayed by wicked men.
18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’
This was first spoken by King David, who experienced betrayal time and time again by those close to him.
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
But, it wasn’t just part of a pattern...
Judas’ betrayal was part of God’s plan. (24)
Judas’ betrayal was part of God’s plan. (24)
24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
There are many passages which foretold the suffering of the Messiah, and we’re not going to go into all those this morning. Isaiah 53 is one of the clearest prophecies about this.
But, Scripture makes it clear that while Judas was responsible for his actions, ultimately, God was in control the whole time and this was all part of the plan. Look at how Peter describes this incident on the day of Pentecost:
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
Jesus’ betrayal and death was no accident or random chance event. It was not fate—some impersonal universal force that directs our lives. It was “the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.”
Why did he have to be betrayed? Because a sacrifice had to be made. The lamb had to be slaughtered. Blood had to be spilled to atone for our sins.
22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
Why is blood necessary? Because of the severity of our sins against God. I don’t mean that your sins are necessarily worse than someone else’s, nor do I mean that some people’s sin was so bad as to require blood sacrifice. Rather, I mean that ALL sin is so heinous as to require a blood sacrifice. Sin is rebellion against the Creator.
But, it couldn’t be just any blood. The Passover sacrifice had to be a spotless lamb. A lamb without blemish.
Jesus’ obedience made him the spotless sacrifice. (24)
Jesus’ obedience made him the spotless sacrifice. (24)
24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
Jesus’ sacrifice had to be made willingly, not under compulsion. He freely offered himself as the Passover lamb.
15 ...I lay down my life for the sheep...18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
So, as we see Jesus observing Passover with his disciples, it is clear that he knows exactly what is going to transpire in the next few hours. And yet, instead of running from it, he willingly offers himself up according to God’s plan.
And it’s because of HIS obedience to the Father that he is able to be that spotless Passover lamb, the sacrifice that atones for our sin and averts the wrath and judgment of God.
So, all along we see Jesus framing what is about to happen in terms of the Passover. Why? Because Jesus is getting ready to transform his disciples understanding of Passover.
Passover Transformed (26-28)
Passover Transformed (26-28)
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
We’re pretty used to these words, so they don’t strike us as odd or outlandish. But imagine you’re a Jew, taking Passover as you always have. When it comes to the Matzah—the unleavened bread—usually, whoever is leading Passover in your home would say something like this: “This bread represents the speed with which our people went out of slavery in Egypt,” or something like “This unleavened bread represents the purity and innocence of the Passover lamb that was sacrificed for our atonement today.”
So, imagine you’re a Jew, and instead of saying that, Jesus holds up the Matzah and says, “This bread represents my body.”
In effect, Jesus is saying, “The Passover lamb that you sacrifice every year in remembrance of the Passover in Egypt—all along that was pointing to me.”
And then, he takes the cup of wine, and instead of saying, “This wine represents the blood of the Passover lamb” or “This wine represents the fruitfulness of the Promised land that God has now given us,” he says “This wine represents my blood that I’m going to spill, the blood that will inaugurate a New Covenant and atone for your sins.”
In effect, Jesus is saying, “the blood of the Passover lamb was pointing to my blood.” “The Old Covenant that you followed under Moses, with all its laws and regulations, it all pointed forward to this day when I would come and make a New Covenant with my people. The atonement that you thought those lambs provided, that was just a picture of the atonement I’m going to make that will finally provide true forgiveness for your sins.”
The Passover meal and the Exodus event pointed forward to the cross.
The Passover meal and the Exodus event pointed forward to the cross.
All along, Israel thought that when they observed Passover they were looking back at something God had done in the past. God had been faithful in the past. God had delivered them in the past. God had provided for them in the past. And it’s true—Passover was a commemoration of what God had done in the past. But God wasn’t done yet!
And all along, as the Israelites pointed backwards to what God had done in the past, they were actually painting a picture that pointed forward to what God was going to do on the cross.
7 ...For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
The Lord’s Supper points backward to the cross.
The Lord’s Supper points backward to the cross.
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
We remember his sacrifice.
We remember our salvation.
We remember the New Covenant he established.
But, God forbid that we think that the best is behind us! Just as it was revealed to Israel that when they celebrated Passover they were not merely looking back at when God passed over his people in judgment but were rather looking forward to a day when God would pass over his people again as the spotless lamb of God was sacrificed on the tree, so too when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we look back and remember what God has done for us in the cross but we look forward to what he is going to do for us in the future! God is not done with his people!
Future Fulfillment Promised (29)
Future Fulfillment Promised (29)
29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
The Lord’s Supper points forward to eternity.
The Lord’s Supper points forward to eternity.
Jesus has already hinted at this future reality in his teachings:
11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven...
Jesus is prophesying of a future heavenly banquet, a great feast and celebration that will happen with God and his people one day.
6 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
7 And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
9 It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
As Christians, let us never forget that the best is not behind us. As wonderful and magnificent and glorious as it was the day that Christ saved us, that is nothing compared to what is coming.
A day of judgment is coming once again; the Angel of Death will once again pass through this earth, and all those who have not applied the blood of the Lamb to the doorposts of their hearts will suffer the wrath of God.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
And just as those in Egypt who did not apply the lamb’s blood to the doorpost to their homes suffered death, and just as those in Israel who did not observe Passover or apply the blood to the doorpost of their homes were to be cut off from the people, so too those who have not trusted in Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, will be cut off from God and his people eternally in Hell.
But, for those who have placed their faith in Christ, the blood of the spotless lamb of God is applied to your heart, and God’s wrath and judgment will pass over you.
...you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Invitation: We’re going to observe the Lord’s Supper here in a few moments, but before we do, I want to offer you the opportunity to respond to what you have heard today. Have you applied the Lamb’s blood to your heart? How do you do that? Scripture says in Romans 10:9 “...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
There’s nothing that you can “do” to be saved. The “doing” was done by Christ on the cross. All that remains for you to do is simply believe it and accept it. When I say “believe” it, I mean that you truly believe in your heart that what God has said is true—that you are a sinner doomed to die and go to Hell outside of God’s grace. That if you refuse to bow to Christ, you are doomed. That he has died on the cross to pay the penalty that you rightfully deserved and that he rose again the third day and will return again one day to take his people with him to heaven and to judge those who refused to bow to his throne. If you truly believe that, then you acknowledge Jesus as Lord over your life—the King, the boss, meaning that whatever he wants from you, you are willing to do. See, the difference in someone who just believes in their head and one who believes in their heart is this right here—whether or not Jesus is Lord over your life. Did you notice in Matthew 26 that all the other disciples call Jesus “Lord,” but Judas calls him only “Rabbi, teacher”? If you truly believe all this, that belief means submitting to Jesus’ Lordship, bowing to Jesus as King over your life.
So, how does Jesus’ blood get applied to your account? Romans 10:9 “...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It’s that simple. You believe, and you surrender. So, I want to give you an opportunity to do that this morning. And if you want to do that this morning, I want to invite you to come forward and declare Jesus Lord over your life today.
After invitation, offering.
Deacons come forward for Lord’s supper
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper
Our church does not restrict the Lord’s Supper to only members, however, we do believe the Bible teaches that the Lord’s Supper is to be restricted. In other words, it is not for anyone and everyone.
Because the Lord’s Supper is a picture of salvation, it should only be taken by those who have placed their faith in Christ and are following him—those who have applied the Lamb’s blood to the door of their heart. We will generally leave that to your discernment, but if in doubt, I would invite you to talk with me after church and I’d be happy to help you discern that.
Secondly, Scripture makes it clear that the Lord’s Supper is for those who are not under the discipline of their local church or living in unrepentant immorality.
This doesn’t mean that we have to be perfect and sinless to take the Lord’s Supper—Jesus does that for us.
But if you know in your heart that you have sin that you have not repented of, then you are welcome to join us in worship but please get your heart right with God before taking the Lord’s Supper.
Pass out bread
Serve deacons
Prayer of confession and repentance.
Confession of sin, repentance, and need for atonement
Thank God for Christ’s sacrifice.
Thank God for Christ’s sinlessness.
Read Mt 26.26
26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
Eat Bread
Pass out wine/juice
Serve deacons
Prayer of thanksgiving
Thank God for the New Covenant
Thank God for purity imputed by Christ
Thank God for the banquet awaiting us
Read Lk. 22:20
27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Drink wine/juice
Sing a hymn and dismiss
