The Passover Lamb

The Plot to Kill Jesus 22 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.

Passover… Passover is one of the 7 celebrations given to the Israelites during the time of Moses. God called them to hold this celebration once a year. I would argue Passover is the most important of them.

Lets examine the event of Passover the Holiday is meant to celebrate...

The setting of the first Passover...

Is in Egypt

The Israelites have been Slaves for 400 years

God sends Moses as His spokesman to free the Israelites from Pharoah

Pharoah refuses to let them go

God deliver’s a plague on the Egyptians each time Pharoah refuses to let them go

After the 9th plague, the Plague of Darkness, God gives Moses instructions for the Israelite’s to follow before the 10 plague

The 10th plague is the plague of the firstborn

The Passover Ex 12:1–13 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. 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.

Ex 12:29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock.

every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, … Everyman man in Egypt who wanted to escape what was to come needed a lamb. Every man. No one was excluded.

Your lamb shall be without blemish, you shall kill your lamb at twilight… And God would not accept just any lamb. It needed to be a spotless one. A perfect one.

Perfect lamb… Church Jesus Christ was Gods perfect lamb. John had this to say when He met Jesus by the Jordan river.

John 1:29 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

The apostle Peter had this to say about Jesus in his letter to believers

1 Peter 2:22 “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.”

Peter would have known… Church no matter how deep a friendship or how much respect I have ever had for anyone there is no one I have ever meet who falls into the category of sinless. If anyone would have been in a position to exposes faults that Jesus might have had Peter would have been one of them. Not only did Peter expressly say Jesus was sinless He was willing to die to continue saying it. Church, Peter was convinced Jesus was the only sinless man to live.

2. It is the Lord’s Passover… Church the Passover is called the Passover because that is exactly what happened. Instead of the plague falling on the Israelite’s it would Passover them.

3. I am the Lord. I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I will execute judgments… Church the suffering that fell in Egypt that night was the judgement of God on the people of Egypt for their sins.

4. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you… Church do you see that in Egypt that night judgement would have fallen on the Israelites just like the Egyptians? The Israelites were just as guilty of sin as the Egyptians. If they were not, then the judgement of God would have passed over them without any action on their part.

But when God sees the blood He will pass over. What a powerful statement church. When God sees the blood of the innocent shed for the guilty He passes over instead of delivering judgement.

Church, Jesus Christ is the Passover lamb. The Lamb that takes the sins of the World away. We God looks at you and He sees the blood of innocent Jesus His judgement passes over you.

Fulfillment of Genesis… Jesus Christ becoming the Passover lamb is fulfillment of a prophetic statement Abraham made in Genesis.

The Sacrifice Ge 22:1–13 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.

This book points to Him… The purpose of this book is point mankind to Jesus and bring mankind back into right relationship with God the Father through Him. When we read the bible we should be asking ourselves the question how does this reveal Jesus.

Jesus Christ, fully man and fully God, is the mystery God hinted at throughout the ages in this book.

Ephesians 1:7–10 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.”

“God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”… God the Father not only sent His Son to provide the sacrifice like He provided for Abraham, Jesus Christ was the acceptable sacrifice for the whole world.

“Abraham, Abraham!”, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or, do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

God provided to spare… God the Father sent Christ, His only Son, to save our sons and daughters. Think church, God spared Isaac’s son at the alter. God spared Isreal’s sons in Egypt. And now God has provided His Son, the perfect sacrifice, to spare our son’s and daughters.

Preparing for History to come… So Jesus sends His disciples into Jerusalem to prepare for this very significant celebration in Isreal’s History, this important moment in their future, this important moment for the entire world.

The Passover with the Disciples 7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” 9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” 10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters 11 and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” 13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

Where will you have us prepare it?… The Passover would have been celebrated by every Jew of that time, not just some. It’s a marking point for their cultural and religious heritage. The city would have been bursting at the seams with people. Not only were they in a city where they had no home to celebrate in but available space to do so would be limited because of the massive influx of people during the celebration. I can see this question being asked by the disciples, like okay, where do you propose we do this. Look around you.

Jesus knew where to find the room… Jesus doesn’t mis a beat like always. You will follow the man with water, meet his master and ask to use his upper room. By the way it will be ready for us to do what we plan on.

Aware of so much before it happened… Jesus demonstrated over and over He was very aware of what was going to take place before it happened. His betrayal, His arrest, false conviction, torture and crucifixion. He walked into it all knowing it was going to happen.

Grateful to Jesus and the Father… For very good reason we are grateful for all He has done. What I think is often missed is that Jesus did all this because it was God the Fathers desire. Jesus completed the mission to set us free but it was the Father who sent Him. Lets not forget to be thankful to our Father and His mercy.

Institution of the Lord’s Supper 14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 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.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.

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.

Leaven less bread...

“This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Covenants were often ratified in blood… Either the blood of those making the covenant or by animal sacrifice. Not only was Jesus’s blood spilled to make fulfill the requirement of the law it also ratified the new covenant God was making with mankind.

Le 17:11 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”

Woe… Woe to the man who rejects Jesus’s invitation to relationship. Woe to the man who chooses not to dine with Jesus at the table of friendship. Woe to the man who rejects the Jesus’s sacrifice and instead chooses His own path. The is no covering of blood for him, only the wrath of God for sin.

Judas chose his own path… Judas chose His own path and by the time He realized what he had done it, it was too late. He had the opportunity to truly follow the Lord. Not just go through the motions but at the level of the heart and the mind choose Jesus Christ. And He rejected it for what, some silver?

1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

Not motivated by money… His actions may seem like money was his motivation, but His actions were a result of something far deeper than the love of money. The real root behind His choice was love of self. Judas chose Judas in every way He thought it mattered.

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Judas’s way… Judas did not choose the way of Christ, He chose the way of Judas. Judas first, everyone else second.

All they had been through… Judas’s betrayal may seem like the worst kind, it was certainly very personal. This was a friend, Jesus and Judas had both ministered together. Judas would have been there as Jesus taught His disciples some of life's most important lessons. Shared stories and meals around campfires. Endured hardships. The Pharisees confronted Jesus over and over. I’m sure those attacks were not just limited to Jesus Himself but also His disciples. Three years on the road together with Jesus pouring into Judas’s life over and over. Betrayal like that would certainly rend our hearts.

Jesus didn’t change because of what they did to Him… But Jesus didn't miss a beat. What Judas or anyone else did or didn’t do never changed His message or His mission or it’s completion. Lay my life down so that they can live. Jesus chose others first unlike Judas.

Judas had the opportunity… Judas had the opportunity to take part in the Lords Super or communion whichever you prefer, in earnestness. Despite all that was in his heart Jesus still gave him the opportunity to choose Him. I’m convinced Jesus knew Judas would betray Him from the moment Jesus met him, and yet He still called Him to be a disciple.

That’s because its Gods desire to extend the invitation to everyone. Even Judas.

If you have not yet surrendered your life to the Lord, I encourage you to do so. Don’t wait for a day that may not come. Begin living with Him here, today.

Communion

Church today we will partake in communion together. Recognizing that it's a privilege and an invitation to fellowship with our Lord. It was done at the table with Him.

We practice open communion. If you have surrendered your life to the Lord please feel free to join us. I would ask that everyone holds the elements until we partake of them as a group.

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.”

You may partake of the bread

20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

You may partake of the cup

Closing

As I studied these passages overwhelmingly, I got the impression the Focus for us was for two things

Pursue a close, personal relationship with God. I feel like I say something similar to this every weekend. He is not the unknowable God, He is very personal and intimate. The covenant of peace between God and mankind was ratified at a dinner table with Jesus surrounded by men He had very personally led and lived with for 3 years. His desire's is to be a close personal part of your everyday lives as well. Spend time with Him. Don't let Sunday be the only day you meet.

Unity, not just with God, but with one another. We are all brought together, no matter our different walks of life, different opinions and views, under the great unifier of all. Jesus. He chose to call them together to partake communion. It may sound cliche but together we are greater. As believers we are given the opportunity to come together to celebrate Him. Let our Lord unite us in cause. Spend time with fellow believers. No matter what you may not have in common with each other you have this one wonderful thing in common the Lord, Jesus Christ.