Study 7: Rescued from bondage: Passover

Redeemed from their bondage: passover

The Passover feast is a feast of Jehovah; it is a feast of great joy when God’s own people are saved from the judgement that was to befall Egypt. It is God’s feast in anticipation of the coming of Christ.

Key Bible Passages

• Exodus chapters 11 and 12
• Leviticus 23:4-8, Numbers 9:2-14, Deuteronomy 16:1-8
• 2 Chronicles 30
• 1 Corinthians 5:7

Key Elements (See Leviticus 23)

Background

Egypt is a type of world ruled by Satan, and is full of idols (Ezek 20:7)

Israel is a type of a chosen people, a people near unto Him: Psm 148:14, but in Egypt there was no difference between God’s chosen people and the world (Exodus 11:7). They worshipped idols.

God wanted to show the difference between His chosen and the world: God was to bestow an unmerited blessing: (Exodus 11:7)

A holy people   Deuteronomy 14:2

The Position of Israel before Salvation

• In Egypt: The world, where every man is in his natural state – under bondage to sin, helpless: Whoever commits sin is a slave to sin John 8:34.
• In Bondage: Slaves in Egypt Exodus 1:13,14
• Out of fellowship with God: Isaiah 59:2
• Did not know God: Psalm 10:4, Exodus 3:13.
• Lost Jeremiah 50:6
• Helpless: Revelation 3:17
• Idolatrous: Joshua 24:14
• Egypt was ruled by an evil King, who could not be trust – a great monster – (Ezekiel 29:3) and God was against him (Ezekiel 19:10)

The Promises of Jehovah

• I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians: Matthew 11:28-30
• I will rescue you from their bondage, and death:
• Delivers us 2 Corinthians 1:9-10
• Redeems us Exodus 6:6; Galatians 4:4; Titus 2:4
• I will take you as My people, and I will be your God.
  • A Father to you 2 Corinthians 6:18
  • Remove us from our burden of sin Exodus 6:7

The Passover

Main elements

• This is the foundation feast of Israel. It was to show the nations the magnificence of God, and that they may know that “I am the LORD” (Exodus 10:2, Deuteronomy 29:6 etc)
• At God’s chosen time, at God’s chosen place (Deuteronomy 16:6)
• Its elements were: (Leviticus 23:4-8, Deuteronomy 16:6, Exodus 6:6-7, Exodus 11, 12)
• Only the household of Israel could participate – only the circumcised (Exodus 1243).
• All males had to attend the feast (Jerusalem when in Canaan)
• An unblemished lamb of whom the bones were not to be broken (Exodus 12:5, Exodus 12:46, John 19:32,36).
• Blood from a unblemished lamb poured out, and seen.
• Blood had to be applied to the door lintels with hyssop (a bitter herb) (Exodus 12:22) where hyssop is connected with purging and cleansing. (Psm 51:7), and indicates the bitterness of slavery to sin.
• The lamb had to be roasted, and eaten (Eat the flesh – John 6)
• All had to be ready, waiting for the Angel’s appearance
• God passed over the sinners who trusted in the blood of the lamb.
• The past was blotted out from the sight of Jehovah.
• Passover marked the beginning of feast of Unleavened Bread, the feast to indicate that sin (leaven) had been done away with.

Accomplishments

• God provided a means to escape the judgement that was to befall Egypt, the land of idolatry.
• This required the blood of an un-blemished lamb to be shed and placed on the door posts.
• The former months are blotted out, and a new month is instigated.
• It sets in motion the anticipation of Christ whose blood is provided, founding the redemptive path, based upon the shed blood, in pursuance of God’s eternal purpose. This must bring an abundance of joy to the believing sinner who can have absolute peace – all grounded on the paschal lamb.

Lamb of God and the Passover (Jesus Christ as the lamb)

Introduction

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).
1 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)

^…. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
 John 1:29 (KJV)

And John the Baptists exclaims:

“Behold the lamb of God (1:36)

⁶And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (Revelation 5:6)

Without blemish – perfect

The lamb was required to be without blemish

Exodus 12:5

1 Peter 1:19

Christ willing gave his life for us:  Acts 8:32 - 33

Male of the first year, Christ had the “dew of His youth”

Was energetic, full of strength and energy. We see written about Christ: Psalm 102:23, 24

The Church to be presented to God without blemish, not old or worn out.

that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:27 (NKJV)

His precious blood offered himself without spot, also 1 Peter 1:19; Heb 9:11; 2 Peter 3:14

One lamb for each household

There is no question that the lamb will be too little for the house – the blood of Jesus is enough for all, including the vilest of sinners.

• It is not the lamb per se that saves them, it is the blood of the lamb.
• He is our shepherd: Revelation 7:17 (NKJV)
• Is the Son of God “dear Son” Col 1:13 or the Son of His love.

The timing

Chosen on the 10^th day of the month (Exodus 12:3,6)

• Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the 10^th day, sleeping outside the gates unto the fourteenth day.
• He was crucified on the 3^rd hour (Mark 15:25)
• There was darkness from the 6^th to the 9^th hour
• Christ died at about the 9^th hour (Passover is killed at twilight (Exodus 12:6) being twilight.
• Christ kept the Passover , with himself as the lamb.

Application to Christians[1]

The Passover feast is a feast of Jehovah; it is a feast of great joy when God’s own people are saved from the judgement that was to befall Egypt. It is God’s feast in anticipation of the coming of Christ.

Moreover, the final Passover, when Christ, once for all, makes a perfect sacrifice, so that all who accept Him are passed over, and judgement will not fall on him.

1. There is no union with Christ except in the resurrection
2. Christ only suffered for sins on the cross (1 Peter 2:4)

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)

Hence, we can understand: Luke 13:32 (NKJV)

• It was not in himself that he was to be perfected. But our union with Christ could not be made while we were still unredeemed – once the blood was shed, once Christ had died and was resurrected, he could be perfected – “bringing many sons unto glory”, “bringing forth much fruit”, “the Captain of salvation”. See also Hebrews 2:10 (KJV)
• When I see the blood I will pass over you – it is only in the blood redemption comes. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission.

Significance for Christians

1. The lamb’s blood is sufficient for us.
2. When an individual believes he is born again – the month is reckoned the first – the beginning.
3. His life needs to follow a blameless life, holy unto the Lord – without leaven.
4. Passover speaks of all things become new (Rev 21:5) “behold I make all things new”.
5. The Cross is the starting point to the throne.
6. Redemption by the blood of Christ is what gives us the position of hope.
7. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. Exodus 6:7 (NKJV)

Chart of feasts - the first feast: Passover