Bible Lesson 14

Types and Metaphors

 

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER

 

Introduction:

A lamb is such a tender and defenseless animal.   It does not have horns to defend itself, nor is it in its nature to bite someone who reaches out their hand toward it.

            In the Old Testament, God ordained that the lamb be used as a sacrificial victim.  Ever since the Fall of Adam, He made it clear that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.  It is not that the blood of animals could ever take away the sin of a human being.  However, the offering up of the lamb, symbolized the type of death that the Lord Jesus Christ should suffer in coming many thousands of years later.

            One such lamb that was offered in the Old Testament as a type of Christ’s death is the Passover Lamb, Exodus 12.  The apostle Paul, in writing to the church at Corinth said, “…for even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us,” I Corinthians 5:7.  How then is Christ typified in the Passover Lamb of old?

 

1.      The Passover Lamb was to be without blemish.  No lamb could be brought to the Lord for sacrifice that was in any way disabled, blind, or having a broken bone, sick or bruised, Exodus 12:5.  This was designed to depict the holy character of the Lord Jesus Christ as God’s Lamb, without blemish and without spot, I Peter 1:19.  Although the Lord Jesus Christ came and took upon Himself the sin of God’s elect, yet He Himself had to be without sin in order to be an apt sacrifice for sin.

2.      The Passover Lamb was to be taken out of the flock and separated.  Any lamb to be offered had to first be observed and examined, Exodus 12:3,6.  Our Lord Jesus Christ was taken from among men, Hebrews 2:14.  He was set apart and examined during nearly 33 years of His life.  He was observed and tested of Satan and men, but more importantly by God the Father Himself.  Yet, in Him was no sin to be found, not even by His worst enemies, John 8:46!  The Father looked upon Him with nothing but pleasure and delight as THE ACCEPTABLE sacrifice, 2 Peter 1:17,

3.      The Passover Lamb was to be slain in the evening on the specified day.  For Israel, this was the evening of the 14th day of the month of Abib, Exodus 12:2, 13:4.  This was established as the first month of the Jewish calendar, in commemoration of their deliverance from Egypt.  ‘Abib’ means ‘green fruits’ and corresponds to the time of season when fruit begins to grow on trees during the months of March and April.  So Christ’s death is the beginning of months for the Lord’s people.  His death was at the time appointed by God, Galatians 4:4.  Christ died in the evening of the appointed day, Luke 23:44 with John 19:31-37.  Not only was it in the evening of that day, but also the evening of the latter age of the world, Hebrews 9:26.

4.      The Passover Lamb’s blood was to be applied to the doorposts and the Lamb roasted with fire, and eaten, Exodus 12:7-10.  The blood was not to be shed on the ground, but saved in a basin and sprinkled on the lintel and sides of the doors of the Israelites.  This signifies two things:

a.      Christ’s blood (death) is precious to God and to the believer. It must not be put on the ground to be trampled under foot of men, Hebrews 10:29.  It was placed upon the lintel and doorposts for all to see in their coming and going.  So by faith,  believers have Christ and Him crucified constantly before their eyes!

b.      Christ’s blood must be applied to the heart in order that there be no condemnation.  It is the work of God’s Spirit to take and apply the blood thereby making the sinner wholly sanctified before God, I Cor. 1:30.  The Lamb roasted typifies the suffering of Christ, enduring the wrath of God in soul and body.  He was made a curse for His people, that God might be just in justifying them, Hebrews 9:14.

5.      The Lamb was to be eaten just as God ordained. 

a.      It was to be roasted with fire.  By faith, Christ is to be received just as He is revealed in Scripture, without compromise, John 6:51-58.  He endured the fire of God’s wrath and the afflictions of the sin of His people, Isaiah 53:7-12.  By grace, through faith, the believer partakes of Christ, owning His sufferings to be those that the believer deserved, and yet glorifying Christ for taking his place.

b.      It is not left up to the discretion of the sinner to eat as he/she wishes.  Not only how it was eaten but where it was eaten is of significance.  Each lamb was to be eaten in one house.  Where Christ is revealed there is unity, and the body of Christ is ONE- I Corinthians 10:17.

c.      Only Israelites and not strangers were to eat of it.  True Israelites, the redeemed in Christ are the only ones who may partake of Him in truth.

d.      It was to be eaten with bitter herbs.  The bitter herbs are symbolic of two things:

                                                              i.      The bitter sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ in the travail of His soul as the Sin-Bearer.

                                                            ii.      The bitterness of sin to the believer who by faith comes to Christ.  It is a solemn reminder of the grief that his sins caused the Savior and what a filthy and bitter nature sin is.

e.      They were to eat it with unleavened bread.  I Corinthians 5:7 describes this as coming to Christ in sincerity and truth, hating false doctrine, hypocrisy, and every evil work that stands opposed to Christ in truth.

f.        It was to be eaten with their loins girt, their staves in their hands, and their shoes on their feet.  This all depicts readiness and anticipation, looking to Christ, and waiting upon Him for that redemption and deliverance that comes from Him alone!  Believers have their loins girt about with truth, holding the staff of His Word in their hands, and their feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, Ephesians 6:14,15.  This image is also that of a pilgrim on the move, not having any earthly dwelling place, but ever looking and moving toward another country, Hebrews 11:13; I Peter 2:11.