How does Exodus 12:3 connect to Jesus as the Lamb of God? Setting the Scene: Exodus 12:3 • “Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month, each family must select a lamb for themselves, one per household.” (Exodus 12:3) • The verse launches the first Passover, a literal historical event in which God provided a means of deliverance through the blood of a spotless lamb. • That original command sets the pattern God would later fulfill perfectly in Jesus the Messiah. Key Details of the Passover Lamb • Selection on the tenth of the month (Exodus 12:3) • Male, a year old, without blemish (Exodus 12:5) • Kept and scrutinized until the fourteenth day (Exodus 12:6) • Blood applied to doorposts and lintel for protection from judgment (Exodus 12:7, 12–13) • Bones not to be broken (Exodus 12:46) Every point carried prophetic weight, anticipating the ultimate Lamb who would secure eternal redemption. Prophetic Echoes Pointing to Jesus • John 1:29 — “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” • 1 Corinthians 5:7 — “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” • 1 Peter 1:18–19 — redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.” • John 19:36 cites Exodus 12:46 after noting that none of Jesus’ bones were broken. Through these references, the New Testament writers treat the Passover regulations as direct prophecy fulfilled in Christ. Jesus of Nazareth Fulfills the Pattern • Selected on the tenth day: Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem occurred on the tenth of Nisan, presenting Him to the nation just as families selected their lambs. • Without blemish: His sinless life withstands every examination—religious leaders, Pilate, and even the centurion find no fault. • Public scrutiny: From the entry to His arrest, He taught openly in the temple courts, fulfilling the four days of observation given to the lamb. • Sacrificial timing: He was crucified on Passover, when the lambs were slain. • Blood applied: Faith in His shed blood delivers from God’s righteous judgment, just as the blood on the doors spared Israel’s firstborn. • Bones unbroken: Roman custom broke victims’ legs, yet Scripture records none of Jesus’ were broken, preserving the Passover type exactly. Living in the Light of the Lamb • The accuracy of Exodus 12:3 underlines God’s sovereign orchestration; centuries before Calvary He scripted each detail. • Redemption rests on substitution: just as Israel’s households trusted a lamb’s blood, believers rest in Christ’s finished work. • The Passover template calls God’s people to remember, celebrate, and proclaim the Lamb who delivers from sin’s bondage and death’s penalty. |
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