How does Exodus 12:46 foreshadow Christ's crucifixion in John 19:36? The Passover Command: Exodus 12:46 “‘It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house, nor break any of its bones.’” • One short verse, two key details: the lamb stays inside, and its bones remain unbroken. • The instruction is literal, shaping every future Passover meal. The Crucial Fulfillment: John 19:36 “These things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of His bones will be broken.’” • Roman execution commonly involved smashing leg bones to hasten death. • When soldiers reached Jesus, He was already dead, so His legs were left intact—exactly matching Exodus 12:46. Unbroken Bones—The Gospel Thread • Exodus 12:46 → The original Passover lamb. • Numbers 9:12 repeats the same demand. • Psalm 34:20 widens the promise: “He protects all His bones; not one of them will be broken.” • John 19:36 confirms Jesus as the greater Passover Lamb (see also 1 Corinthians 5:7). Why This Detail Matters • Integrity of the sacrifice: an unblemished lamb (Exodus 12:5; 1 Peter 1:19) foreshadows a perfect, sinless Savior. • Sovereign precision: God orchestrates events so even a soldier’s mallet stays silent. • Visual testimony: onlookers saw a crucified Man who still fulfilled every prophetic line—down to His bones. Seeing Christ in the Passover 1. Same timing—Jesus dies during Passover week (John 19:14). 2. Same purpose—deliverance through substitutionary blood (Exodus 12:13; 1 John 1:7). 3. Same result—no broken bones, underscoring complete, unfailing redemption. Living Out the Foreshadowing • Marvel at Scripture’s unity: centuries-old ritual meets its ultimate reality on Calvary. • Rest in a finished work: the Lamb’s body was whole, and so is our salvation. • Share the story: Exodus 12:46 and John 19:36 offer a ready-made bridge from Old Testament feast to New Testament faith. |
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