How does Exodus 12:8 connect to the New Testament understanding of Christ's sacrifice? The Passover Meal Described (Exodus 12:8) “They are to eat the meat that night, roasted over the fire, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.” Roasted Lamb: Foreshadowing the Lamb of God • Roasting over fire speaks of judgment absorbed by the substitute; Christ endured God’s wrath on the cross (Isaiah 53:5–6; 2 Corinthians 5:21). • The lamb had to be killed at twilight (Exodus 12:6); Jesus died as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). • Paul states plainly, “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Unleavened Bread: Symbol of Sinlessness and Separation • Leaven pictures corruption (1 Corinthians 5:6–8). Eating unleavened bread declared readiness to leave Egypt’s defilement. • Jesus, the Bread of Life (John 6:35), was completely without sin (Hebrews 4:15). • At the Last Supper—during Passover week—He took unleavened bread, broke it, and said, “This is My body given for you” (Luke 22:19). Bitter Herbs: Reminding of Bondage and the Cup of Suffering • The bitterness recalled Israel’s slavery (Exodus 1:14). • Christ tasted the full bitterness of sin’s consequences, praying, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me” (Luke 22:42) yet drinking it for our freedom (Matthew 26:38–39). Eaten in Haste at Night: Urgency of Salvation • Israel stood ready to depart (Exodus 12:11). Likewise, salvation in Christ calls for immediate, wholehearted trust (2 Corinthians 6:2). • The meal occurred in darkness; at Calvary “darkness fell over all the land” (Matthew 27:45), underscoring the cosmic weight of redemption. Blood and Bones: Details Perfectly Fulfilled in Jesus • Though not in verse 8, the same Passover instructions forbid breaking the lamb’s bones (Exodus 12:46); John 19:36 notes this exact fulfillment in Jesus. • The blood on the doorposts (Exodus 12:7) guaranteed safety; Christ’s blood “sprinkled” on our hearts secures eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12–14; 1 Peter 1:18–19). New Testament Echoes: Christ Our Passover • John 19:14 marks Jesus’ sentencing “about the sixth hour on the Preparation of the Passover.” • Revelation 5:6–9 pictures the risen Lamb receiving worship because His sacrifice purchased people for God. • The Lord’s Table continually proclaims “the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26), grounding Christian worship in the same Passover pattern—Lamb, bread, and remembrance. Living Response: Feeding on Christ by Faith • Just as Israel ate the lamb, believers “partake” of Christ through faith (John 6:51, 57). • The unleavened life calls for purging sin and living in sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8). • Remembering His bitter cup fosters gratitude and hope, knowing the Lamb who was slain now reigns (Revelation 5:12–13). |
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