How does the Passover foreshadow Christ's sacrifice in the New Testament? Setting the Scene: Exodus 12:26 and the First Passover “When your children ask you, ‘What does this service mean to you?’” (Exodus 12:26) The verse anticipates a future moment when the meaning of Passover must be explained. That explanation looks forward to Christ, the true Lamb. Key Elements of the Original Passover – Lamb selected on the tenth day (Exodus 12:3) – Without blemish, a male a year old (12:5) – Slaughtered at twilight (12:6) – Blood applied to doorposts and lintel of wooden houses (12:7) – Roasted whole; none of its bones broken (12:9–10, 46) – Eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, in haste, staff in hand (12:8, 11) – Blood sign causes the LORD to “pass over” and spare from judgment (12:13) Christ Foreshadowed in Every Detail • Chosen and presented: Lamb selected on the tenth day parallels Christ’s public entry into Jerusalem (John 12:12–15). • Spotless: The lamb’s purity prefigures Christ’s sinlessness (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 1:18-19). • Timing of death: Lamb slain “between the evenings”; Jesus breathes His last during Passover preparations (Matthew 27:45-50; Mark 15:34-37). • Blood on wood: Lamb’s blood on doorframes foreshadows Christ’s blood on the wooden cross (1 Peter 2:24). • No broken bones: Passover regulation fulfilled when soldiers find Jesus already dead (John 19:33-36). • Eaten completely: Israel internalized the lamb; believers now “partake” of Christ through faith and the Lord’s Supper (John 6:53-56; 1 Corinthians 10:16). • Deliverance from judgment: Death passes over houses marked by blood; eternal judgment passes over all who are under Christ’s blood (Romans 5:9). Clear New Testament Connections – “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) – “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7) – During the Passover meal Jesus says, “This is My body… This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28) – Hebrews 9:22: “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Each reference links the historical rite to the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus. Living Under the Blood Today • Security: As Israel rested safely that night, believers rest secure in Christ’s finished work (John 10:28). • Separation from old life: Israel left Egypt the next morning; those redeemed by Christ leave the bondage of sin (Romans 6:6-7). • Ongoing remembrance: The annual Passover became the continual reminder; the Lord’s Table keeps Christ’s sacrifice fresh in the church (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). • Teaching the next generation: Exodus 12:26’s call to explain continues; parents pass along the story of redemption accomplished at the cross (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Summary of the Foreshadowing Every stroke of the original Passover—selection, purity, timing, blood on wood, unbroken bones, and deliverance—prophetically sketches the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. The shadow inked in Exodus becomes substance at Calvary, so that all who trust in the Lamb experience God’s eternal “pass over.” |
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