How does Exodus 13:3 connect with Jesus' sacrifice in the New Testament? Text for Study “Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for the LORD brought you out of here by the strength of His hand; no leavened bread shall be eaten.” (Exodus 13:3) Historical Backdrop • Israel has just experienced a literal, miraculous deliverance from Egypt through the Passover and Red Sea crossing. • God institutes perpetual remembrance: unleavened bread, consecration of the firstborn, and an annual feast. • The command to “remember” anchors Israel’s identity in a saving act accomplished wholly by God’s power. Key Themes in Exodus 13:3 • Divine deliverance from bondage. • The “strength of His hand” stresses God’s sovereign initiative. • Removal of leaven highlights separation from past corruption and a call to purity. • A memorial meal embodies and proclaims redemption. Bridges to the New Testament 1. Deliverance from a greater slavery • Egypt prefigures sin’s dominion (John 8:34; Romans 6:17–18). • Jesus rescues “from the domain of darkness” (Colossians 1:13), fulfilling the Exodus on a universal scale. 2. The Passover Lamb realized in Christ • “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). • John 1:29—“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” • As the blood on Hebrew doorposts spared the firstborn, Christ’s blood secures eternal life (Hebrews 9:12). 3. Unleavened life through Christ • Leaven symbolizes sin’s pervasive influence. • 1 Corinthians 5:6–8 links the Feast of Unleavened Bread to Christian holiness: “Let us keep the feast… with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 4. Memorial meal transforms into the Lord’s Supper • Luke 22:19–20—Jesus takes Passover bread and cup, declaring them His body and blood. • Believers “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26), echoing Exodus 13’s call to remember redemption. Fulfilling Shadows in Christ • Exodus 13:3’s command to remember becomes the church’s ongoing remembrance of the cross. • The strong hand that broke Pharaoh’s grip is ultimately displayed in the pierced hands of Christ (John 20:27). • Physical liberation of one nation points to spiritual liberation available to “every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). Living the Connection • Celebrate salvation intentionally—regular communion keeps redemption fresh in our hearts just as unleavened bread did for Israel. • Walk in unleavened purity—set aside old habits and influences that once enslaved us. • Testify to God’s mighty hand—share personal stories of freedom in Christ, mirroring Moses’ call to “remember this day.” Exodus 13:3 sets a pattern: a historic, literal rescue remembered through a simple meal. In Jesus, that pattern reaches its climax—He is the true Passover Lamb whose sacrifice delivers, purifies, and invites continual remembrance until He comes again. |
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