When reading Scripture, it is so important to remember that it was primarily written in a Jewish context. This can pose a few issues for us, because the last time I checked, the U.S. was influenced primarily by Western thought! It’s easy for us to miss the Jewish context and many of the traditions that the Jews, and Jesus himself, took part in, because we are just unfamiliar with them.
Today we will be studying the significance of Jesus being the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb. Passover is the oldest of the Jewish holidays. It dates back over 3,000 years ago to the events of Exodus, where Moses led the Hebrew people out of slavery to Egypt. The name Passover refers to the commandment given by God that all the Hebrews sacrifice a spotless lamb and spread the blood on their doorposts. The blood was a sign of obedience and sacrifice to God, a sign of God’s people (Read Exodus 12).
So, what does this have to do with Jesus? You may have heard the phrase, “Jesus is the Lamb of God” before (Read John 1:29, John 1:36). Passover was a promise fulfilled through the sacrifice of Jesus. Much like a spotless lamb, Jesus led a sinless life, and He was fully God and fully Man (Read Colossians 2, Titus 2:13). But, He still experienced our hardships and temptations. He was triumphant over sin and death. His shed blood was the sign of obedience and sacrifice that the Passover Lamb represented to the Jews. Not only that, but Jesus died on a Friday, Passover Day, and was resurrected Sunday! The whole point of the sacrificial system in the Old Testament was to remind Israel how much they needed a Savior. Jesus fulfilled the promise of Passover on Passover Day. Now, we wait patiently for His return, where He will come like the angel of death. He will come to judge the living and the dead and rescue His people out of their slavery and bondage to this world. Lastly, read the prophecy about Jesus written 700 years before His coming (Read Isaiah 53)!
~Mason Edmiston
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