Christ, Our Passover

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us

The Passover Lamb.

“For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I AM the Lord” Exodus 12:12. (“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” Matt. 10:28.)

“The Lord spake unto Moses. . .they shall take to them every man a lamb” Ex.12:1a,3. It is, in verse 3, “the lamb,” in verse 4, your lamb. But in Genesis 22:8 it is, “God will provide Himself a Lamb.” God will provide for Himself; will present to Himself; will indeed be Himself, (in the Person of His dear Son) the Lamb for a burnt offering.” Is Redemption the product of man’s ingenuity? No. “It is the Lord’s Passover” Ex. 12:11. For a subtitle we used “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” (I Cor. 5:7.) He is now our Passover [we being identified with Him;] because He was first the Lord’s Passover.

“And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. . .the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you” Ex. 12:13,23. God’s eye was not upon the house, nor upon those within the house, but upon the blood. Never mind if the house be a shanty or a palace; if those within be descendants of Abraham; not of their ceremonial observances, nor ‘walking blamelessly’ so far as the law was concerned. It was of their personal application of the blood, and that alone. “The Lord. . .will not suffer [allow] the destroyer to come in to your houses.” He, as it were, stood at the entrance; a sentry, on guard - the entire house was hedged about with His presence! It reminds me of Noah’s [God’s] ark, pro[pitch]iated inside and out!.

Pictured here, as such, are the wings of a great eagle that are stretched out over and upon the house; an overshadowing, a stretching of the Lord upon the firstborn. As Elijah stretched himself upon the widow of Zarephath’s dead son in identification; the dead son was likewise identified with the living Elijah. but now also quickened by the power of the Holy Ghost passing over him, stretching Himself over him, and that quickening life being secured through the blood of the Passover Lamb. In striking comparison consider the words of Jesus in Luke 13:34: “O Jerusalem! Jerusalem! . . .how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen does gather her brood under her wings and ye would not” Jesus was her pesach, her sheltering wings, the Lord’s Passover.

Why the Blood? Because we (both Jew and Gentile) are

Dead in trespasses and sins.

“Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is of the law, blameless” Phil. 3:4-6. (These words penned concerning himself by the apostle Paul.)

“. . .both Jews and Gentiles, they are all under sin” Rom. 3:9b. Shall the apostle not also include himself? Can you hear him now? I, Paul, a Jew and Pharisee, am under sin. I am not righteous; I am without understanding; I seek not after God; I am gone out of the way; I am altogether unprofitable; I do no good; by the deeds of the law my flesh is not justified in the sight of God. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” I Tim. 1:15. (We would do well to put our own names in the place of Paul’s and read it again.)

Why would God require the lives of the first born of Egypt and not of the first born of the Israelite? Because the children of Israel were God’s chosen people? Because Egypt was wicked and Israel righteous? Because Egypt was deserving of the judgment of God while Israel merited His favor? What good works had Israel done whereby Jehovah would extend His mercies; pour out His grace upon them?

What did we just read? “both Jews and Gentiles [Egyptians], they are all under sin.” The Exodus Israelite was not righteous: he was without understanding, did not seek after God, was gone out of the way, was altogether unprofitable, did no good, by the deeds of the law was not justified in the sight of God. But man’s extremity is God’s opportunity! “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound“ Rom. 5:20. “And Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

If the first born of the people of Israel dwelling in the blood-sprinkled houses did not die, then who did? Had they not sinned and come short of the glory of God? The Lord ‘passed over,’ not ‘overlooked,’ or chose to ignore the transgressions of the people: neither the Egyptians, nor the Israelites! “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” Heb. 9:22. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats [nor lambs] should take away sins” Hebrews 10:4. If not the animals, then Who? “By the which we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all” Heb. 10:10. Must they not have, by faith, been identified with the slain sacrifice and its blood upon the doorpost - even as we by faith must be identified with the slain sacrifice of the Lamb of God, hung upon the ‘doorpost’ of the cross?

The Lamb and the Blood.

Crucify Him! Crucify Him! The sacrificial Lamb was being slain; His blood poured forth into the bason (or upon the threshold, as many see it). It was struck upon the lintel and the two side posts. “Behold the Lamb that taketh away the sin of the world!” Yet there was no redemption for the howling mob. Their hearts reeked with malice and unbelief. They literally stood at the threshold of salvation, looking on, but never appropriating the blood of the sacrifice for themselves.

Two thieves were dying on either side of the Lord Jesus, both being identified with the Lord, and He being identified with them. “He hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” Isa. 53:12. [Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.] They were at the Throne of Grace; before the Son of God. Here they might find mercy, grace, forgiveness of sin, reconciliation - and one of them did! “To day, thou shalt be with me in Paradise!” But the other one dropped as it were, from before the Throne into hell.

Perhaps there were Egyptians who stood at a distance, watching the Israelites slaying their sacrificial lambs; then taking the hyssop and striking the blood upon the lintel and sideposts of the door. But it was to no avail. Watching the slaying of many lambs could afford them no remedy from the certain death that was to enter their houses that night. Many are the Hollywood movies that have portrayed the crucifixion, but there is no redemption to be gained from such! Reenactments can not save; only beholding, in faith, the Savior and His shed blood; crying from the heart - He died in my place; Jesus took my sin upon Himself! He arose from the grave! He lives! and I shall live with Him!

“When the executioner of God’s judgment saw the blood upon the houses of the Israelites, he entered not, and why? Because death had already done its work there! The innocent had died in the place of the guilty. And thus justice was satisfied. To punish twice for the same crime would be unjust. To exact payment twice for the same debt is unlawful. . .Blessed, blessed truth is this. It is not merely God’s mercy but His righteousness which is now on the side of His people. Justice itself demands the aquittal of every believer in Christ.”

Arthur W. Pink, Gleanings in Exodus, page 84.

The first born of Israel who dwelt in the house which had the blood of the Passover Lamb sprinkled on the doorpost may join in a Hallelujah chorus with Paul in saying, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” Gal. 2:20. The blood of the lamb on the doorpost was representative of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God; and in the eyes of God was imputed for righteousness to the believer in the stead of Him who would come. The testimony of God and the scriptures: Christ is the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” Rev. 13:8b. “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” “And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able to perform. And it was imputed to him for righteousness” Rom. 4:3,21,22. And what of Moses? “Through faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them” Heb. 11:28. The cause and effect were the results of a God-given faith, and for His honor and glory.

Christ, His People.

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the first-born, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine ” Exodus 13:1. “For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant” I Cor. 7:22.

Christ, our Passover:

He by Himself purged our sins, Hebrews 1:3., Through death destroyed him that had power of death, 2:14., Delivered those in bondage, 2:15., Made reconciliation for the sins of his people, 2:17., Works finished from the foundation of the world, 4:3., Once, offered up Himself, 7:27., Made a Covenant with His own blood, 10:29.

“Without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:22), and without sprinkling of blood is no salvation. The former is for propitiation. It is not until the converted sinner applies the blood that it avails for him. An Israelite might have selected a proper lamb, he might have slain it, but unless he had applied its blood to the outside of the door, the Angel of Death would have entered his house and slain his first born. In like manner today, it is not enough for me to know that the precious blood of the Lamb of God was shed for the remission of sins. A Saviour provided is not sufficient: He must be received. There must be “faith in His blood” (Rom. 3:25.) and faith is a personal thing. I must exercise faith. I must by faith take the blood and shelter beneath it. I must place it between my sins and the thrice Holy God. I must rely upon it as the sole ground of my acceptance with Him. A. W. Pink, Gleanings in Exodus, page 84.

Christ, our Passover, our Provision.

“And they shall eat the flesh in the night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs shall they eat it” (vs.8) Not only was the lamb to be killed, but it’s flesh was to be eaten. This was God’s provision for those inside the house, as the blood secured protection from the judgment outside “Eating” signifies two things in scripture: appropriation and fellowship. The “lamb” spoke of the person of Christ, and He is God’s food for His people - “The Bread of Life.” Christ is to be the object before our hearts. As we feed upon Him our souls are sustained and He is honored.” Pink, Gleanings, page 90.

Christ, our Passover, our Refuge.

The Israelite who dwelt within the house, having the blood applied on the doorpost found it to be a place of Refuge. (Remember the Lord’s call to Noah? Come [not go] into the ark. The Lord was there already!) Let the Destroyer come! He can not lay hands on the residents abiding within! The Lamb Himself is abiding in the house! He’s their [our] Refuge!

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The following is an excerpt borrowed from the article, ’Christ, Our Refuge.” For a fuller study go to our website, www.scripturetruths.net.

In Numbers chapter 35, verses 9-25, we are shown a portion of scripture dealing with the “cities of Refuge.”

The provision of a city of refuge was only for the man who was innocent of murder, whose act was unintentional. However, were he to be found “guilty as charged,” he could not look to the law for refuge: he is set without the boundaries of the city to his peril; for the Avenger of Blood [the Destroyer?] waited to shed his blood, bringing about his destruction. May we gain understanding: the Law is no refuge for the guilty!

In Acts chapter 2, Peter charges the Jews: “Jesus of Nazareth. . .Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:” Acts 2:22a,23. They are guilty of the blood of Christ. There is no city of refuge to which they can flee. They are worthy of death, and that by the hands of the avenger of blood.

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, WHAT SHALL WE DO?” What shall we do? FLEE TO THE REFUGE! But there is no refuge! We are guilty! The avenger of blood awaits us! And what of the “avenger of blood?” Avenger, ga’al, Heb. The business of the avenger of blood was to apprehend the manslayer; to shed his blood that he die. But the little word ga’al has yet another meaning in its definition and operation. It is Redeemer. And what is the business of the Redeemer? To die in the stead of the guilty sinner; for him that is worthy of death; who has no city of refuge to which he can flee. To buy back, to ransom, to deliver the guilty from the avenger of blood: to set him free indeed! [John 8:36] Look at the definition: avenger [or revenger, used interchangeably]. It is also the same word used for Boaz, the kinsman/redeemer in the book of Ruth! Ga’al, to redeem (according to the oriental law of kinship), i.e. to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative’s property, marry his widow, etc., deliver, purchase, ransom, redeemer, revenger.

Christ is ga’al. He is both the Avenger of blood and Redeemer of blood. Those who refuse Him, who despise His invitation will find Him to be the Avenger of blood, while those who fall before Him in repentance and faith, will find Him the Redeemer of Blood.

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” Pro. 14:12. It is the nature of man to desire to make his experience, his feelings, something within himself to be the basis of his assurance. That which provides a stay to the heart is the promise of Him who cannot lie. (Titus 1:2)

The Egyptians, to their peril, found Christ to be the Avenger of blood: there was no refuge to which they could flee from the Destroyer. But the Hebrew having the blood of the Passover lamb upon his door, found the Lord to be the Redeemer of blood: that place where the Blood was applied became a Refuge for the soul.

I cannot resist inserting one other passage of Arthur Pink. It is so simple, so straight forward, so down to earth and down to heart. . .!

The first thing for me, as a poor sinner, to make sure of is, Am I relying upon what Christ did for sinners? Am I personally trusting in His shed blood? If I am not, if instead, under the eloquence and moving appeals of some evangelist, I have decided to turn over a new leaf, and endeavor to live a better life, and I have “gone forward” and taken the preacher’s hand, and if he has told me that I am now saved and ready to “join the church,” and doing so I feel happy and contented - my peace is a false one . . .On the other hand, if the Holy Spirit has shown me my lost condition, my deep need of the Saviour, and have cast myself upon Christ as a drowning man clutches at a floating spar. . .if I have really believed on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31), and yet I am still lacking in assurance of my acceptance by God, and have no settled peace of heart; it is because I am failing to rest in simple faith on the written word. GOD SAYS, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. That is enough. That is the Word of Him who cannot lie. Do not stop to examine your repentance to see if it be deep enough. It is Christ that saves; not your tears, or prayers, or resolutions. Receive Christ for salvation. Rest on God’s Word for assurance and peace. It is not the act of faith which (instrumentally) saves, but the TRUTH itself [Himself], which faith lays hold of.

The cross, with the blood of the Lamb applied: HE is the door[Way] of salvation for all who will believe, and in believing, Come. . .