Our God is a covenantal God. He always works within a covenant. However, we see that while the OT covenants were between God and man, in the NT God establishes a covenant with Himself (between God the Father and Jesus the second person in the trinity).
The old covenant under Moses was between God and His people (Israel) in which God makes certain promises and requires certain behavior i.e., their commitment to worship him alone, from them in return. The entire OT testifies to God keeping his part of the covenant while the Israelites time and again violate the terms of the covenant. The need for a new and superior covenant becomes apparent even to the dull minds of man. Thus God promises through his prophet to form a new covenant with them (Jeremiah 31.31- 34).
The new covenant was cut between God the Father and His son Jesus. In order to keep up his part of the covenantal agreement, Jesus had to remain pure and sinless. Only then could God place the sins of all mankind (past, present and future) on Jesus. Having made sin, Jesus had to die (suffer the punishment for sin). Then and only then could a just and holy God, accept Jesus’ sacrifice as full payment for our sins
OT Passover
Exodus 12 - Passover established.
Verse 3: on the tenth day of the month the man is to take a lamb for his family.
Verse 6: take care of them (lambs) till the fourteenth, and slaughter the lamb at twilight.
For four days the lambs had to be observed, taken care of. The lambs had to be without any blemish and without any physical defects. Only lambs that passed inspection were sacrificed.
Later when temple worship was established in Jerusalem, people would bring in their sacrificial lambs and the priests would examine and declare them without blemish and then the lambs will be sacrificed on Passover day.
NT fulfillment of PassoverRead
Luke 19. 28-44 and Matthew 21, 22
Jesus, the Passover Lamb of God too had to go through the observation period for blemishes and defects. We read in Luke 19. 28- 44 that Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem a few days before his crucifixion and was examined by a number of people and declared free of blemish!
Luke 19.47 “Everyday Jesus was teaching at the temple…” Here we see that Jesus made himself available for inspection prior to his crucifixion.
A. Jesus examined by religious people:
- Herodians questioned Jesus and were amazed and had nothing further to say (Matthew 22.15-22)
- Sadducees questioned Jesus and could not prove him wrong (Matthew 22.23-33)
- Experts of the law (lawyers) tested Jesus and were put to shame. (Matthew 22. 34-40)
- Pharisees too examined Jesus and dared not question Him further. (Matthew 22. 41-46)
B. Jesus examined by civil authorities:
Luke 23 Pilate and Herod examined Jesus and found him blameless.
John 18. 29-30 Pilate asks Jesus’ accusers, “What charges are you bringing against this man (Jesus)?” Strangely they answer, “If he was not a criminal we would not have handed him over to you”. (Talk about being obtuse!)
- Pilate said, “I find no basis for a charge against him”.
- Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”
- But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
Pontus Pilate declared Jesus blameless, 3 times!! Without realizing the significance Pilate declared Jesus worthy to die as God’s Passover Lamb.
The Lamb of God was examined by both religious and civil authorities and none could find fault with Him. Meanwhile, at the temple the priests were examining and declaring the lambs worthy of Passover sacrifice.
Passover historically is the remembrance of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt’s bondage but was prophetically fulfilled by Jesus when he died on the cross and delivered mankind free from Sin’s bondage!
Passover for Israelites
Exodus 12.7 “Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. Verse 13, “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
(Prophetically: The blood on the top dripping down formed a vertical line and if you connect the blood on the sides of the doorframes it formed a Cross. This pointed prophetically to the coming messiah who would die on a cross.)
And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip [it] in the blood that [is] in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that [is] in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning.
For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike [you]. (Exodus 12.22-23 nkjv)
Notice the scripture says that when He sees the blood, ‘the LORD will pass over the door…’(verse 23) Passover for Israelites mean ‘God placed Himself over the Israelite home as a covering, protection from the destroying angel He had send among the Egyptians’. (Note: He did not skip over or bypass the Israelite home; He Himself was their covering, shield and rampart from the destroying plague.)
Significance of Passover for NT believers
Psalms 91 speaks of the protection we have when the blood of the Passover Lamb is applied over our hearts.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler [And] from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you shall take refuge;”
Satan the destroyer (Rev 9.2,11) cannot touch anyone who accepts the shed blood of the Lamb and hides behind the cross of Calvary. For the blood brings in the presence of God and renders the destroyer powerless over the person/house under God’s covering. 1 John 3.8 – For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Hebrews 2.14 reminds us that, “Jesus …rendered powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Christ Jesus, our Passover Lamb, standing over your life shields you from satan’s eyes and renders him powerless over you.
Experience Your Personal Passover
Just as Passover is celebrated in the first month of Abib, our personal experience of Passover must come at the very beginning of establishing a relationship with God. We must invite Christ to come and place Himself over us. Then Jesus Christ will become our personal covering prepared by our Heavenly Father (shades of Eden), for all who would be right with God. Jesus is the garment of Righteousness that passes over our head as we put on Christ.
Having received Christ as our personal Passover Lamb, we are secure for, ‘No curse can touch [us]; no magic has any power against [us]. (Numbers 23.23)
Passover Privilege Card
Under the Old or Mosaic Covenant, sins could never really be forgotten, because they were never really forgiven. They were only covered, a shadow and anticipation of the forgiveness in Jesus. (For further reading what happens to our souls when we die) For those who belong to His dear Son, whether they believed under the Old Covenant (e.g. Abraham, David etc. Read hall of faith – Hebrews 11) or New Covenant, God forgets every sin!
As foretold by the Lord to Abraham, Israel suffered 400 years of slavery under the satanic rule of the Pharaohs. (The ruling power of Egypt was satan as symbolized by the crown with a cobra at its front worn by the Pharaohs.) At the end of that time, God made specific provision to save his people the Israelites by Passing Over them and being their cover/shield. It was a new beginning for the Israelites.
Sins forgotten and forgiven Under the New Covenant, believers too enter into a new beginning. 2 Cor 5.17 “therefore if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new”. In Christ our sins are forgotten and forgiven. We are part of a new family, with a new genealogy, under a new covenant, and with a better deliverer than Moses – Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Moses saved Israelites from slavery and its bondage. Jesus saves us from sin and its penalty.
Household Salvation Another privilege of Passover is household salvation. Exodus 12.3: “ on the tenth day of the month the man is to take a lamb for his family”. Household salvation is a biblical concept. Not only can you enjoy salvation; but by acts of faith and obedience you can bring salvation to your whole household.
Jesus said to Zacchaeus, the tax collector, “this day is salvation come to this house” Luke 19.9 Zacchaeus had just paid restitution for his past sins – an act of faith and obedience vs 8
The Philippian jailer was told by Paul and Silas, “believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household… then immediately he and all his family were baptized -Acts 16.31 The jailer’s acts of faith and obedience - caring for the wounded and hungry apostles of Jesus despite the dangers to himself.
Remember it was a lamb for a house… Jesus the Lamb of God has already been slaughtered. Now it is time to appropriate the salvation of your household through acts of faith and obedience.
Halleluiah, to the Lamb of God!
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