Tag: Passover
Jesus our Passover Lamb!
Scripture reading for February 27th: Numbers 28-31, Mark 14
Key Scriptures: Mark 14:12-16 “And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to Him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, ‘Where is my guest room, where I may eat with My disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.”
Jesus walked in obedience to His Father and in fulfillment of Scripture. He knew that His own life blood would be offered as the final sacrifice for sin and that this last meal with His disciples would be used to commemorate the ultimate ‘Passover’ of the death angel from all who believe. God had prepared all of this through the experiences and feasts celebrated by His people Israel.
Numbers 28:16-17 “”On the fourteenth day of the first month is the Lord’s Passover, and on the fifteenth day of this month is a feast. Seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation.”
Prayer: Thank You Lord for the great detail found in Scripture concerning each aspect of Your Son’s life and ministry on our behalf. We remember His death until He comes again for us! Amen.
Thankful for the Passover Lamb!
Scripture reading for November 23rd: 1st Corinthians 3-6
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 5:6-8 “Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast–as you really are. For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.”
Paul, writing to the Corinthians, warned them of pride and the boasting that resulted. This sin was like leaven that would work its way through the whole body bringing defilement. Paul reminded them that Jesus Christ, their Passover Lamb, was sacrificed for their sins that the yeast of malice and wickedness might be cleansed from their houses by faith in Him. They must now live on unleavened bread–sincerity and truth through Jesus Christ–the Way, the Truth, and the Life!
Thankful for removal of yeast: “Sacrifice as the Passover to the Lord your God an animal from your flock or herd at the place the Lord will choose as a dwelling for His Name. Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste–so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt. Let no yeast be found in your possession in all your land for seven days.” (Deuteronomy 16:2-4)
Jesus’ appointed time!
Scripture reading for February 5th: Matthew 26
“He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, “The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with My disciples at your house.”” (Matthew 26:18) Jesus did nothing by accident or chance. Every day of His life was as He saw the Father directing Him. He was aware of the mission that He must accomplish and the time that was rapidly approaching for His final act of sacrifice. He instructed His disciples to prepare for the Passover, His final one with them.
“And while they were eating, He said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray Me.”” (Matthew 26:21) Jesus knew His disciples and the one that would soon betray Him. All the disciples were sad and examined their hearts. Jesus warned them that it would be better to never have been born than to betray Him! As Judas asked if it was him, Jesus plainly told him “Yes, it is you.”
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28) As a visual lesson has greater impact, Jesus used the bread and the cup of grape juice to imprint on His followers the appointment He was soon to keep for their forgiveness! This visual meal has reminded all of His followers throughout time of what Jesus did for them. It also points us to His second coming at God’s appointed time for the greatest meal we will ever experience!
Pastor’s Walk Podcast: Leviticus Summary Part 2
In this podcast Pastor John continues his summary of the book of Leviticus.
A Picture of Jesus that Saves!
Scripture reading for January 22nd: Exodus10-12
My wife and I adopted two girls from Russia in 1999. They were 8 and 9 years of age and spoke no English when they came to America from near Siberia in August of that year. We were eager to share our faith in Jesus with them and took them to church each week. We had to communicate in sign language most of the time. For Easter of 2000, I did an illustrated sermon with a live lamb, a basin of red paint, and a door frame. I also had a big knife. I explained the story of the Passover lamb that was killed for the Israelites from Exodus 12. That day, one of our girls prayed to receive the Lord as her Savior! Pictures are powerful tools for presenting truth!
The plagues were sent, one by one, to attack the deities and idols of Egypt. Egyptians worshiped many gods and Pharaoh, himself, was considered like a god. Scripture states that Pharaoh hardened his heart through the first few plagues. (Exodus 8:15, 32) After the plague of death on Pharaoh’s animals, it states that “the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” Exodus 9:12 This hardening of a heart is what happens when truth is denied and a person or nation refuses to hear God’s voice or obey His instructions. Men are really without excuse because God makes Himself plain to them. Miracles don’t always persuade a person, however. If not heeded they can harden you as well. When you pass a certain point, God then turns you over and hardens your heart to your own destruction!
The last plague was the death of all the firstborn. The only way to prevent the death of a firstborn son or daughter or animal, was to obey God’s plan. A lamb was to be brought into the house on the tenth day of the month. They were to be sure it was a perfect lamb, without blemish. They were to keep it until the fourteenth day and slaughter it at twilight. The elder in the home was to take blood and sprinkle it on the doorpost and over the lentil. Every family member was to be inside. The lamb was to be roasted in the fire and eaten. They were to be ready to travel. They were also to ask the Egyptians for gold and silver and valuables for the trip. At midnight, the death angel would visit each household. When he saw the blood on the door post of a house, he would pass over that home. Every home that failed to be covered with the blood would find the firstborn child suddenly dead! Only those with faith to obey God would be spared!
It is the same today! The lamb that was slain for our sins was Jesus Christ! He was examined in the temple from the 10th day until the 14th. He was crucified early in the morning and died at three o’clock in the afternoon. He ended his life with the words, “It is Finished!” Everything necessary for our deliverance from the death angel has been accomplished by the death of God’s firstborn Son! God did for us what we could not do for ourselves! Praise Him today for this beautiful picture of our salvation!
“Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast–as you really are, for Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.” Ist Corinthians 5:7