Trinity Baptist Church

 

As I mentioned to you last week, there are two biblical calendars, and that is significant to the study of the feasts. That is not so foreign to us. Here at our church we have four different years within the year. We have the calendar year, obviously, which begins in January. 

 

Then we have the Sunday School year which begins in September, then we have the church year which begins in October, and then we have the financial year which also begins in January. That means we have four different beginning points which affect how we treat statistics and record-keeping. 

 

The Bible presents a civil year that was used primarily from Genesis 1 – Exodus 12. Then God initiated a religious year for the Jews. 

 

Passover commences the RELIGIOUS year for Israel.

Passover is the foundational feast. The other six feasts that follow are built upon it. Passover occurs in the spring of the year, on the 14th day of the Hebrew month, Nisan (March/April).

 

Now let me begin with a very foundational thought: 

 

While the Jewish people have celebrated the Passover annually since the time of Moses, in reality, there was only ONE Passover. It occurred almost 3,500 years ago in Egypt. It was there, at that time, that a lamb was sacrificed and the blood was applied to each doorpost and lintel.

When this was done in faith and in obedience to God's command, that home was "passed over," and the life of the firstborn was spared. All subsequent observances over the centuries have been memorials of that one and only first Passover.

 

In the same way, there was only one occasion when Jesus' flesh was pierced and His blood spilled on the cross of Calvary for the sin of the world. The Lord's Supper is an ongoing memorial of that one momentous occasion.

 

Now the story of the Exodus is one of the most dramatic and breathtaking accounts in all of Scripture. The Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt. Pharaoh was a harsh taskmaster. The lot of the Hebrews seemed hopeless. It was at that hour of history that God spoke to Moses from within a burning bush. The bush was burned and not consumed. Moses turned aside to see this unusual sight. From the midst of that burning bush, God would speak to His servant and declare that Moses would lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage .

 

God would tell Moses that He had seen the affliction of His people down in Egypt, that He had heard their cry for help, and that He knew their sorrows. And now, He was bringing a deliverer to bring them out of Egyptian bondage and bring them into a Promised Land. He was bringing them out to bring them in.

 

Again, the significance is not lost upon New Testament believers. Some 2,000 years ago, Jesus came to earth to bring man out of his bondage and with a mighty hand brought us out of Satan's grasp into the Promised Land.

God sent Moses to bring the nation out of bondage. At that moment, the Hebrews were a motley group of unorganized and uneducated slaves. They knew nothing of nationhood yet ­ that would happen at Mt. Sinai. This was nothing more than a group of slaves who through the years had basically forgotten their God.

 

Despite their unfaithfulness, God had made a promise to Abraham. He was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He had told them their seed would be as the sand of the seashore and as the stars of heaven. This was a solemn promise. God is a covenant-keeping God. What His mouth speaks, His right arm of power performs. Despite the outward appearance, they were still His people. He was aware of their affliction, and by His reckoning, it was time for them to "pack their bags" and head for home. After 430 years in slavery, God performed His word and made good on the promise.

 

When Moses went to Egypt, he was not met with open arms and a nice Pharaoh. Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to let God's people go. And then, plague after plague was unleashed with deadly accuracy against the idolatrous land of Egypt. With each plague, God hardened Pharaoh's heart even more. Each of the plagues were directed against the Egyptians, until, at last, the firstborn of each home in Egypt would perish where a lamb was not slain, and the blood was not applied.

 

The plague reached even to the palace of Pharaoh himself. Since the pharaoh of Egypt was worshiped as a god, a god's son would die. Finally, in desperation, Pharaoh consented to let the children of Israel go.

It is estimated that more than a million slaves, with all their possessions, marched past the Sphinx of Egypt into the desert. What a scene! A million emancipated slaves marching off into the desert.

 

Unlike most ancient cities, there was no great wall surrounding the nation of Egypt. None was necessary. The inhospitable desert provided the best protection. And here were the Hebrews, walking right into it ­ men, women, children, and livestock. Water, food, clothing and shelter; from where would these necessities come? You know the answer. The Lord God Jehovah. As David wrote in the Psalm, "Can God provide a table in the wilderness?" The answer is YES!

 

They knew very little of where they were going, or how they would get there. However, Moses knew the ONE who was leading them. They would cross the Red Sea, they would wander in the wilderness for forty years, and ultimately, under Joshua, enter the Promised Land.

 

Of the many words that would best describe what happened in Egypt 3500 years ago ­ one word says it best ­ REDEMPTION. The events were real, the miracles genuine ­ all wrought by the God of the Hebrews, who was greater than all the gods of Egypt.

 

A group of slaves were redeemed, so they could worship the true and living God. But such a redemption was not without cost. Blood was to be shed to secure their redemption. The blood of a lamb. A Passover Lamb.

 

All of those lambs sacrificed down in Egypt (one per household) pointed to the one true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Writing to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul draws the parallel for all time when he says, "Christ, our Passover Lamb, was sacrificed for us."(I Cor. 5:7).

 

Now you will remember that I told you last week that each of the feasts and Holy days have historical significance, messianic teaching and spiritual application. 

 

Historically, Passover celebrates God's deliverance of the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt, where they were slaves to the Egyptians (Exodus 6:5-8, 13:3,14).

 

The spiritual application that God wants us to understand can be seen as this: Egypt is a type of the world and the world's system. Its ruler, Pharoah, was a type of Satan. The bondage people are in when they live according to the ways of the world's system is sin (John 8:34).

 

Jesus, then, as the Lamb of God (John 1:29), is our Passover lamb who shed His blood so that those who believe in Him are delivered from the bondage of sin and the rule of Satan in their lives. 

 

During Passover, the head of each household was to take a lamb of the first year on the tenth day of the first month known as Nisan and set it aside until the fourteenth day (Exodus 12:3-6). In the evening of the fourteenth day, at exactly 3:00 p.m., the lamb was to be killed (Exodus 12:6) 

 

The blood of the lamb was to be sprinkled on the lintel and two side posts of the household door. The lamb was to be roasted with fire, with bitter herbs, and with unleavened bread, and the entire household was to feast upon the body of the lamb (Exodus 12:7-8). 

 

The people were instructed by God to eat the lamb with haste and to be dressed and ready to leave Egypt at the midnight hour. This would be the fifteenth day of Nisan (Exodus 12:10-11).

 

At midnight on that fateful evening in Egypt, the death angel passed through the land. Every house that did not have the token of the blood on the doorposts and lintel suffered the judgment of God (Exodus 12:12-15). The Hebrew word for Passover is 'Pesach', which means "to pass or hover over." 

 

This word speaks to us about two things. First, it shows the passing over in judgment from death and sin to life in Jesus. 

 

Second, it tells us about allowing, by faith, the blood of Jesus to hover over our lives and give us divine protection from the evil one.

 

Now in our time remaining, I want to zero in on Passover, and let it teach us about its centerpiece, which is Jesus. And to do that I want to look in particular at God’s instructions for observing Passover. 

 

Exodus 12

 

 

Now remember, Passover was the beginning of months (vs.2)

 

Nisan is the first month of the Religious Calendar. When we receive Jesus into our lives, it is the beginning of a New Covenant relationship with God.

 

Passover is the first of the Feasts. Likewise, repenting of our sins and believing in the shed blood of Jesus is the first step in our walk with God.

 

It is a lamb for a house (vs.3-4)

 

God's intention was that all (households) experience salvation. The lamb was a lamb for the house. By believing in the Lord Jesus, we become members of the household of faith (Ephesians 2:19). Salvation for a household is available to all who believe in the Messiah, the Lamb of God (Genesis 7:1, Joshua 24:15, John 4:46-53, Luke 19:5-10, Acts 16:31, 18:8).

 

There is a progressive revelation of the Lamb in the Bible. First, there is a lamb for a house (Exodus 12:3-4) second, a lamb for a nation (John 11:49-52) and finally, a lamb for the world (John 1:29).

 

there for four days from Nisan 10 to Nisan 14 (Matthew chapters 21-26).

 

Notice verse 5 - the lamb was to be without blemish

 

Jesus was the Lamb of God (John 1:29) without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:18-20).

 

Also verse 5 reminds us that the lamb was of the first year

Jesus was the firstborn of Mary naturally (Matthew 1:21-25), and the firstborn of God spiritually (Colossians 1:15).

 

It is a male (vs.5)

 

It was through one man's sin that sin came into the world (Romans 5:12). Because Adam, the first male, sinned, so a male, Jesus, must die to atone for that sin (Romans 5:17-19)

 

Then notice verse 6. There we find the setting aside of the Lamb

 

God commanded Israel to take a lamb on the tenth day of Nisan and set it aside until the fourteenth day. Now remember, Jesus is the Lamb of God (John 1:29). Did He fulfill this requirement? 

 

He entered Jerusalem and went to the temple, which was the house of God, and went on public display

 

A Passover lamb was to be killed in the evening (twilight) (vs.6)

 

Not only is the Jewish calendar different, so is the Jewish day. The Biblical day goes from evening to evening, from sundown to sundown, which is roughly 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Genesis 1:5) Did you ever notice that God puts the evening first? “The evening and the morning were the first day. . .”

 

So we have the day, 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

Then we need to know that “the day” (6:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) is divided into two 12-hour periods.

 

-The evening of the day runs from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

-The morning runs from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

Further: 

-Each 12-hour period is divided into two smaller portions.

-From 6:00 a.m. to noon is the morning part of the day.

-From noon to 6:00 p.m. is the evening part of the day.

 

‘evening' translated as twilight is literally “between the evenings”

 

Now notice what we’ve got: The lamb must be killed in the evening, literally "between the evening" or “in the middle of the evening” (vs.6) Evening is that period of the day that goes from noon to 6:00 p.m. Let me ask you, where isi the middle of the evening? Exactly 3:00 p.m. That would be the ninth hour of the day, counting from 6:00 a.m.

 

When did Jesus die? Jesus died at the ninth hour of the day (Matthew 27:45-50). This would be 3:00 p.m., the ninth hour, counting from 6:00 a.m.

 

(can’t stay there very long)

 

The whole assembly shall kill it (vs.6)

 

Every person who has ever lived on planet Earth and sinned is guilty of killing Jesus because He died for all sinners (Romans 3:10, 23).

 

Also, a whole congregation of people was involved in the death of Jesus. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John show how the Sanhedrin, the priests, the Romans, and the people of Israel all clamored for the crucifixion of Jesus and for His blood to be shed (Acts 4:26-28).

 

The blood must be applied to the door (vs.7)

 

Those who believe in the Lord Jesus are the house of God (Hebrews 3:6).

 

The only way into the house of God is through the shed blood of Christ, who is the Door (John 10:7-9).

 

The body of the lamb must be eaten (vs. 8-10)

 

Both the body and blood of the lamb speak of the body and blood of Christ (Matthew 26:26-28). We spiritually eat of the body of the Lamb when we eat of His body (today represented by the bread).

 

It must be eaten the same night (vs.8)

 

Jesus was crucified, suffered, and died the same night.

 

It must be eaten with unleavened bread (vs. 8)

 

Leaven speaks of sin (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). Unleavened bread is without sin. As believers, we are instructed to live holy (unleavened) lives before God (Leviticus 19:2, 1 Peter 1:15-16).

 

 

 

 

It must be eaten with bitter herbs (vs. 8)

 

To those who have accepted Jesus into their lives, bitter herbs speak of the bondage and burdens we experience while living in this world ( a type of Egypt) before we accepted Jesus into our lives. This burden of sin is placed on us by Satan when we yield to his lies and deception, and then sin because of our own evil desires.

 

For Christ, dying on the cross was a bitter experience because He had to pay for man's sin with His sinless life.

 

The lamb must be roasted in fire (vs.8)

 

Fire speaks of judgment. Jesus Literally endured our punishment. It also speaks of refining, and purification. Our faith is judged and tested by fire so it can be refined and purified and come forth as pure gold (Zechariah 13:9, James 1:12, 1 Peter 1:7).

 

The head, legs, and other parts of the lamb must be eaten (vs.9)

 

Those who believe in the Lord Jesus must feed on the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:21-23, Hebrews 8:10). 

 

The legs speak of our walk (Colossians 2:6). How are we, the believers in Christ to walk? See, Romans 6:4, 8:1,4, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 5:2,8, Colossians 1:10, 4:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 1 John 1:7, and 2 John vs.6.

 

Heart, etc. . .

The lamb must be eaten in haste (vs.11)

 

Bible believers must be quick to leave Egypt (the influences of the world) and run toward the life that is in the Savior, Jesus Christ (Luke 19:5-6).

 

It must be eaten with our loins girded (vs.11)

 

Our loins being girded speaks about our hearts desire to eagerly serve and obey God. Our spiritual loins are the truth of the Word of God (Ephesians 6:14). There are other Scriptures that speak about our loins being girded. They are- 1 Kings 18:46, Luke 12:35 and 1 Peter 1:13.

 

Shoes must be on our feet (vs.11)

 

Shoes on our feet speaks about our walk with God. Scriptures that speak about this are- Nahum 1:15, Romans 10:15 and Ephesians 6:15.

A staff must be in our hand (vs.11)

 

A staff in our hand speaks about the believer's authority in the Kingdom of God by the name of Jesus. The following Scriptures speak about a staff being in our hand- Genesis 38:17-18, Psalm 23:4 and Mark 6:7-8.

 

The Pssover feast was to be a holy convocation, and no work was to be dne (Exodus 12:16)

 

A believer finds true rest in ceasing from his own works and resting in the finished work of Christ, God's Passover Lamb (Genesis 2:1-2, Matthew 11:28-30, Hebrews 4:1-10).

 

There was to be an explanation of the service (Exodus 12:21-28)

 

What strikes me about this particular instruction is the faith.

 

Now verse 25, that is a future verse. But verse 26, that is a “tonight” verse” 

 

Still in captivity. . .notice verse 28

 

Now fast forward to the night of Jesus’ arrest. Passover. . .

 

Jesus explained each part of the Passover as He did

the service (Luke 22:14-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

 

But here they were eating with the Lamb, and that is our privilege every day. . .