The Passover and its Lessons.

Brother Chaitanya.

[YMCA, recorded at short hand. Feb. 2016.]
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The Passover feast is the only feast that had its first celebration in Egypt and as well as being the only feast kept in Pharaoh’s land. It being mentioned forty nine times in the law and the prophets, strengthens the mystical quotient that it holds; since forty nine is seven times seven- perfection to a high level. As the reference to the true Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5), this feast attends to reveal to us the finality of Christ’s sacrifice. This feast is rightly suited to have its first mention in the book of Exodus. For Genesis is the unfolding of God’s thoughts, Leviticus is about relationships, Numbers is about how to walk the road ahead and Deuteronomy is about the review of what has been given by God. Passover mentioned first at Exodus; finds its most natural position in this book since Exodus is about redemption, as the Passover feast rightly points to- redemption by the blood of Christ.

Passover celebrated in the first month- signifies a new beginning in the dealings of God with man. Believers in the Lord Jesus have a new beginning when they leave the lusts of the world and approach the mount of Calvary.

The blood of the Lamb is applied on the posts, which signifies our shelter secured under the shed blood of Lord Jesus Christ. This provokes true worship. Christianity differs from all religions on this ground, for in it we get first from God to return it back to Him in worship and adoration.

Further, it is on the 10^th day that it all begins- for the number ten signifies man’s responsibility. The terms of responsibility no sooner we contracted, we failed to act. The answer to our failure is Christ becoming incarnate- to become the Last Adam to succeed in perfect obedience where the first man in disobedience, failed.

Four things are clearly spelt out in the description of this feast-

1) Sufficiency of the Lamb- the striking thing is that it is ever, that the household is too small for the Lamb but never the household is too big for the Lamb. Calvary can take care of every man sin. One may be a saint or a Barabbas- it does not make any difference. The cross is sufficient to put away any sin.

2) Selection of the Lamb- a male of the first year without blemish signifies the robustness of the Lamb. The impeccability of Christ’s life- pure without sin and perfect as the Substitute for all sinful humanity.

3) Scrutinization of the Lamb- the lamb kept from the 10^th to the 14^th day speaks of our responsibility to scrutinize the impeccability of Christ’s sacrifice in worship and remembrance.

4) Slaughter of the Lamb- the remembrance of Christ’s atoning death while partaking of the emblems on the Lord’s Day, the bread and the wine (1 Cor 11).

The other points to attend include-

1) The lamb is to be roasted by fire but not to be consumed raw and sodden. This tells us to think of Christ as suffering the fire of judgment of God that fell upon Him on the cross without an iota of receding.

2) The lamb cannot be kept for long lest it be corrupted. This speaks of the freshness of Christ’s sacrifice in the sight of God- for ever, in all its power, efficacy and solemnity.

3) The loins were to be girded- signifying our pilgrim responsibility. We are pilgrims and we must prove it day by day as we live in this world which is a big spiritual Egypt. Pharaoh begs Moses often to leave some other day, at other times not to go far from Egypt while at other times to leave the cattle and children back at Egypt. This is what the world does- if we persist to worship God in spirit and truth. The world wants us to postpone our attendance to the assembly meetings, while at times- not to separate ourselves completely from the religion of this world and at other times- to restrain from offering spiritual sacrifices (as Pharaoh sought the leaving behind of the cattle- if the cattle were not- where then the sacrifices to be offered?) and not bringing our children to the church. It is a snare of the devil (Pharaoh). We must be as Moses- unrelenting in response to the snares of this world, to separate ourselves from all defilements.

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