Christ, Our Passover
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction: One day a man asked his wife why she always cut off the ends of her roast. Her response was, “Well my mom always cut off the ends of her roast, but I never asked why.” So she proceeded to ask her mom and her mom’s response was, “Well, your grandma always cut off the ends of her roast, so I always cut off the end of mine.” So she went to her grandmother and her grandmother said, “Well, your great-grandma always cut off the ends of her roast, so I always cut off the end of mine.” Thankfully the ladies great-grandmother was still alive, though she was quite old. The lady really wanted to know so she could give her husband an explanation so she asked her great-grandma, “Why did you always cut off the ends of your roast when you cook? I’ve asked grandma, and mom and my husband asked me, but no one seems to know why they do it.”
Her great-grandma responded, “Honey, I have no idea why your mom and grandma cut the ends of of their roast, the only reason I did is because my roasting pan was too small for an entire roast!”
Sermon Introduction: I’m afraid, too often in life, and certainly in church we do things over and over and over again, but we really do not know WHY. This is often true with traditions. I’m afraid, for some, this is also true of the Lord’s Supper. Next Sunday, Lord willing, you will be observing the Lord’s Supper as you explore and it’s vitally important that you understand it and take it very seriously. The roots of the Lord’s Supper and very closely connected to the Passover Meal. This week I want to help you understand the Passover Meal, how Jesus is connected to the Passover Meal, and what difference the Passover Meal and what it represents should make in our lives personally and individually.
Before we get into Passover, let’s notice the passage of Scripture before us in …
The Explanation of Passover
The Explanation of Passover
Passover was instituted at the end of the plagues God sent upon Egypt when the Israelites were slaves there. God had sent Moses to tell Pharoah, “Let my people go.” To make a long story short, Pharoah hardened his heart against God and refused. Finally God hardened Pharaoh's heart after nine breathtaking plagues. As one writer said, “Light is consumed by darkness. The water becomes a source of death rather than life . . .” Pharoah still refused to let God’s people go. God had planned to send the last and final plague. This time all of the first born children and animals would perish in one night. Only those who observed the commands of God regarding what would become known as Passover would survive. The author of this article goes on to say:
“None of the earlier plagues had touched God's people, as they were separated from the Egyptians. Now, the Israelites and the Egyptians are drawn into God's final plague together (). Israel's involvement in the last plague is significant. If the Israelites did not trust in God's word and follow His instructions; their firstborn would also die. The need for salvation is made clear and the atoning sacrifice is provided on Israel's behalf (). The conditions for redemption are laid out, but Israel must respond in faith.”
None of the earlier plagues had touched God's people, as they were separated from the Egyptians. Now, the Israelites and the Egyptians are drawn into God's final plague together (). Israel's involvement in the last plague is significant. If the Israelites did not trust in God's word and follow His instructions; their firstborn would also die. The need for salvation is made clear and the atoning sacrifice is provided on Israel's behalf (). The conditions for redemption are laid out, but Israel must respond in faith.
Another article notes this about that fateful night:
One article notes this about that fateful night:
God instructed every household of the Israelite people to select a year-old male lamb without defect (.) The head of the household was to slaughter the lamb at twilight, taking care that none of its bones were broken, and apply some of its blood to the tops and sides of the doorframe of the house. The lamb was to be roasted and eaten ().
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats,
“Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it.
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats,
God said that when He saw the lamb’s blood on the doorframe of a house, He would “pass over” that home and not permit “the destroyer” () to enter. Any home without the blood of the lamb would have their firstborn son struck down that night ().
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 will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.
For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.
His Connection to Passover
His Connection to Passover
Now that we have a better understanding of Passover we can have a better understanding of what Jesus and His disciples were getting ready to do. They were getting ready to observe this Passover celebration together, as I’m sure they had done all of their lives. However, this one would be DIFFERENT than all of the rest and would introduce a new TWIST on the Passover meal. THIS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THIS. This is a VITAL TRUTH!
While you will learn more about this Last Passover Supper next week, I want to give you a little insight into the significance of this last meal that Jesus and His disciples will have together and WHY it is so important.
Jesus is the Passover Lamb!
Jesus is the Passover Lamb!
There are a few references scattered throughout the New Testament that remind us of the vital truth!
When John the Baptist introduces Jesus to the word, notice what he says in :
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Paul used a similar statement in
Notice
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
Do not bypass the significance and power of this statement! John the Baptist refers to Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Over and over and over again lambs would be slain year after year on the Day of Atonement to cover the sins of the people. But their sacrifice was insufficient and had to be repeated over and over again. The blood of bulls and goats could never take away sin, it could only cover it! However, when Jesus arrived on the scene everything CHANGED!
Just as the Passover Lamb had to be a lamb without defect according to :
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats,
Jesus was also without defect. says:
but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
Just as the Passover Lamb had to be “without blemish” Jesus’ life was completely free from sin and blemish. reminds us that Jesus was WITHOUT SIN:
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus was Crucified During Passover Season—Just as God Had Planned It!
Jesus was Crucified During Passover Season—Just as God Had Planned It!
Please understand this was NOT a coincidence. Remember it wasn’t really the Jews and the Romans who decided WHEN Jesus would be crucified, it was Jesus Himself. Over and over and over again throughout the Gospels Jesus said, “My time has not yet come.” Take note of these Scriptures:
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?”
Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”
And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Not only was Jesus the Passover Lamb that God had sent to provide redemption and rescue for the world, but Jesus chose the time of His death to be AT Passover. The timing of this is HUGELY significant.
The Blood Continues to Play an Important Role
The Blood Continues to Play an Important Role
On the first Passover night the Israelites had to take the blood from the lamb that had been slain and they had to apply the blood to the doorposts of their homes. That night when the death angel passed over their homes he was not looking for religious symbols, he was not looking for beautiful dwellings, he was not looking for well manicured lawns, he was looking for ONE THING and ONE THING ONLY—whether or not the BLOOD of the lamb had been applied!
I hope that you understand that is still true today! It is only the BLOOD OF JESUS that was shed in His death for you that can take away and wash away your sins and mine!
,
he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,
As one author said:
Just as the Passover lamb’s applied blood caused the “destroyer” to pass over each household, Christ’s applied blood causes God’s judgment to pass over sinners and gives life to believers ().
And that leads us to my final point this morning . . .
He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Our Application of Passover
Our Application of Passover
Passover has more significance than just some OT festival or tradition. That Passover meal pointed to something and Someone. The first Passover meal was a demonstration of faith by the enslaved Israelites that they were trusting in God’s provision to set them free.
The Passover meal that took place year after year after year until the time of Christ was a celebration of God’s provision to set them free. As you will see next week Jesus institutes a new “meal” signifying that He truly is the Passover Lamb, and that by faith we believe that the bread signifies the body that was broken and the cup signifies the blood that was shed so WE COULD BE SET FREE!
You and I were in far worse bondage than the OT Israelites. They were in bondage to the cruel taskmasters of Egypt, we were in bondage to the cruel taskmaster of the enemy of our souls—the Devil and sin. We were under the death penalty...because the wages of sin is death. We were going to die—we were separated from God because of our sins and we were going to be eternally separated from God because of our sins.
But God provided a Lamb. God stepped down from Heaven in the form of a man…Jesus Christ Himself became the Passover Lamb that we needed, and He willingly laid down His life as our substitute and provided the blood that could not only cover our sin, but could cleanse our sin.
When you turn from your self and your sin and YOU trust Christ as your substitutionary sacrifice, it is as if the blood of Jesus is applied to the doorposts of your life and heart and you are safe and secure in the arms of Jesus. One day, when the death angel passes by your house there is only ONE THING he is going to be looking for!
He will not be looking for whether or not you were christened as a baby or baptized as an adult
He will not be looking for whether or not you were a Catholic, a Baptist, a Methodist, a Presbyterian, a Pentacostal
He will not be looking for whether or not you did good works or tried to be a good person
THE ONLY THING HE IS GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR IS WHETHER OR NOT THE BLOOD HAS BEEN APPLIED TO THE DOORPOSTS OF YOUR LIFE BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITH IN YOUR PASSOVER LAMB—JESUS CHRIST!
Jesus is qualified to be called One “without blemish” because His life was completely free from sin (). In Revelation, John the apostle sees Jesus as “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain” (). Jesus was crucified during the time that the Passover was observed ().
God said that when He saw the lamb’s blood on the doorframe of a house, He would “pass over” that home and not permit “the destroyer” () to enter. Any home without the blood of the lamb would have their firstborn son struck down that night ().
As one writer said:
The New Testament establishes a relationship between this prototypical Passover lamb and the consummate Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ (). The prophet John the Baptist recognized Jesus as “the Lamb of God” (), and the apostle Peter links the lamb without defect () with Christ, whom he calls a “lamb without blemish or defect” (). Jesus is qualified to be called One “without blemish” because His life was completely free from sin (). In Revelation, John the apostle sees Jesus as “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain” (). Jesus was crucified during the time that the Passover was observed ().
The Bible says believers have symbolically applied the sacrificial blood of Christ to their hearts and thus have escaped eternal death (, ). Just as the Passover lamb’s applied blood caused the “destroyer” to pass over each household, Christ’s applied blood causes God’s judgment to pass over sinners and gives life to believers ().
As the first Passover marked the Hebrews’ release from Egyptian slavery, so the death of Christ marks our release from the slavery of sin (). As the first Passover was to be held in remembrance as an annual feast, so Christians are to memorialize the Lord’s death in communion until He returns ().
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
The Old Testament Passover lamb, although a reality in that time, was a mere foreshadowing of the better and final Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ. Through His sinless life and sacrificial death, Jesus became the only One capable of giving people a way to escape death and a sure hope of eternal life
The Old Testament Passover lamb, although a reality in that time, was a mere foreshadowing of the better and final Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ. Through His sinless life and sacrificial death, Jesus became the only One capable of giving people a way to escape death and a sure hope of eternal life.
Final Applications
Because There is No Safety or Security Outside of the Blood of Christ it is Imperative to Make Sure Your Faith is in Him and Your Sins are Washed Away
Because There is No Safety or Security Outside of the Blood of Christ it is Imperative to Make Sure Your Faith is in Him and Your Sins are Washed Away
Jesus made it absolutely, crystal clear there was no other way. He said in
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Dear friend this is a matter of eternal life or eternal death. Again the “death angel” is only looking for ONE THING!
Let the words of sink down deep in your soul!
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Because There is No Safety or Security Outside the Blood of Christ it is Imperative to Spend the Rest of our Days Helping Bring People to Jesus
Because There is No Safety or Security Outside the Blood of Christ it is Imperative to Spend the Rest of our Days Helping Bring People to Jesus
My children will not go to Heaven because they said a prayer, because their dad is a pastor, because they have been in church before they were ever born, because they attended VBS, because they were baptized, because of who I am or because of who they are . . . my children are not safe unless their own personal faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ! It is imperative that I help them understand that following Christ is a personal decision that no one else can make for them!
The same is true for my neighbors, my parents, my siblings, my cousins, my aunts/uncles, my co-workers, my grandparents/grandchildren . . . I have been left on this earth for two main reasons:
To glorify and magnify God with my life
To be Christ’s minister of reconciliation, helping people understand their sins have separated them from God but their is hope in Christ Jesus
If I miss that as a believer I have completely missed my purpose in life and so have you!
Note what God’s Word says:
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
SECOND SERVICE ONLY
save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Before we close today I want you to hear from an atheist, that’s right an ATHEIST. This is a well known comedian who works in the Las Vegas act, “Penn & Teller.” A Christian had given him a Bible and some Gospel literature after one of his shows and he made a brief video on why he was thankful that this Christian had made an effort to witness to him. Although he is still an atheist and doesn’t believe in Christ he makes a really good point about why Christians should spend their lives trying to rescue people from the judgement they believe is coming . . .
And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
VIDEO