Jesus is the Ultimate Passover Lamb - Exodus 12-13 and Matthew 16
Through the first nine plagues God prepared the Egyptians and the Israelites for the one act that would bring the release of His people from bondage. God knew that when the death angel killed all of the firstborn in Egypt that Pharaoh would be defeated, and he would let His people go. He also knew that His people were ready to listen to His instructions. They were ready to follow Him. What happened next was one of the most important events in the Old Testament.
God told His people to prepare one lamb per family to be sacrificed and eaten in one night. It was to be a male without blemish. They were to take the blood and put it on the doorposts and the lintel of the house so the death angel would passover and not kill the firstborn in that house. They were even to eat unleavened bread in the process. Why did God have this done? It all pointed to Jesus. It all showed the Israelites that their faith in God was what saved them. It pointed to the power of the blood to protect from death. I know they did not understand that it pointed to Jesus, but isn't it wonderful to see how God was preparing the way for the ultimate sacrifice for our sins? Isn't it great to see the details that all point to the sinless Lamb of God dying for our sins? I think it should cause us to fall before the Lord and worship Him as the Israelites did that first passover.
Then, look at Matthew 16. Jesus realized that the disciples were ready to understand about who He was and what He would do. Jesus took them aside. He asked them who others thought He was. Then, He asked who they thought He was. Peter got the right answer. He was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. How did he know that? God had revealed that to Him. Then, Peter had chosen to believe that and to trust Jesus as Lord. What did Jesus tell them next? He explained the greatest act in human history. The one act that has the power to free us all from the bondage of sin. He told them about His death on the cross and His resurrection. Then, He said that if anyone desires to come after Him, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him. The Israelites took up their possessions and followed the pillar of cloud and fire out of Egypt. We take up our cross and follow Jesus out of the bondage of sin. Then, we know that spiritual death will be defeated , and we will have eternal life with Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 14-15 and Matthew 17.
God told His people to prepare one lamb per family to be sacrificed and eaten in one night. It was to be a male without blemish. They were to take the blood and put it on the doorposts and the lintel of the house so the death angel would passover and not kill the firstborn in that house. They were even to eat unleavened bread in the process. Why did God have this done? It all pointed to Jesus. It all showed the Israelites that their faith in God was what saved them. It pointed to the power of the blood to protect from death. I know they did not understand that it pointed to Jesus, but isn't it wonderful to see how God was preparing the way for the ultimate sacrifice for our sins? Isn't it great to see the details that all point to the sinless Lamb of God dying for our sins? I think it should cause us to fall before the Lord and worship Him as the Israelites did that first passover.
Then, look at Matthew 16. Jesus realized that the disciples were ready to understand about who He was and what He would do. Jesus took them aside. He asked them who others thought He was. Then, He asked who they thought He was. Peter got the right answer. He was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. How did he know that? God had revealed that to Him. Then, Peter had chosen to believe that and to trust Jesus as Lord. What did Jesus tell them next? He explained the greatest act in human history. The one act that has the power to free us all from the bondage of sin. He told them about His death on the cross and His resurrection. Then, He said that if anyone desires to come after Him, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him. The Israelites took up their possessions and followed the pillar of cloud and fire out of Egypt. We take up our cross and follow Jesus out of the bondage of sin. Then, we know that spiritual death will be defeated , and we will have eternal life with Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 14-15 and Matthew 17.