Passover Feast
Levitcus 23:4-8
This feast is set in the time of the Egyptian pyramids, Israel’s slavery, death sentences on Jewish babies, burning bush, divine plagues, parting of a sea and birth of a nation at a thundering mountain. A lamb was to be taken, observed, sacrificed publicly, each family was to take the blood of their lamb, apply it to the door post of their home and when the Lord saw that blood He would Passover that house. This event was so important that Israel was to forever commemorate their deliverance from slavery in a solemn service and it gives to us, in our day, an understanding of the Upper Room discourse just hours before the cross. The ceremony includes 4 cups of wine symbolizing joy, a lamb symbolizing innocence, matzah symbolizing purity and bitter herbs symbolizing suffering.
With the first cup, the Lord stood up and gave thanks (Lk22:17) after which was the symbolic act of purification. Here the Lord washed the disciple’s feet. With the dipping of the matzah Jesus stated “this is my body which is given for you” and also that one would betray him. With the third cup, Jesus stated that it represented his blood which would be poured out for them. The fourth cup, the cup of acceptance, Jesus said he would not drink it until that time we are all in the kingdom. This was then followed by singing Psalm 115 thru 118 and then they went out (Matt 26:30).
What does all this signify to us today? I Cor 5:7 “for Christ, our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed”. Just as that lamb had to be sacrificed, an innocent dying in their place, so the Lord Jesus went to the cross, the innocent one dying in our place. Just as the ancient Israelite had to personally apply the blood of that lamb, so it is with us. Each individual has to ask Jesus to save them, thus protecting them from the wrath to come.
As we observer communion this Sunday morning, the question is “Is Jesus your Passover Lamb”? If he is, then this is a time to remember the great cost of salvation and to deal with any sins in our life that would hinder our relationship with the Lord.