Passover 1

Passover 1

I. Introduction

"You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me." (John 5:39 NIV)

The seven feasts of the Lord are: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles. Observing these feasts yearly testifies that Jesus is the slain Lamb, while the sacrificial animals were merely foreshadows—only shadows of what was to come, but the reality is found in Christ. Yet, to this day, whenever the Old Testament is read, a veil covers the hearts of the Israelites (2 Corinthians 3:15-16).

In Luke 15, a father has two sons: the father represents the Lord Jesus, the elder son represents the Israelites, and the younger son represents the Gentiles. Israel, as descendants of Jacob, is the firstborn (Exodus 4:22); Gentiles become sons of God through the Gospel. Salvation comes from the Jews, and we, the Gentile church, owe a debt to share the Gospel, honoring our spiritual elder brother Israel and reaffirming that Jesus is their Messiah.

Around 1991, three elderly sisters from the Church Rebuilt by the Holy Spirit in Jiangsu, China, went to the countryside to preach and encountered a demon-possessed man with ten big demons and over a thousand minor demons. The sisters cast out the demons, but the demons refused to leave. Finally, the sisters declared: "Jesus Christ! For the sake of our apostolic spiritual father, have mercy on us and command these demons to leave this man!" The demons shrieked, "It’s over—we’ve met the younger son of the Lord Jesus!" Instantly, the evil spirits fled!

Bearing witness to the Lord Jesus (blood, water, and Spirit) is a spiritual relay race. The first leg was run by the Israelites, spreading from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth so all nations might receive salvation. In the end, the Gentiles will bring the Gospel back to Israel, and Israel must sprint to the finish. Scripture says: "When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." (Matthew 10:23 NIV)

II. The Israelites’ First Passover in Egypt

1. On the Tenth Day of the First Month in Egypt, Each Household Prepared a Lamb

"The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, ‘This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.’" (Exodus 12:1-3 NIV)

God commanded the Israelites to set the month of barley harvest as the first month (Abib/Nisan). If the barley was not ripe, they added a thirteenth month (Adar). The Jewish calendar, like the Chinese lunar calendar, has 354 days and requires intercalation every few years. The people had to follow God’s timing precisely.

On the tenth day, Moses instructed Israel to select a lamb—unblemished, a year-old male—one per household. This was four days before Passover, the same day Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem.

2. At Twilight on the Fourteenth Day, the Lamb Was Slaughtered

"Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight." (Exodus 12:6 NIV)

Moses commanded:
"At twilight, slaughter the lamb. Take some blood and put it on the doorframes of the houses where you eat the lamb. That same night, roast the meat over fire and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not leave any leftovers. Eat it with your cloak tucked into your belt, sandals on your feet, and staff in hand—eat in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover. That night, the Lord will strike down every firstborn in Egypt. The blood will be a sign; when I see it, I will pass over you."

3. The Night of the Lord

"Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come." (Exodus 12:42 NIV)

At midnight, the Lord struck down every firstborn in Egypt—from Pharaoh’s heir to the prisoners’ sons, even the livestock. Wailing filled Egypt; no household was spared.

Pharaoh urgently summoned Moses and Aaron: "Go! Take your people and leave—worship the Lord as you said!" Israel had lived in Egypt 430 years. On that very day, the Lord’s armies marched out.

III. Passover in Jesus’ Time

1. On the Tenth of Abib, Jesus Entered Jerusalem for Inspection

In Jesus’ time, Jews would bring a lamb (for 10-20 people) to the temple for meticulous inspection. On that day, Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem and was scrutinized by the Pharisees—yet no fault was found. Thus, Jesus, the Passover Lamb, was flawless.

The crowd cheered, waving palm branches: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the Lord’s name!" As Scripture says: "Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt." (John 12:13-15 NIV)

2. At Twilight on the Fourteenth, the Lamb Was Slaughtered

By Jesus’ time, the temple stood with priests serving. Jews still followed Moses’ command: at twilight on the fourteenth, they slaughtered the lamb in the temple.

At 9 AM, priests sharpened knives; at 3 PM, they killed the lamb, sprinkled its blood on the altar, and prepared it for the Passover meal.

IV. Jesus Is the True Passover Lamb

"For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." (1 Corinthians 5:7 NIV)

1. The Last Supper Was on Passover Preparation Day

"It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. ‘Here is your king,’ Pilate said to the Jews." (John 19:14 NIV)

The Last Supper (the night Jesus was betrayed) began after twilight on Abib 13, the Preparation Day. Jesus instituted the New Covenant with His blood—a marriage covenant between Christ and the Church.

Judas betrayed Jesus that night. After His arrest, Jesus was tried before dawn and handed to Pilate. The captors refused to enter the palace, fearing defilement before Passover (John 18:28).

2. What Was Done on Preparation Day?

Preparation Day (Abib 13 twilight to 14 sunset) involved:

1. Beginning Passover (a seven-day feast).

2. Sacrificing the lamb at 3 PM.

3. Preparing unleavened bread, bitter herbs, and roasted lamb.

4. Removing all leaven before sunset (marking the Feast of Unleavened Bread).

3. Jesus Atoned for Sins

Moses commanded Passover 1,500 years earlier—but the true Lamb was Christ, sinless under the Law’s scrutiny.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." (Hebrews 4:15 NIV)
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 NIV)

4. Jesus’ Sacrifice Fulfilled the Law

Jesus was betrayed on Preparation night, condemned at dawn, and crucified at 9 AM. After six hours, He cried, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). John the Baptist declared: "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29 NIV)

At 9 AM (when priests sharpened knives) He was nailed to the cross. At 3 PM (when the lamb was slain), He died—perfectly fulfilling Moses’ Law.

5. Jesus Was Crucified on Wednesday

"Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down." (John 19:31 NIV)

Some assume Friday crucifixion (since Sabbath began at sunset). But Passover’s first/last days were also "high Sabbaths." Jesus had to be crucified Wednesday to fulfill "three days and three nights" (Matthew 12:40)—buried by twilight, in the grave Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

V. The Full Gospel: Blood (Repentance), Water (Baptism), Spirit (Tongues)

"For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement." (1 John 5:8 NIV)

1. The Passover Lamb Foreshadowed Jesus’ Witness: Blood, Water, Spirit

Israel slaughtered the lamb, applied its blood (blood), roasted it with fire (Spirit), and ate it with unleavened bread (water). This symbolizes the full Gospel: repentance, baptism, and Spirit-filled life.

2. Christ Redeemed His Children with Blood, Water, and Spirit

Israel marched out with 600,000 men (Exodus 12:37-41). The Passover lamb foreshadowed Jesus, who delivers us from Satan’s bondage.

3. The Pillar of Cloud and Fire: The Spirit’s Guidance

"By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them... and by night in a pillar of fire." (Exodus 13:21 NIV)

At the Red Sea, God separated Israel from Pharaoh’s army with the cloud. Moses parted the sea—Israel crossed, but Pharaoh’s army drowned.

4. Baptized in Cloud and Sea: Spirit and Water

"Our ancestors... were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea." (1 Corinthians 10:1-2 NIV)

The cloud (Spirit) and sea (water) symbolize baptism. Christians, like Israel, must overcome Satan’s attacks through the full Gospel.

5. God Is God of Jews and Gentiles

"A foreigner residing among you who wants to celebrate the Lord’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised... he is to be treated as a native-born." (Exodus 12:48-49 NIV)

Many Gentiles joined Israel. Caleb, son of a Kenizzite (a Canaanite tribe, Genesis 15:19), became a Judahite leader. God shows no favoritism: "Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too." (Romans 3:29 NIV)

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