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THE LAMB OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT SANCTUARIES, CH- 1, PART- 3
by Dr Surya Kumar Daimari Continued.. THE LAMB OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT SANCTUARIES Chapter- 1, Part- 3 THE UNIVERSAL NECESSITY OF A SACRIFICE 5. THE FIFTH MENTION OF A SACRIFICE: The Passover: The Sacrifice of the Lamb Another most remarkable chapter in the Bible is Exodus 12. It is the day of Lord's Passover.. The Heb word for Passover is 'Pesah' while the Greek is 'Pascha'. 'Pesah' is found in Ex 12:13,23,27 where the meaning is that the Lord skipped over or passed over and thus spared the Israelite homes during the time when He smote the Egyptians. The sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years ﴾Ex 12:40﴿. During this long sojourning, "The Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the fields; all their service wherein they made them serve was with rigour." Ex 1:13,14 But the love of God for His own people was abounding. He could not bear the sufferings of His people. Thus He promised before Moses, "I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant. I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgment." Ex 6:5,6 God kept His promise. He appointed Moses and Haron in order to deliver His people from the bondage of the Egyptians. The Lord's Passover is a day, when God delivered the children of Israel in a miraculous way. For this occasion God commanded the Israelite to kill a lamb without blemish and strike the blood on the 'TWO SIDE POSTS" and on the "UPPER DOOR POSTS" of the houses. They will also "EAT THE FLESH" in that night, roast with fire and unleavened bread with bitter herbs ﴾Ex 12:5-8﴿. And God said to them, "The blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you when I smote the land of Egypt." Ex 12:13 And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon: and all the firstborn of the cattle ﴾v 29﴿. And the night all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night to be much observed for the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord to be observed by all the children of Israel in their generation. It has now become a yearly festival which had been instituted by God Himself for the Israelite to commemorate the wonderful deliverance of the Lord at the time of Exodus. THE INSTITUTION AND CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER AND FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD IN LATER DAYS: The celebration of the Passover generally fell on the 14th of Nisan (approximately our April) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread from the 15th to the 21st Nisan which marked the beginning of the Sacred new year (Ex 12:2). On the evening of the 14th the lamb was slain and the blood of it was sprinkled on the door posts and lintel of the house. The lamb was then roasted with fire and eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. The whole family took part in the feast. And portion which was remained had to be burned the next morning . Each was to eat it in haste with loins girded, shoes on the feet and staff in hand. After the institution of priesthood and tabernacle, the celebration of the Passover began to differ in certain respects from the Egyptian Passover. Such as 1. The Passover lamb was slain in the sanctuary (temple) rather than at home. 2. The blood was sprinkled upon the altars instead of the door posts. Deut. 16:5-6 3. More than the family Sacrifice for Passover meal; there were public and National sacrifice each of the seven days of the feast (Num 28:16-24). 4. The meaning of the Passover was recited among the people at the feast every year. Ex 12:24-27 5. The singing of 'Hallel'#1 (Ps 113-118) was later instituted during the meal. 6. A second Passover was kept aside on the 14th Day of the second month for those ceremonially unclean or away on a journey at the time of its regular celebration. Num 9:9-12. 7. During Passover feast all males were required to come to the sanctuary with offerings as the Lord had prospered them. Ex 23:14-17; Deut 16:16-17. 8. According to Josephus (Wars vi 9:3), no ceremonially unclean men or women were allowed to take part in the feast. 9. "After appropriate blessings a first cup of wine was served, followed by the eating of a portion of the better herbs." #2 10. "Before the lamb and unleavened bread were eaten, a second cup of wine was provided at which time the son, the compliance with Ex 12:26, asked the father the meaning and significance of the Passover feast. An account of the Egyptian bondage and deliverance was recited in reply." #3 11. "The first portion of the Hallel (Ps 113- 114) was then sung and the paschal supper eaten, followed by third and fourth cups of wine and the second part of Hallel (Ps 115-118). #4 THE TYPOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PASSOVER: The Lord's Passover in Exodus 12 foreshadows the cross of Calvary where God passed over seeing the cross and the blood so that the plague of sin would not fall upon us. If we draw a sketch of the two side posts and the upper door post, it will obviously look like two crosses which indeed represent the cross and the blood. It is very Significant that 1.The blood of Christ was shed on the cross to save us from the plague and bondage of sin. 2.The 'door' also represents Christ. Jesus Christ Himself said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one cometh unto the Father , but by me." Jn 14:6. Also see Rev 3:7 cf Is 22:15-23 3. I Cor 5:7 says, "Christ our Passover" which is prefigured in the O.T. ( a).Christ observed the Passover and revealed its true meaning . Mtt 26:19; Mk 14:12; Lk 22:2-22; Jn 6:57; Jn 13:1-25 (b). "they shall eat the flesh------and unleavened bread------- Ex 12:5-8 Christ not only observed the Passover but he also instituted the Lord's super. It is very significant. Lord's supper is the Passover in the New Testament (Mtt 26:28; Lk 22:20). It is a New Covenant with the Lord. Israelite ate the flesh and the unleavened bread. And Christ also on the day of Passover, the previous night he was arrested and crucified, "took the bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it, For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Mtt 26: 26-28 A careful comparison between the Passover in the O.T. and the Passover in the N.T. will reveal the divine truth that is in the Scripture. 1. #O.T. The Lamb that was sacrificed was a Lamb without blemish. Ex12:5 *N.T. Christ, as the lamb of God was without blemish. Pet 1:19- " a lamb without blemish and without spot". 2.#O.T. The lamb was a slain lamb. Ex 12:6 * N.T. Christ as the slain lamb in Rev.5:6 3.#O.T. Blood of the lamb was striked on the side posts. *.N.T. The blood of Christ was shed on the cross. Another way of saying is that the blood of Christ was striked on the cross. 4.#O.T. The lamb that was sacrificed was known as the "Passover Lamb". *N.T. "Christ is our Passover" I Cor 5:7 5. #O.T. In the Passover feast, the flesh was eaten. Ex 12:5-8 *N.T. The Lord's supper is the Passover feast in the New. Jesus took the bread and said, "Take, eat; this is my body" Mtt 26:26; Jn 6:53, 54-58 6. #O.T. Cups of wine were served during the feast. *N.T. Jesus also "took the cup and gave thanks and gave it them saying, Drink ye all of it, For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Mtt26:26-28 7. # O.T. No ceremonially unclean man or woman were allowed to take part in the feast. * N.T. One who takes part in the Lord's supper need to examine himself. I Cor 11:28 "For he that eateth and drinketh damnation to Himself.." I Cor11:29 8. #O.T. Passover in the O.T was annually celebrated to commemorate the wonderful deliverance of the Lord from the Egyptian bondage. Ex 12:26,25 * N.T. Jesus also "took the bread and gave thanks and broke it and gave unto them , saying , This is my body which given for you: THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME" Lk 22:19 9. # O.T. In the Passover Feast it was the real flesh of the lamb that was eaten. * N.T. Whereas , in the Lord's supper , the bread is symbolical to the body of Christ. Likewise, wine is symbolical to the blood of Christ. 10. # O.T. Thus , Passover Feast in the O.T. reminds us what God had done to Israelite in the land of Egypt, to deliver them from the bondage of the Egyptians. A physical deliverance. * N.T. Lord's Supper, the Passover Feast in the N.T. , on the other hand reminds us what God has done to us on the cross of Calvary to deliver us from the bondage of sin and death. A spiritual deliverance. Note: #1 Hallel: Ps 113- 118 is known as the "Egyptian Hallel" which was sung in the homes at the Passover, in the temple and in the synagogues at the great annual festivals. "Hallel"- in Heb. means, "to praise". "Hallel"- later became a Jewish liturgical term referring to certain psalms. e.g., Ps 113- 118. The "Egyptian Hallel" Ps (120- 136), (135- 136) praise God for rain. 136:1,7,25 Praise God for food. These psalms are known as the "Great Hallel". #2 Freeman, Hobert E, "Festivals" In Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, P 603 Moody Press, Chicago. #3 Ibid, P 603 #4 Ibid, P 603 To be continued.. Name of the Author of this article: Dr. Surya Kumar Daimari, MA,M.Ed, PGDTE,D.Min.(Doctor of Ministry) The author is a freelance writer. Book published: The Names of the Believers in the Bible in Types and Symbols . https://outskirtspress.com/thenamesofthebelieversinthebible Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |