Sunday, April 12, 2009

The Lamb of God

To the people of the covenant, the Lord was very specific about how they were to offer sacrifices and celebrate His Holy Days. The reason they were commanded to be so precise in their worship was because all that they did pointed them in the direction of Jesus Christ. During the first Passover Feast the Children of Israel were saved from the last plague, pronounced by Pharaoh himself, of the death of the firstborn. This salvation came only because of the blood of the lamb, which was offered as a sacrifice.

Exodus 12: 7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye 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 smite the land of Egypt.

By this token of blood, the Children of Israel would remember the power by which they were saved.

There was also very specific instruction about the lamb that was to be used in the Passover feast.

According to Exodus 12:

  • It was to be male.
  • It had to be a firstborn sheep.
  • The lamb was to be without blemish.
  • It had to be slain on a specific day at a specific time.
  • It had to be roasted with fire.
  • It was to be killed without one broken bone.
  • It was to be eaten with bitter herbs.
  • It had to be totally consumed or burned, leaving nothing.

The lamb that was to be offered was a type and a shadow for the Lamb of God that would become the last and great sacrifice. In all ways the Children of Israel were taught of Jesus Christ and his ability to save because of the blood he would shed for them.

In what way do you think these specifications pointed to Jesus Christ?

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