On the chart below, we have compared 12 ways that Jesus prophetically fulfilled the Passover Lamb from Exodus and has become our Passover Lamb. There are many more than just what is listed on this chart, but this chart gives us a great foundation for understanding the Apostle Paul’s words:
“7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (I Cor. 5:7-8).
| Passover Lamb from Exodus | Jesus, Our Passover Lamb |
| The people were asked to choose a lamb (Ex. 12:3). | Jesus is the Lamb of God, chosen by the Father (John 1:29-35). |
| The lamb was examined and had to be without defect (Ex. 12:5). | Jesus is our Lamb without blemish (I Peter 1:18-19). He lived a perfect life by God’s Laws and Commandments (I John 3:1-6). Also, He was examined by the leaders of his day (both Jewish and Gentile) and found innocent (Matthew 26:59-63; Luke 23:4, 7, 13-15, 20-22). |
| The lamb was slaughtered (Ex. 12:6). | Jesus willingly gave His life. He was slaughtered (I Cor. 15:3). |
| The blood of the lamb was dipped into hyssop (Ex. 12:22) | When Jesus was on the cross, hyssop was applied to his mouth (John 19:29). |
| The lamb’s bones could not be broken (Exodus 12:46). | Despite all his suffering, none of Jesus’ bones were broken (John 19:31-33, 36). |
| The blood had to be applied (Ex. 12:7, 13). | We are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus (I Peter 1:2). |
| The Lamb was eaten (Ex. 12:8). | We must eat Jesus’ body and blood through the taking of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine (Matthew 26:26-28; John 6:53-59). |
| The lamb had to be eaten inside a household (Ex. 12:46). | There is only one household in which the true lamb can be eaten – the household of faith (Gal. 6:10, Eph. 2:18-20, Heb. 3:6, I Peter 2:5, 4:17). |
| Through the first lamb, God judged the gods of Egypt (Ex. 12:12). | The sacrifice of Jesus brought judgment on satan (John 12:31, 16:11). |
| The people with blood applied were spared from judgment (Ex. 12:7, 13). | We are passed over for judgment through the blood of the lamb (Romans 5:9). |
| Through Moses, God led the people on a journey from Egypt to the Promised land (Ex. 3:8, 17, 13:5). | Through Jesus, we are embarking on a spiritual journey from this world or age to the world or age which is to come (Matt. 16:24, (Lk 18:29-30, 20:34-36, Gal. 1:4*, Rev. 1:5) |
| Through the blood of the lamb, both Israelites and non-Israelites were made into one people (Ex. 12:38, I Cor. 10:1-2). | Through the blood of Jesus, we are all made one (John 17:11, Gal. 3:27-28, 2 Peter 2:9). |
*The root Greek word translated as “rescue” is exaireo, and it means to ‘pluck out, deliver or rescue.’ This word is also used in Acts 7:34 when Stephen described the “rescue” of the Israelites from Egypt.
God bless and shalom!
Kelly McDonald, Jr. – Pastor, David’s Tent