Today’s blog article will explore how New Testament writers used the Passover as a framework for understanding Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
The Passover Lamb
Jesus Christ is the ultimate Passover lamb.
John the Baptist identified Jesus with the Passover lamb and said, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
Like John, Paul viewed Jesus through the lens of the Passover: For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7).
The New Testament writers to compared the central qualities of Jesus with the Passover lamb.
(1) Without Blemish: The lamb was required to be “without blemish” (Exodus 12:5). Jesus is the perfect, unbemished sacrifice who died for our sins.
You know that you were ransomed from the futile conduct inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish (1 Peter 1:18-19).
(2) Sacrificed at Passover Time: In our videos, Rudy Ross frequently highlights that the Passover lamb was being sacrificed in the temple precisely as Jesus was being sacrificed for our sins on the cross on Golgotha, outside the city.
(3) Bones Not Broken: God commanded Moses to make sure that none of the bones of the Passover lamb should be broken (Exodus 12:46). Like the Passover lamb, none of Jesus’ bones were broken on the cross.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken” (John 19:33, 36).
Jesus is the ultimate Passover Lamb. Through his actions, he brought to completion what previous Passovers could only foreshadow.
For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:4, 10).
Passover and Communion
Central to Christian worship is the observance that various traditions identify as Communion, the Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper. This practice originates from the Passover meal.
During this meal, Jesus took two central elements of the Passover tradition—unleavened bread and wine—and filled them with new and profound meaning directly linked to his impending death and its redemptive purpose.
While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mark 14:22-24).
Like the Passover meal, Communion is celebrated regularly. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke22:19).
Not an Iron Door
Years ago, while Rudy Ross and I were discussing the Bible, he said, “There isn’t an ‘iron door’ slammed shut between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The way the Passover is fulfilled in Jesus Christ offers a tremendous reminder of this continuity.
As Rudy frequently and correctly states, we cannot understand what Jesus did for us if we don’t understand the sacrificial system.
We study the Old Testament because our life with Christ in the New Testament is founded upon God’s work with the Hebrew people of the Old Testament.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed Israel’s exit from Egypt on YouTube today.
Real Voices 