Christ our Passover Lamb – Exodus 12:1-14

Context of Exodus 12 – 9 plagues have been poured out upon Egypt and the last and final judgment is about to be unleashed (described in Ex. 11:4-6). God’s judgment would visit every home in the nation unless they availed themselves of God’s rescue plan.

The Passover is confirmed as a type of Christ in the N.T. – “…For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:” 1 Cor. 5:7

Central to God’s salvation plan for His people was the Lamb. Whether we will escape the judgment of God depends entirely to our relationship to Christ, the Lamb of God.

Sermon covers 7 truths about the Lamb from the text.

The Provision of the Lamb (Vs. 1-4)

The Source of the Provision (Vs. 1)

1. “the LORD spake” = The plan of salvation came from God. He provided the way of escape from judgment. From start to finish, salvation is of the Lord.
2. Illustration: Abraham’s reply to Isaac’s question regarding a lamb Gen. 22:7-8 “And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.”

The Specifics of the Provision (Vs. 2-4)

1. “a lamb” = The word ‘lamb’ appears 107 times in the Bible. 27 in the Book of Revelation alone. The lamb is central to God’s salvation plan.
2. Illustration: Abel’s offering at the beginning
3. God’s provision of a Lamb for Abraham and Isaac.
4. The sacrifices of Leviticus.
5. John the Baptist proclaimed Christ as “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29, 36)

The Scope of the Provision (Vs. 3-4)

1. “every man” = God’s provision of salvation was available for the whole nation
2. “a lamb for an house” = each household/home was provided for. God’s design is for whole household conversions. Acts 16:31 “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
3. “him and his neighbour” = neighbours could be invited to share in the protection of the Lamb.

The Perfection of the Lamb (Vs. 5-6)

A Pure Lamb (Vs. 5)

1. “without blemish” = it was to be a perfect, spotless Lamb.
2. Jesus Christ is the “lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:19 This is why Christ perfectly qualifies to be our Saviour.
3. I. John 3:5 – “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”
4. Heb 4:15 – “…in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
5. Heb 7:26 – “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.”

A Proven Lamb (Vs. 6)

1. The lamb was to undergo 4 days of review/testing – compare Vs. 3 & 6.
2. Christ’s life was subject to the most intense scrutiny, particularly throughout His 3-year ministry.
   1. By His parents and siblings from infancy.
   2. By His disciples who lived closer to His life than any other.
   3. By His enemies, the Pharisees and Sadducees who consistently searched His life for faults and continually tried to tempt, provoke and entangle Him. Christ could boldly challenge them with the question, “Which of you convinceth me of sin?” John 8:46.
   4. By Pilate, a man skilled in the art of Roman interrogation. He had to admit, “…I find in him no fault at all.” Jn. 18:38
   5. Every test of His life proved that He was God’s spotless Lamb.

The Application of the Lamb (Vs. 6-7)

The Lamb was to be Slain (substitution) (Vs. 6)

1. By ‘substitution’ we refer to the lamb dying in the place of the individual.
2. Christ, our Lamb, died in our place and took the wrath and punishment we deserved. 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

The Blood was to be Applied (appropriation) (Vs. 7)

1. The blood had to be applied personally – “every man” (Vs. 3). The blood was provided as God’s covering from the judgment of God but it would avail nothing unless it was applied!
2. No blood, no salvation! (Heb. 9:22)
   1. We are purchased by the blood (Acts 20:28)
   2. We are justified by the blood (Rom 5:9)
   3. We are redeemed by the blood (Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14, I. Peter 1:19, Rev. 5:9)
   4. We are forgiven by the blood (Eph. 1:7, Col 1:14)
   5. We are washed by the blood (Rev. 1:5. 7:14)
   6. We have peace by the blood (Col. 1:20)

The Sanctification of the Lamb (Vs. 8-10)

Partaking of the flesh

1. Roast with fire = mentioned in verse 8, 9 and 10. A picture of God’s wrath poured out on Christ
2. Unleavened bread = a picture of purity from sin

Living by the life of Christ

John 6:53-57& 63 – “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me…It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

The Separation of the Lamb (Vs. 11)

The Posture

1. Loins girded
2. Feet shod
3. Staff in hand

The Principle

1. The Lamb separated God’s people from Egypt. When we get saved, we are separated from sin and the world unto Christ.
2. Leviticus 20:26 – “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”
3. God’s people ought to have a detachment from the things of this world.

The Protection of the Lamb (Vs. 12-13)

The Certainty of Judgment (Vs. 12)

1. Observe the phrase “I will” in verse 12.
2. God’s judgment is coming in the future as sure as it did back then.

The Sign of the Blood (Vs. 13)

1. “when I see the blood” = the blood is primarily for God to see.
2. “I will pass over you” = the blood shields from judgment.
3. Challenge: Have you applied the blood personally to your life?

The Commemoration of the Lamb (Vs. 14)

The Passover Feast

1. The Israelite calendar was to commence with Passover month (Vs. 2)
2. The feast would provide an opportunity to recount the event of their liberation from Egypt and provide an opportunity to discuss this with their children (Vs. 26-27)

The New Testament Feast

1. The Lord Jesus instituted the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper on the Eve of the Passover (1 Cor. 11:23-26)
2. As the children of Israel looked back to that great event, we also commemorate the Lord’s death on the cross by partaking of the bread and the cup.

Conclusion

1. Has the blood been applied to your life? Have you taken shelter from judgment under Christ’s blood or will God’s wrath be unleashed on you?
2. Are we seeking to live by the life of Christ in dependence upon Him?
3. Are you living a separated, pilgrim life or have you compromised with the world?

Sermon Audio Id: 321920683933