Bible Reading: Exodus 12:1-28, Mark 14:22-25
“And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many”. (Mark 14:23-24)
In Christ’s last moments, He took His disciples to eat the Passover meal on the Unleavened Bread’s first day. For Israelites, the Passover was an important ritual, remembering what happened in Egypt many years ago. After Joseph came and lived in Egypt, the people of Israel started to number on Egyptian soil. However, as Pharaohs changed, the Israelites were hated and seen as foreigners. They were enslaved and remained enslaved for 430 years. However, God sent Moses to say to Pharaoh, “let my people go!”. Pharaoh refused, and God sent the ten plagues. The last of the ten plagues was the killing of every first-born son.
It was at this moment that Moses announced the Passover to all of Israel. That month became the first month of the Hebrew calendar. It was a solemn and significant moment. Every household was instructed to take a male one-year-old lamb, whether it be a goat or sheep, and kill it as a sacrifice. They were then to take some of the blood and put it on their homes’ doorposts and lintel. They were then to stay inside and eat the lamb, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs in haste.
That night, God would pass through Egypt, in His Holiness, and execute all the first-borns. However, for His people who had the sign of blood on their doors, God would pass over, and no plague would befall them.
Many years later, Jesus sat down with His disciples to eat the Passover feast. Yet, this time, Jesus redefined and clarified the true meaning of the Passover. The bread and blood were speaking of Him. The blood which they commemorated prophesied forward to the coming Messiah. It spoke of the One who would die and be the substitutionary sacrifice for mankind’s sins.
Israel by themselves were never righteous or able to stand against God’s Holiness and judgement of execution. They were worthy of receiving it. Yet, the blood on the doors foreshadowed the blood of Christ on the cross. He is the perfect unblemished Lamb. He had no sin in Him, and so He died unworthily. Yet, our sins were put on Him, and as a result, His righteousness was imputed unto us.
Just like the Israelites, we cannot stand God’s wrath. However, God’s people — those who believe in Him — are clothed and justified in Christ’s blood. He paid the price for our sins and made us righteous, calling us His children. Christ’s blood is the blood of the covenant. He was the meaning of the Passover.
Do we savour the deep and life-giving truth found in the person of Jesus Christ?
Lord, as Easter nears, let me catch a glimpse once again of Christ’s glory. Let me know You even more, this Easter. Teach me Your ways and Your love, and let me fall humbly to walk in them. Thank You that You are the Passover Lamb, the ultimate sacrifice for my sins. All praise be to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.