1st feast of the Lord : Passover (2)

Thursday 10 June 2021

1st feast of the Lord : Passover (2)

These are the feasts of the Lord, the holy assemblies that you will proclaim on the date appointed for them. On the fourteenth day of the first month, at sunset, it will be the Passover of the Lord. Leviticus 23: 4,5

After the nine plagues sent on Egypt, the Lord decides to strike a great blow on the Egyptians who keep his people in slavery : an angel will pass through all the houses of the land to destroy all the firstborn. Problem : The Israelites are no better than the Egyptians ; how to protect them from judgment ? God's answer : Before the fatal night, every Israelite family will slaughter a flawless lamb and sprinkle its blood on the doorway of their house. Then everyone will stand in the house, while the angel, seeing the blood, spares the firstborn. It is that same night that the Israelites will leave Egypt for the promised land. This is the event which the Passover, celebrated from year to year, is remembered for all generations of the Israelites.

For us Christians, the Passover speaks to us of Christ whose blood was shed for us, the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:19) : Our Passover, Christ, has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7). God has found full satisfaction in the work of Christ so that He can offer forgiveness of sins to all who shelter from the blood of Jesus Christ. Yet each person must repent (Acts 17:30), an act of obedience essential to sheltering themselves from their anger.

The Israelite in his house ate lamb roasted in the fire. The Christian today is nourished by Christ who gave his life, that is to say, he considers him in the beauty of his sacrifice, of his supreme devotion to his Father, of his love until 'to death to save rebels. Likewise, when we share bread and drink from the cup of the Lord's Supper together, we remember Christ in the offering he made of himself on the cross.

The importance that God places on the sacrifice of his Son is revealed when he is presented in heaven in the great and glorious throne room as a lamb standing there, as though slain (Revelation 5:6).

Next Thursday

Source (Pleasing the Lord)