The Feast of PASSOVER

The first "feast of the LORD", it is the foundation of all the other feasts occurring on the 14th day of Nisan (March/April). While it is celebrated every year, it happened only once some 3500 years ago in Egypt. God's last judgment was sweeping throughout the land because of Pharaoh's unwillingness to obey God's command to let His people go. God gave His people a way of escape from the judgment that was coming, the blood of a lamb smeared on the lintel and doorposts of their home. When the destroying angel saw this blood, he passed over that house. The firstborn of every other house in Egypt died that night. After this final judgment Pharaoh let the people go.

It not only brought deliverance and freedom to the Hebrew people but it also foretold a time when they would be set free from all bondage, even from the bondage of sin. It was a type of the final deliverance God would provide for mankind. Years before this Abraham also became a type for us of this event as he was told to take his only son, Isaac, and offer him as a sacrifice to God. As they journeyed to the mountain God had revealed to Abraham, Isaac asked "My father, where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" and Abraham answered, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." (Genesis 22.7,8). God did just that when he sent His Son Jesus. When Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized, John said, "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" ( John 1.29). As Jesus, the Messiah, was lifted up on the cross, on the same mount Abraham was sent to, His blood was smeared on the lintel and doorposts of all who would claim Him as their savior. That crucifixion happened just once, but like the Passover Feast, we celebrate it many times as we partake of the Lord's Supper.

Jesus fulfilled the Passover. At the same hour that the Temple priests were sacrificing the Passover lamb, Jesus, the lamb of God, was being lifted up on a cross for our sins. As we partake of the Lord's Supper, we remember our deliverance and what it cost. As Jesus broke the bread and took the cup at His last Passover meal with His disciples, He said "do this in remembrance of Me." The bread represents new life and healing we have in Him. The cup represents His blood which was shed for our forgiveness and freedom from sin. While the angel of death is sweeping over the world, we have life and life abundantly because He fulfilled Passover.