DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME

DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME

Main Reading: 1 Co 11:23-26, Exo 12: 1-14

Introduction

Just before His death, our Lord solemnly asked His disciples to thenceforth observe the Passover feast in remembrance of Him. Up till then, it was observed in remembrance of the Passover lamb as an ordinance given under Moses. Several times, God asked them to observe the Passover, also called the feast of unleavened bread each year. The people themselves valued it so much that they instituted an annual vigil to mark the night in which they left Egypt (42). Anytime we partake of the Lord’s Table, however, we proclaim that indeed Christ is our Passover Lamb who died to free us from sin. We are free to worship God, free from the power of sin, death, the consequence of sin, and Satan, who controls through sin.

What Did the Passover Lamb Do?

1.       It was killed and its blood spread on the doorposts to because the lord had said He would pass over Egypt and take the life of every first born in a house that did not have a lamb’s blood on its 2 door posts and lintel

a.       The blood must be on the doorposts of the house in which the meat is eaten

b.      Once doorposts are marked, do not leave house till morning (22)

2.       Its meat was roasted and eaten – each person of a household must have a share to eat, but if it would be too much for one household, then they must share with nearest neighbours.

a.       It was an unblemished animal

b.      It was selected and kept until middle of month

c.       It was slaughtered at the same time by whole community at twilight

d.      It was eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs

e.      It was not to be eaten raw or boiled; only roasted, and eaten entirely in the night

f.        They were to eat it while dressed to travel, and in a hurry

3.       It brought Israel the following:

a.       None of their firstborns (including their animals) was touched as had happened to those of the Egyptians – apparently a lamb and obedience had saved their lives and the lives of their productive animals.

b.      Pharaoh promptly granted them freedom from slavery, allowing them to leave along with their livestock

4.       Statutes of the Passover

a.       No foreigner must eat it, unless all the males in his household are circumcised and he has become native ( or like one of you) 43, 48

b.      Your circumcised slave can eat it

c.       No temporary resident or hired hand may eat it

d.      It is to be eaten in one house

e.      No bones should be broken

f.        It should be observed permanently to assist proclaiming God’s salvation to generations to come (24-27)

5.       Modifications by the time of Jesus

a.       Animal sacrifices were no longer done in households as that had become the preserve of priests only under the law, and were done at only designated places. Probably, in place of the meat they now had only unleavened bread.  (See Deut. 16:2,5)

b.      Sauce was prepared probably with the bitter herbs in it to accompany the bread (John 13:36)

c.       Wine had been introduced on the table (Luke 22:17, 20)

d.      The Passover seems to be the mother of all the subsequent sacrifices and festivals that the Israelites had to observe, even as the burnt offering altar was the primary altar and source of fire for all temple activities.

Jesus, Our Passover Lamb

1.       Bible teaches clearly that the institution of the Passover pointed to Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb:

a.       Jesus Himself claimed it and instructed His disciples to celebrate it not remembering Egypt, but now Him (Joh 6:53-55), as the author of the New Covenant

b.      John, Paul and Peter, significant witnesses of the New Testament called Christ our Passover lamb (see Joh 1:29, 1 Co 5:7, 1Pe 1:19). John observed Jesus’ bones were not broken at His death, in fulfilment of prophecy (Joh 19:32-36)

c.       The writer of Hebrews notes that Jesus offered His own blood as the ultimate and final sacrifice for our redemption (9:12, 24-28)

2.       Just as the it took the blood of the lamb to break the will of Pharaoh, so the blood of Jesus sets those who apply it free from the bondage of sin (Rom. 6: 12, 17, Heb. 9:9, 13-14) Note the following:

a.       It is sin which brings death (Ro 6:23, 1 Co 15:56a)

b.      Even Satan has no power over us, except when we sin (Heb 2:14-15)

c.       In Egypt none of the divine “warfare weapons” of bloody water, frogs, gnats, flies, property loss (dead livestock), boils, hail, locusts, and darkness was sufficient.

d.      The Passover lamb sacrifice was something the Egyptians could as well have taken advantage of to escape, being open to willing foreigners.  

Conclusion and Lessons

1.       The redemption of Israel from Pharaoh through the blood of the lamb was designed to point to the redemption of the whole world from sin through the blood of Jesus

2.       The old covenant under the law was symbolic of the new covenant under grace

3.       God desires that the redeemed live and walk in the power of the blood, knowing they have been set free (in that order) from

a.       Sin

b.      Death

c.       Satan

4.       The redeemed must now live as slaves to righteousness, proclaiming with their lives and lips that Jesus indeed saves