Woven through the Old Testament pages are shadows of the coming Christ, hints of a distant reality that begin to become clearer the closer we get to the Son of God, the ultimate light source. One such shadow is that of sacrifice.

God began to cast light on the divine principles of salvation, starting in Genesis. In response to Adam and Eve’s first sin, God demonstrated this principle by clothing them in garments of skin to cover their nakedness. His cover was not without a price, though; two innocent animals had to die.

This shadow of sacrifice continues in Cain and Abel’s story and Abraham and Isaac’s story again. Both Cain and Abel brought God a sacrifice, but He would not accept Cain’s because it was not a blood sacrifice. God also required a sacrifice from Abraham. Abraham was willing to give God his son Isaac because He believed and trusted God. And now, in the story of the Passover, we once again see that God requires a sacrifice.

God’s Judgment Passes Over

As instructed by God, Moses commanded Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave Egypt, but Pharaoh refused to release them from their bondage. Responding to Pharaoh’s hardened heart, God displayed His power by raining down judgment on the Egyptians in the form of ten plagues (Exodus 7:3-5). Ten times God gave Pharaoh a chance to repent and turn to Him. Ten times Pharaoh refused to submit because of his pride. As a result, each time he refused, the severity of the plague increased.

With the 10^th plague, the death of all firstborns, God judged all the Egyptian gods, including Pharoah. Years before, Pharaoh had ordered the firstborn Israelite babies killed, and now because Pharaoh refused to acknowledge Him, God would kill every firstborn in the land of Egypt, not just Egyptians, but also Israelites (Exodus 11:4-9). However, God offered the Israelites mercy, a way out, if they would only trust and obey Him.

God provided Moses with specific instructions on how to save the Israelite’s firstborns. They were to sacrifice a lamb and “take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes” of their homes (Exodus 12:7). God would then “pass over” houses covered by the lamb’s blood. Because the Israelites trusted God and were obedient, He “passed over” their homes sparing the Israelite firstborns. God then ordered the Israelites to commemorate this event for generations to come in what became known as Passover.

In the sacrifice of the Passover lamb, we see a shadow of the reality that someday God would offer His One and only Son, Jesus, as that innocent sacrifice that would pay the price for all our sins (John 3:16). The New Testament confirms what was shadowed in the Old Testament: Jesus is the ultimate Passover lamb. Here, we will examine five ways Christ is the Passover lamb.

Perfect

The Passover lamb had to be male, and without blemish, it had to be perfect (Exodus 12:5). Jesus was perfect. He was tempted in all the ways we are tempted, yet he was without sin (1^st Peter 1:18-19). Jesus also makes us perfect. “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14).

Chosen

Each Hebrew family chose their sacrificial lamb, the lamb that would save their firstborn (Exodus 12:3). God chose Jesus, the One that would save the world (John 3:16). We are also chosen by God, made perfect forever (Ephesians 1:4).

Sacrifice

The Israelites offered the lamb as a sacrifice (Exodus 6:6). Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice on the cross (John 1:29). We are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1).

Unbroken

God instructed the Israelites not to break the bones of the chosen lamb. Christ fulfilled this Passover requirement. To speed up Jesus’ death, Pilate asked the soldiers to break His legs, but when the soldiers went to do this, Jesus was already dead; therefore, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy that His bones would not be broken (Psalm 34:20). Like Jesus, we are afflicted, but we are delivered unbroken through His work on the cross.

Marked

Every Hebrew family who sacrificed a lamb and put its blood on their doorpost was marked for salvation. The blood was a sign to God to pass over their homes and forego the judgment of death. Likewise, every person who believes in Jesus’ name is marked for salvation. Jesus’ blood covers them, and God passes over their sins and foregoes the judgment of death.

From Adam to Jesus, we see that innocent blood must be shed for the guilty. Sin must be paid for, and payment must be made through a sacrifice that only God can provide. We can never make things right on our own. Our righteous deeds are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). God provided the cover for Adam and Eve, the substitute for Abraham, and finally His Son for us. Thank God for his mercy and grace!