Origin of Passover

Dear Brethren,

Passover is the most important and solemn Feast of the year.  The concept and meaning of Passover was established before the foundation of the world.  Jesus is, "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8).  "In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord’s Passover."  (Leviticus 23:5)  The first Passover freed the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.

“The Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.”  (Exodus 12:23)

The reason we need Passover is because we forfeited our lives by our sins against Almighty God.  Without Passover – we would die!  Passover is about "redemption."  Redemption means to "purchase back," or to "set free by paying a price."  As used with regard to the original Passover, God redeemed Israel by executing judgment on the Egyptians.

Passover commemorates the redemption of Israel from Egyptian bondage by the death of all Egypt's firstborn.  At that first Passover God delivered Israel from the bondage of Egyptian slavery.  God told Moses, "Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments."  (Exodus 6:6)  Jesus freed Israel from slavery.

The New Testament Passover for Christians is a salvational issue.  Passover is a matter of eternal life or eternal death!   Speaking of eternal life, “Jesus said unto them, truly, truly, I say unto you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”  (John 6:53)

The ultimate price of redemption is paid by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Himself.  We do not have to pay our own death penalty because we have been purchased back from death by the blood of Christ.  Passover pictures Jesus redeeming us, spiritual Israel, from our sins.  Jesus Christ delivers us from sin and its consequences so that we can live in accordance with His perfect will.  Without the sacrifice of Christ there is no forgiveness of our sins.

"The next day John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world."  (John 1:29)

“… We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”  (Ephesians 1:7)

"[Jesus] took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19)  In keeping the Passover each year, we renew the vow of our baptismal covenant.  “Whoso eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."  (John 6:54)

“And thus shall ye eat [the Passover lamb]; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s Passover.  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a Feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a Feast by an ordinance forever.”  (Exodus 12:11-14)

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Sermon:  "Origin of Passover"


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