God declared Passover to be a permanent celebration for all eternity (Ex. 12:2,6,13,14).  Historically, Passover celebrates God’s deliverance of the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt, where they were slaves to the Egyptians (Ex. 2:23-24; 6:5-8; 13:3,14).

 The spiritual application that God wants us to understand is this:  Egypt is a type of the world and the world’s system.  It’s ruler, Pharaoh, was a type of satan.  The bondage people are in when they live according to the ways of the world’s system is sin (John 8:34).

 Historically, the children of Israel were delivered from the bondage in Egypt by putting the blood of a lamb upon the doorposts of their houses (Ex. 12:2,6,13). Spiritually, this is a picture of the Messiah Jesus and how those who believe in Him are delivered from the bondages of sin and the rule of satan in their lives.  Jesus is the Lamb of God (John 1:29).  Jesus is also our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7).  Those who follow Jesus are the house of God (Heb. 3:6; 1 Pet. 2:5).  The doorposts are our hearts.  It is only through trusting by faith in the shed blood of Jesus, our Passover, that we are free from the bondage of sin (Gal. 4:3-5,9; 5:1; 2 Pet. 2:19).  This is because the blood of Jesus redeems us from sin (Lev. 17:11; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; I John 1:7; Rev. 1:5). During Passover, the head of each household was to take a lamb of the first year on the tenth day of the first month know as Nisan and set it aside until the fourteenth day (Ex. 12:3-6).  In the evening of the fourteenth day, at exactly 3:00 pm, the lamb was to be killed (Ex. 12:6).  The blood of the lamb was to be sprinkled on the lintel and two side posts of the household door.  The lamb was to be roasted with fire, with bitter herbs, and with unleavened bread, and the entire household was to feast upon the body of the lamb (Ex. 12:7-8).  The people were instructed by God to eat the lamb with haste and to be dressed and ready to leave Egypt at the midnight hour.  This would be fifteenth day of Nisan (Ex. 12:10-11).

 At midnight on that evening in Egypt, the death angel passed through the land. Every house that did not have the token of the blood on the doorposts and lintel suffered the judgement of God (Ex. 12:12-15).  The Hebrew word for Passover is Pesach, which means “to pass or hover over.”  This word speaks to us about two things.  First, it shows the passing over in judgement from death and sin to life in Jesus.  Second, it tells us about allowing, by faith, the blood of Jesus to hover over our lives and give us divine protection from the evil one.

GOD’S COMMANDMENTS FOR PASSOVER

1.  Passover was the beginning of months (Ex. 12:2).

 Spiritual Application.  Nisan is the first month of the religious calendar.  Receiving Jesus into our lives is the beginning of a New Covenant relationship with God (Jer. 31:31-33; John 3:5-7; Rom 6:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:17).  Passover is the first of the feasts. Likewise, repenting of our sins and believing in the shed blood of Jesus is our first step in our walk with God.

2.  The lamb was hidden for four days (Ex. 12:3,6).

 Messianic Fulfillment.  God commanded Israel to take a lamb on the tenth day of Nisan and set it aside until the fourteenth day.  These four days were fulfilled by Jesus during the Passover week.  Remember, Jesus is the Lamb of God (John 1:29).  He entered Jerusalem and went to the temple, which was the house of God, and went on public display there for four days from Nisan 10 to Nisan 14 (Matt. 21:1, 9-12, 17-18, 23; 24:1, 3; 26:1-5).

 Eschatologically, these four days that the lamb was hidden is prophetic of the people’s expectation that the Messiah would come 4,000 years from the creation of Adam as part of the 7,000 year plan of God to redeem both man and the earth back to how things were in the Garden of Eden (Mishnah, San Hedrin 97-98).  *Mishnah is the first legal code of basis Jewish law governing all aspects of life.  It is based upon the Pharisees’ and rabbis’ interpretation of the Torah.  The Mishnah contains the basis oral law as evolved through the generations.  It is divided into six orders.*  These four days are prophetic of the Messiah Jesus being hid from the world and not coming to earth for four days or 4,000 years from the creation of Adam.  A day is understood to be prophetic of a thousand years, based upon Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8.  Linking Psa. 90:4 to each day of creation, God ordained each day in creation to be prophetic of a thousand years of time and the entire redemption to take 7,000 years to complete from the fall of man in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 1:1,5,8,13,19,23,31; 2:1-3).  On the fourth day of creation, light and darkness are separated.  Jesus is the light of the world (John 1:3-5).

3.  The lamb was to be without blemish (Ex. 12:5)

 Messianic Fulfillment.  Jesus was the Lamb of God without spot or blemish (1 Pet. 1:18-20).  During the crucifixion week, Jesus was examined by many in fulfilling this Scripture, including:  (a) the chief priests and elders (Matt. 21:23; (b) Pilate (Matt. 27:1-2, 11-14, 17-26); (c) Herod (Luke 23:6-12); (d) Annas the high priest (Luke 3:2; John 18:13,24); (e) Caiaphas the high priest (John 11:49-53; 18:13-14, 19-24, 28); (f) Judas (Matt. 27:3-10); (g) the centurion (Matt. 27:54); (h) the repentant thief (Luke 23:39-43).

When we examine Jesus, we must conclude also that He was without spot or blemish.

4.  The lamb was of the first year (Ex. 11:4-7; 12:5).

 Spiritual Application.  God always distinguishes between the believers and the world (Ex.12:29-30).  Some examples are:  The firstborn of both man and beast was to be set aside and given to God (Ex. 13:2, 11-13).  The theme of the firstborn runs throughout the Bible.  Cain was set aside for Abel (Gen. 4:1-8); Ishmael for Isaac (Gen. 16:1, 11-12, 15; 17:17-19); Esau for Jacob (Gen. 25:19-26; Rom. 9:8-13); and Egypt for Israel.

 Spiritually, God gave us these examples to teach us that the firstborn after the flesh (that which is natural) is set aside to bring forth the firstborn after the spirit (that which is spiritual).  In this process, God distinguishes between the first or natural birth and the second or spiritual birth.  The first birth constitutes us as sinners and the second birth makes us believers and children of God (John 1:12; 3:1-7; Rom 9:8-13; 1 Cor. 15:22, 45-47).

 Messianic Fulfillment.  Jesus was the firstborn of Mary naturally, and the firstborn of God spiritually (Matt. 1:21-25; Rom 8:29; Col. 1:15, 18; Rev. 3:14).

5.  It is a male (Ex. 12:5).

 Spiritual Application.  It was through one man’s sin that sin came into the world >(Rom. 5:12; 1 Tim. 2:12-14).  Because Adam, the first male, sinned, so a male, Jesus, must >die to atone for that sin (Rom 5:17-19).

6.  It is a lamb for a house (Ex. 12:3-4).

 Spiritual Application.  God’s intention was that all (households) experience salvation.  The lamb was a lamb for the house.  By believing in the Messiah Jesus, we become members of the household of faith (Gal. 6:10; Eph. 2:19).  Salvation for a household is available to all who believe in Jesus, the Lamb of God (Gen. 7:1; 18:16-19; Josh. 24:15; John 4:46-54; Luke 19:5-10; Acts 16:15, 31; 18:3, 8).

 Messianic Fulfillment.  There is a progressive revelation of the Lamb in the Bible. First, there is a lamb for a house (Ex. 12:3-4); second, a lamb for a nation (John 11:49-52); and finally, a lamb for the world (John 1:29).

7.  A Passover lamb was to be killed between the evenings (Ex. 12:6)

 The biblical day goes from evening to evening, from sundown to sundown, which is roughly 6:00 pm to 6:00 pm (Gen. 1:5,8,13,19,23,31).  The day (6:00 pm to 6:00 pm) is divided into two 12 hour periods.  The evening runs from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am.  Each 12 hour period is divided into two smaller portions.  From 6:00 am to noon is the morning part of the day.  From noon to 6:00 pm is the evening part of the day.  The phrase, “between the evening” (Ex. 12:6) refers to the period of the day that goes from noon to 6:00 pm, which is exactly 3:00 pm.  This would be the ninth hour of the day, counting from 6:00 am.

                       Evening                                          Morning
[___________________________/___________________________] 6:00 pm                                   6:00 am                             6:00 pm
                    Morning                 Evening
          [______________/_____________]
          6:00 am          noon            6:00 pm
          [__________________/_________]
          6:00 am          3:00 pm            6:00 pm
          [__________________]
           The 9th hour of the day = 3:00 pm

 Messianic Fulfillment:  Jesus died at the ninth hour of the day (Matt. 27:45-50). This would be exactly 3:00 pm (the ninth hour, counting from 6:00 am).

8.  The whole assembly shall kill it (Ex. 126).

 Spiritual Application;  Every person who has ever lived on planet Earth and sinned is guilty of killing Jesus because He died for all sinners (Rom 3:10, 23).  No human being had the power to take His life (John 10:17-18).  Therefore, Jesus laid down His life for us by His own free will.

 Messianic Fulfillment.  A whole congregation of people was involved in the death of Jesus.  The Gospels of Matt., Mark, Luke, and John show how the Sanhedrin, the priests, the Romans, and the people of Israel all clamored for the crucifixion of Jesus and for His blood to be shed (Matt. 27:17,20-22,25; Acts. 4:26-28).

9.  The blood must be applied to the door (Ex. 12:7,13,22).

 Spiritual Application.  Those who believe in the Messiah are the house of God (Eph. 2:19; 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 3:6).  The only way into the house of God is through the shed blood of Jesus, who is the Door (John 10:7-9).

10.  The body of the lamb must be eaten (Ex. 12:8-10).

 Spiritual Application.  Both the body and blood of the lamb speak of the body and blood of Jesus (Matt. 26:26-28).  We spiritually eat of the body of the Lamb (Jesus) when we eat of His body (today represented by the bread), which spiritually is the Word of God (Luke 11:3; 4:4).  By following the Word of God and obeying the commandments of God with sincerity of heart, we eat (spiritually) of His body.

  a.  It must be eaten the same night (Ex. 12:8).  Jesus was crucified, suffered, and died the same night.

  b.  It must be eaten with unleavened bread (Ex. 12:8).  Leaven speaks of sin (1 Cor. 5:6-8).  Unleavened bread is without sin.  As believers, we are instructed to live holy (unleavened) lives before God (Lev. 11:44; 19:2; 1 Pet. 1:15-16).

  c.  It must be eaten with bitter herbs (Ex. 12:8).

 Spiritual Application.  To those who have accepted Jesus into their lives, bitter herbs speak of two things.  First, the speak of the bondage and burdens we experience while living in  this world (a type of Egypt) before we accepted Jesus into our lives. This burden of sin is place on us by satan when we yield to his lies and deception, and then sin because of our own evil desires.  Second, the bitter herbs speak of the bitter things that come into our lives after we accept Jesus and attempt to follow Him on a daily basis.

 Messianic Fulfillment.  For Jesus, dying on the tree was a bitter experience because He had to pay for man’s sin with His sinless life.

  d.  The lamb must be roasted in fire (Ex. 12:8).

 Spiritual Application.  Fire speaks of judgement, refining, and purification.  Our faith is judged and tested by fire so it can be refined and purified and come forth as pure gold (Zech. 13:9; James 1:12; 1 Per. 1:7; Rev. 3:18).

  e.  It must not be sodden with water.  (Ex. 12:9).

  Spiritual Application.  The gospel must not be watered down (Mark 7:9,13; 2 Tim 3:5).

  f.  The head, legs, and other parts of the lamb must be eaten.

 Spiritual Application.  Those who believe in Jesus must feed on the mind of Jesus (Phil. 2:5; 1 Cor. 2:16; Rom 12:2; Eph.4:21-23; Heb. 8:10).  The legs speak of our walk (Col. 2:16).  How are the believers in Jesus to walk?  “We live by faith and not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7)  Also see:  Rom. 6:4; 8:1,4; Gal. 5:16; Eph. 2:10; 5:2,8; Col. 1:10; 4:5; 1 Thess. 4:1; 1 John 1:7; 2 John 1:6; 3 John 1:4.

11.  The lamb must be eaten in haste (Ex. 12:11).

 Spiritual Application.  Bible believers must be quick to leave Egypt (the influences of the world) and run toward the life that is in the Messiah Jesus (Luke 19:5-6).

  a.  It must be eaten with our loins girded (Ex. 12:11).  Our loins being girded speaks about our hearts’ desire to eagerly serve and obey God.  Our spiritual loins are the truth of the Word of God (Eph. 6:14).  Scriptures that speak about our loins being girded include the following:  1 Kings 4:29; 9:1; Jer. 1:17; Luke 12:35; Eph. 6:14; 1 Pet. 1:13.

  b.  Shoes must be on our feet (Ex. 12:11).  Shoes on our feet speaks about our walk with God (Isa. 52:7; Nahum 1:15; Rom 10:15; Eph. 6:15).

  c.  A staff must be in our hand (Ex. 12:11).  A staff in our hand speaks about the believer’s authority in the Kingdom of God by the name of Jesus (Matt. 28:18-20).  Other Scriptures are:  Gen. 38:17-18; Ex. 14:16; Judg. 6:21; 1 Sam. 17:39-40; 2 Sam. 3:29; 2 >Kings 4:29; 18:21; Psa. 23:4; Isa. 10:24; 14:5; Mark 6:7-8.

12.  It is the Lord’s Passover (Ex. 12:11).

 Spiritual Application.  If we follow Jesus with all of our hearts, we will pass from death to life, and from judgment to divine protection (John 5:24; 1 John 3:14; 2 Cor. 5:17; Psa. 91).

13.  It is a memorial (Ex. 12:14; Luke 22:1, 7-8,13-15,19).

 Spiritual Application.  Passover is a memorial or a remembrance (Luke 22:1;7-8,13-15,19).  There are two elements of remembrance:   a.  God remembers us (Gen. 8:1; 9:1,5-16; 19:29; 30:22; Ex. 2:24-25; 3:1; 6:2,5; 32:1-3,7,11,13-14; Lev. 26:14,31-33,38-45; Num. 10:1-2,9; Psa. 105:7-8,42-43; 112:6). In fact, God has a book of remembrance (Ex. 32:32-3; Malachi 3:16-18; Rev. 3:5; 20:11-15; 21:1,27).   b.  We must remember God (Ex. 13:3; 20:8; Deut. 7:17-19; 8:18; 16:3; Num. 15:37-41).

14.  It is to be observed at the going down of the sun (Deut. 16:2,6).

 This was fulfilled by Jesus at His crucifixion (Matt. 27:45-46).

15.  It is the place where God would put His name (Deut. 16:2,6).

 Messianic Fulfillment.  The place where God has put His name is Jerusalem (2 Kings 21:4).  Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem.

16.  Not a bone of the Lamb was to be broken (Ex. 12:43-46)

 Messianic Fulfillment.  Not a bone of Jesus was broken on the tree (John 19:33).

17.  There was to be an explanation of the service (Ex. 12:25-28).

 Messianic Fulfillment.  Jesus explained each part of the Passover as He did the service (Luke 22:14-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).

18.  The Egyptians were spoiled at the Exodus (Ex. 12:31-36).

 Messianic Fulfillment.  Satan was spoiled when Jesus entered Hell and rose again (Col. 2:15).

19.  You must be circumcised to eat the Passover (Ex. 12:48; Josh. 5:2-10).

 Spiritual Application.  The physical act of circumcision was only a picture of the inward or spiritual circumcision that God wanted us to have (Rom 2:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:46; 2 Cor. 4:18).  God has always desired for His people to be circumcised in the heart (Deut. 10:12-16; 1 Cor. 7:18-19; Ga. 2:3; 5:2-3; 6:12-15; Eph. 2:11-13).

20.  The Passover feast was to be holy convocation, and no work was to be done (Ex. 12:16).

 Spiritual Application.  A believer finds true rest in ceasing from his own works and resting in the finished work of Jesus, God’s Passover Lamb (Gen. 2:1-2; Matt. 11:28-30; John 17:1-4; 19:30; Heb. 3:14-19; 4:1-10).

21.  The Passover must be killed outside the gates of the city (Deut. 16:5).

 Messianic Fulfillment.  Jesus was crucified outside of the city walls of Jerusalem at a place called Golgotha (John 19:16-19; Heb. 13:10-13).

22.  There is healing power in the lamb (Ex. 15:26).

 Messianic Fulfillment.  Jesus is the Healer sent from God (Psa. 105:36-38; Isa. 53:1-5; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Cor. 11:26-30).

23.  The Exodus was on eagle’s wings.  (Ex. 19:4)  Other Scriptures associated with this are Deut. 32:9-13; Isa. 31:5, 40:31; Luke 17:33-37; Rev. 12:6,14.

24.  The sang a song of rejoicing to the Lord (Ex. 15:1,19-21).

  Spiritual Application.  Whenever a believer experiences and understands the meaning of Passover, there is a spirit of rejoicing to the Lord for his or her deliverance from sin, and for experiencing the newness of life in the Messiah.  The Passover Seder, which is the service and meal that celebrates the Passover, always ends with songs of rejoicing and the declaration:  Next year in Jerusalem!  This can be seen in Mark 14:26.

25.  Israel is the firstborn of God (Ex. 4:22-23).

 Spiritual Application.  All those who accept the Messiah Jesus are called the firstborn of God even as Jesus is called the firstborn of God (Rom. 8:29; Co. 1:15,18; Heb. 12:22-24).
 

THE BREAD AND CUPS OF THE PASSOVER SEDER

 During the celebration of Passover, three cakes of unleavened bread (matzot) are placed one upon another, with a napkin between each cake.  At a certain point in the Seder service, the middle cake, known as the afikomen, or “that which comes after,” is broken in two.  One piece is distributed among the people present, and the larger piece is hidden in a napkin.  Toward the end of the Passover Seder, the hidden portion is brought to light and eaten by those surrounding the Passover table.  The Messianic understanding is that these three pieces of matzot represent God the Father, the Messiah Jesus, and the Holy Spirit:  The central piece, the afikomen, is broken, a portion is eaten, and the remainder hidden and then brought forth to testify of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

 During the course of the Seder, the four cups of wine that are served to the people present at the Seder are used in the following manner, and are called:

1.  The Cup of Blessing (Luke 22:17; 1 Cor. 10:16).  This cup is called the cup of sanctification, or the Kaddesh.

2.  The Cup of Wrath (Luke 22:42-44).  This cup is not drunk, but is poured out on the table as the plagues of Egypt are recited.  Jesus drank of this cup for us in the Garden of Gethsemane and when He died on the tree.

3.  The Cup of Blessing, Salvation, or Redemption.  This cup is filled to overflowing, symbolizing an overflowing salvation (Psa. 116:13).

4.  The Cup of the Kingdom (Luke 22:18,20; Matt. 26:28-29)  Jesus spoke of eating and drinking afresh in the Messianic age with His disciples after His resurrection.

 In addition to the four cups of wine served to the people, another cup, called the cup of Elijah, is also a part of the Seder.  This cup is poured out at the end of the Seder. Only Elijah himself, or one coming in the spirit and power of Elijah, or the Messiah, was allowed to drink of this cup.  When Jesus referred to Himself drinking of this cup, He was saying in no uncertain terms that He was the Messiah.

HOW DID JESUS FULFILL THE PASSOVER?

 The Feast of Passover was given by God to be a rehearsal of the first coming of Jesus.  The Passover ceremony was observed in remembrance of the past and in preparation for the future.  Many years after the Passover in Egypt, a person named John the Baptist, pointd to Jesus and declared that He was the Lamb of God (John 1:29).  After John, a type of Elijah who would prepare the coming of Messiah, proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God, Jesus ministered for three and a half years.  At the end of that time, on the tenth of Nisan, the high priest marched out of the city of Jerusalem to Bethany where a lamb was to be slain.  The lamb was led back into the city through streets lined with thousands of pilgrims singing the Hallel (Psa. 113-118).  The liturgy for Hoshanah Rabbah says that the Messiah will come to the Mount of Olives and weep over the city.  This happened in Luke 19:41.  The people also waved palm branches as Jesus rode into the city on a donkey in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9.  Today, Nisan 10 is known as Palm Sunday in the non-Jewish community.

  The lamb that was to be slain by the high priest was led into the temple and put in a prominent place of display.  Likewise, Jesus the Lamb of God went on public display when He entered the temple and spent four days there among the people, the Sadducees, the Pharisees, and the scribes, as the leaders asked Jesus their hardest questions.  Jesus was questioned in front of the people for four days, showing Himself t be without spot or blemish, fulfilling Ex. 12:5.

 On the fourteenth of Nisan, at the third hour of the day (9:00 am), the high priest took the lamb and ascended the altar so he could tie the lamb in place on the altar.  At the same time on that day, Jesus was tied to the tree on Mount Moriah (Mark 15:25).  At the time of the evening sacrifice (3:00 pm) for Passover (Ex. 12:6), the high priest ascended the altar, cut the throat of the lamb with a knife, and said the words, “It is finished.” These are the exact words said after giving a peace offering to God.  At this same time, Jesus died, saying these exact words in John 19:30.  Jesus died at exactly 3:00 pm (Matt. 27:45-46,50).

 In Exodus 12:8-9, we are told the lamb was t be roasted before sundown. According to the tractate Pesahim in the Mishnah, the lamb was roasted on an upright pomegranate stick.  This pomegranate stick is representative of the tree upon which Jesus died.  The lamb was to be gutted, and its intestines were to be removed and put over its head.  Thus, the lamb is referred to as the “crowned sacrifice.”  This is a picture of Jesus in Psa. 22:13-18.

  Deut. 16:16 says that all the congregation of Israel was required to be present at the feasts of Passover, Weeks or Pentecost, and Tabernacles.  This explains why all were gathered to witness the death of Jesus on the tree (Matt. 27:1-26).

 The night of the fifteenth of Nisan, God commanded the people to eat the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, their sandals on their feet and their bags packed and on their backs (Ex. 12:6,8,11), for on this night they are to leave Egypt.  Likewise, we are to be quick to accept Jesus into our hearts and leave Egypt, which represents the sin and idolatry of this evil world.