The Feast of the Passover, one of the most significant observances in the Jewish calendar, serves as a profound illustration of redemption through Christ. Instituted by God in Exodus 12, the Passover commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. This event is not only a historical milestone but also a typological foreshadowing of the ultimate redemption found in Jesus Christ.

Biblical Foundation

The Passover is first detailed in Exodus 12, where God commands the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb without blemish and apply its blood to the doorposts of their homes. This act would ensure that the angel of death would "pass over" their houses during the final plague on Egypt, sparing the firstborn of Israel. The Lord instructed, "This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come" (Exodus 12:14).

Typology and Fulfillment in Christ

The Passover lamb is a direct typology of Jesus Christ, the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Just as the lamb's blood protected the Israelites from death, so does the blood of Christ redeem believers from sin and eternal death. The Apostle Paul explicitly connects Christ to the Passover, stating, "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Elements of Redemption

1. The Lamb Without Blemish: The requirement for a spotless lamb (Exodus 12:5) prefigures Christ's sinless nature. Hebrews 4:15 affirms, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin."

2. The Blood of the Lamb: The application of the lamb's blood on the doorposts symbolizes the necessity of Christ's sacrificial death. Romans 5:9 declares, "Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!"

3. Deliverance from Bondage: The Israelites' liberation from Egypt mirrors the believer's deliverance from the bondage of sin. Galatians 5:1 exhorts, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free; stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery."

4. A New Beginning: The Passover marked the beginning of a new year for Israel (Exodus 12:2), symbolizing a new life in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 proclaims, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!"

Observance and Remembrance

The Passover was to be observed annually as a perpetual reminder of God's deliverance. Similarly, Christians are called to remember Christ's sacrifice through the Lord's Supper, as instituted by Jesus during the Passover meal. "And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me'" (Luke 22:19).

Eschatological Significance

The Passover not only points back to Israel's deliverance and forward to Christ's redemptive work but also anticipates the ultimate redemption at the end of the age. Revelation 5:12 envisions a heavenly chorus proclaiming, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!"

In summary, the Feast of the Passover is a rich tapestry of redemption, woven through the history of Israel and fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It stands as a testament to God's faithfulness and the transformative power of the Lamb's sacrifice.1 Corinthians 5:7,8
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
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the heavenly feast, the glories ... the blood of Christ, who through the eternal ...
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Appendix ix. List of Old Testament Passages Messianically Applied ...
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Feast of Tabernacles ... 25 we have the following curious illustrative reference in ...
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An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... His simple but illustrative commentary"his book of Antichrist ... as the serpent beguiled
Eve through his subtilty ... the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Corinthians ...
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