Topical Encyclopedia
The title "Our Passover" ascribed to Christ is deeply rooted in the typology of the Old Testament Passover event and finds its fulfillment in the New Testament. This title is primarily derived from the Apostle Paul's epistle to the Corinthians, where he explicitly states, "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (
1 Corinthians 5:7). This designation encapsulates the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, drawing a parallel between the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt and the salvation of believers from sin.
Old Testament BackgroundThe Passover was instituted in
Exodus 12, where God commanded the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb without blemish and apply its blood to the doorposts of their homes. This act of faith would spare them from the judgment that was to come upon Egypt, as the Lord passed over the houses marked by the blood. The Passover lamb thus became a symbol of deliverance and divine protection.
Fulfillment in ChristIn the New Testament, Jesus is identified as the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover lamb. His sacrificial death on the cross is seen as the means by which believers are delivered from the bondage of sin and the impending judgment of God. The Apostle John records John the Baptist's proclamation, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (
John 1:29), further affirming Jesus as the sacrificial lamb.
Theological SignificanceThe title "Our Passover" emphasizes several key theological themes:
1.
Substitutionary Atonement: Just as the Passover lamb was a substitute for the firstborn of Israel, Christ's death serves as a substitutionary atonement for sinners. His blood, like that of the lamb, marks believers, signifying their redemption and protection from divine wrath.
2.
Redemption and Deliverance: The Passover event was a pivotal moment of liberation for the Israelites. Similarly, Christ's sacrifice is the means by which believers are redeemed from the slavery of sin and granted freedom in Him.
3.
Covenantal Fulfillment: The Passover was a covenantal sign for Israel, and in Christ, the new covenant is established. His blood, shed for many, inaugurates this new covenant, as He declared at the Last Supper, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (
Matthew 26:28).
4.
Eschatological Hope: The Passover not only looked back to the deliverance from Egypt but also forward to the ultimate redemption. In Christ, believers have the hope of eternal life and the promise of a future exodus from the presence of sin and death.
Liturgical and Ecclesial ImplicationsThe celebration of the Lord's Supper, or Communion, is a continual reminder of Christ as "Our Passover." The breaking of bread and sharing of the cup symbolize His body and blood, commemorating His sacrificial death and the believer's participation in His redemptive work. The Apostle Paul exhorts the church to "keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (
1 Corinthians 5:8), urging believers to live in the purity and holiness that Christ's sacrifice enables.
In summary, the title "Our Passover" richly conveys the depth of Christ's sacrificial love and the comprehensive nature of His redemptive work, drawing believers into a profound understanding of their salvation and calling in Him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
1 Corinthians 5:7Purge 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
Library
Hymns and Spiritual Songs
... Hymn 1:147. The names and titles of Christ, from several scriptures. Hymn 1:148.
As the 148th Psalm. ... Hymn 2:155. Christ our passover. Hymn 2:156. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/hymns and spiritual songs/
An Index to Find any Hymn by the Title or Contents of It.
... to by angels, 2:112, 2:113; miracles at the birth of Christ, 2:136 ... his life, death,
and resurrection, 2:137; and Moses, 1:49, 1:118; names and titles, 1:147 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/watts/hymns and spiritual songs/an index to find any.htm
Indexes and Tables
... [1449]112, [1450]113; miracles at the birth of Christ, ii. ... and Moses, i. [1453]49,
[1454]118; names and titles, i. [1455]147, [1456]148, [1457]149; ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/indexes and tables.htm
The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts
... From several scriptures. HYMN 148 The names and titles of Christ. From several
scriptures. HYMN 149 The offices of Christ. ... HYMN 155 Christ our passover. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/
The Gospels
... The titles, taken by themselves, are therefore compatible with the ... and that he had
prefixed the names of the ... they showed that they believed that Christ died on ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter ii the gospels.htm
Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of John
... Interpreted by the Same Method as the Other Titles of Christ ... is to Be Paid to the
Proper Names in Scripture ... 8. How Christ Abides with Believers to the End of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/
The Pentateuch.
... The Hebrew titles of the several books are taken ... are] the names; or more briefly:
Shemoth, names. ... the Mosaic economy, for it prefigured Christ our great High ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xix the pentateuch.htm
The Lord's Supper
... What names and titles in Scripture are given to the sacrament? ... This sours our holy
things. Will a humble Christ be received into a proud heart? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/4 5 the lords supper.htm
Homilies on the Gospel of John.
... Christ, His humility, [214]13, [215]204; His condescension ... 68; showed His authority
in changing names, [242]ib ... ib.; His humility and meekness our example, [554 ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homilies on the gospel of.htm
Christ a Complete Saviour:
... are his, and that by the best of titles: 'Thine they ... has said already, 'I will not
take up their names into my ... Then, hence, I infer that Christ is not only the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christ a complete saviour .htm
Resources
What is the name of God? | GotQuestions.orgIs it biblical to call the wife of a pastor, elder, or bishop the First Lady of the church? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of “Everlasting Father” in Isaiah 9:6? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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