As we approach God’s Passover each year, it is beneficial to review Israel’s first Passover with its very meaningful lessons.
Lesson 1
They had to choose a lamb without blemish (Heb “tamiyn’), meaning without spot, undefiled, and perfect. This lamb represented the future sacrifice of Christ; who was perfect, without spot or blemishes, both physically and spiritually.
Thus he was a perfect sacrifice for man’s sins (Exodus 12:5). “..knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot;” (1 Peter 1:18-19 MKJV throughout). The male lamb also had to be in its “1st year.” This is the lamb’s prime time of life. We see that Christ Himself died at age 33, in His prime; an innocent sacrifice given at a time when human life is at its best.
Lesson 2
The blood of the lamb then had to be applied carefully, to both sides of the door-frame, and also on the upper cross-beam (Exodus 12:7). The Israelites of Exodus didn’t apply the blood to the bottom of the door. It symbolized the blood of Christ which also is not to be trampled on: “He who despised Moses' Law died without mercy on the word of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy of punishment, the one who has trampled the Son of God, and who has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10: 28-29).
Lesson 3
Israel had to eat a lamb within their home, with the doorways having the blood exactly applied. They were not to eat it outside the home. In their home they were protected from death. Likewise, within the spiritual temple of God, His Church, all those having the Holy Spirit will be protected from the second death. The sacrifice of Christ makes that possible.
Lesson 4
They could eat the lamb only after it was roasted by fire, accompanied by unleavened bread and bitter herbs (Exodus 12:8). The roasting by fire consumed all as Christ gave ALL of Himself for mankind. It was eaten with unleavened bread because Christ was perfect and sinless; thus the bread had to be unleavened (without sin symbolically). With bitter herbs: so that Israel would remember how they had suffered in the slavery of Egypt. Their bondage was indeed bitter, but it also pointed to the “bondage of sin” which they were leaving and which we came out of and are to stay out of.
Lesson 5
The “roasting with fire” pertained to all parts of the lamb – internal organs, bowels – ALL. This pictured the total and complete extinguishing of Christ’s life, given for all mankind (Exodus 12:9-10). The lamb was to be completely consumed; any uneaten leftovers were totally burnt with fire. No part of the lamb could thus be subject to decay or corruption; just as Christ’s body was not to be corrupted in any way. “For after he had served his own generation by the will of God, David fell asleep and was added to his fathers and saw corruption. But He whom God raised again saw no corruption” (Acts 13:36-37).
Lesson 6
The Israelites had to be fully prepared to leave Egypt in haste, the only world they had known. They would now have to look to God and live by His laws, and not look back at Egypt (Exodus 12:11). For us, the meaning is clear: we come out of this world and never look back.
That first Passover contains powerful lessons for us. Today, the symbols for the New Testament Passover are modified. But the lessons of the first Passover give us great meaning and appreciation for the greatness of Christ’s sacrifice.
It is for us now and for many billions who never knew Him, and will not until the millennium and Last Great Day.
The symbolic lessons spiritually applied for the New Testament age is what God still requires of His people today. Because God is the same, yesterday, today and forever.
