Holy Week: The Passover | Exodus 12:1-27

Easter And Passover have something in common. They’re both rescue stories. Examples of God rescuing his people in epic ways. God sent Jesus to be our rescuer. But today, we begin to remember the price of our redemption. Today, we remember the Passover. I’m so glad you’re here, and I invite you to join me. in Exodus Chapter 12.

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Easter And Passover have something in common. They’re both rescue stories. Examples of God rescuing his people in epic ways. God sent Jesus to be our rescuer. But today, on the Bible for Busy People, we begin to remember the price of our redemption. Today, we remember the Passover. I’m so glad you’re here, and I invite you to join me. in Exodus Chapter 12. God is about to rescue his people, the Israelites from Egypt where they’ve been enslaved for a very long time. Pharaoh would not let them go, but God was about to show him his power. The story of Passover is a foreshadowing of the cross. It’s a glimpse of the true lamb, the lamb of God, who would give his life for the sins of the world. No longer would the people have to sacrifice animals, because Jesus would give his life, the innocent lamb of God would be slain so that you and I could be free from sin and live in peace on earth and in heaven forever with God. So, before we begin today in Exodus chapter 12, a little note here. There are so many details in this story, but I’ve decided to take the time to read them because it’s a glimpse into how detail oriented our God is. This story shows us he is very serious about sin and very Serious about how willing he was to rescue us from sin. It shows us how much we’re loved. So, here we go. Remember, as we’re reading together that the Israelites are enslaved in these moments. Exodus Chapter 12, beginning in verse one.

While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the Lord gave the following Instructions to Moses and Aaron:

Aaron was his brother.

2 “From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. 3 Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household. 4 If a family is too small to eat a whole animal, let them share with another family in the neighborhood. Divide the animal according to the size of each family and how much they can eat. 5 The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects.6 “Take special care of this chosen animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young goat at twilight. 7 They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal. 8 That same night they must roast the meat over a fire and eat it along with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat any of the meat raw or boiled in water. The whole animal—including the head, legs, and internal organs—must be roasted over a fire. 10 Do not leave any of it until the next morning. Burn whatever is not eaten before morning.11 “These are your instructions for eating this meal: Be fully dressed,[a] wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the meal with urgency, for this is the Lord’s Passover. 12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord! 13 But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.14 “This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord. This is a law for all time. 15 For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast. On the first day of the festival, remove every trace of yeast from your homes. Anyone who eats bread made with yeast during the seven days of the festival will be cut off from the community of Israel. 16 On the first day of the festival and again on the seventh day, all the people must observe an official day for holy assembly. No work of any kind may be done on these days except in the preparation of food.17 “Celebrate this Festival of Unleavened Bread, for it will remind you that I brought your forces out of the land of Egypt on this very day. This festival will be a permanent law for you; celebrate this day from generation to generation. 18 The bread you eat must be made without yeast from the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month until the evening of the twenty-first day of that month. 19 During those seven days, there must be no trace of yeast in your homes. Anyone who eats anything made with yeast during this week will be cut off from the community of Israel. These regulations apply both to the foreigners living among you and to the native-born Israelites. 20 During those days you must not eat anything made with yeast. Wherever you live, eat only bread made without yeast.”21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel together and said to them, “Go, pick out a lamb or young goat for each of your families, and slaughter the Passover animal. 22 Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down.24 “Remember, these instructions are a permanent law that you and your descendants must observe forever. 25 When you enter the land the Lord has promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony. 26 Then your children will ask, ‘What does this ceremony mean?’ 27 And you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.’” When Moses had finished speaking, all the people bowed down to the ground and worshiped.

It was the blood smeared on the doorposts of the homes that saved the Israelites; that rescued them from the angel of death. And that was the beginning of their rescue story, and the foreshadowing of the cross and the blood of Christ that was shed for you and for me. Join me next time as we sit down and share the last Supper with our Lord. Until then, you are really loved.

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