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Jesus Christ, The Passover Lamb (Part 1) By Joseph Prescia 1 Corinthians 5:7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast -- as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (NIV) In order to understand what Christ accomplished as our Passover lamb, we must go back to the Old Testament to see it's significance when Passover was originally instituted by God. God had blessed his people, the children of Israel with Joseph, being second in command under Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Joseph sent for his father, Israel, and his brothers and their families and they joined Joseph in Egypt. After a period of time, Israel (Jacob) died, as well as Joseph and all his brothers. But the nation of Israel, also called the children of Israel, remained in Egypt while another Pharaoh rose up who "knew not Joseph." This new king and the people of Egypt grew afraid of the number of the children of Israel and placed them into slavery. A man of God named Moses rose up during this time to free Israel from that bondage of slavery . Moses was to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. But before they were allowed to depart, it would take several plagues to convince this new Pharaoh that they were to leave by the hand of God. In this tenth and final plague, "the destroyer" would pass over the entire land and destroy every first born of man and animal. God provided a way out for those who would obey His command. They were to kill and eat a Passover male lamb of the first year. They were instructed to eat the flesh and sprinkle the blood on the door posts and upper lintel. The destroyer would see this blood and pass over that house and not destroy their first born. Hence, it was called the "Passover" lamb. Exodus 12:1-13 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (KJV) There were 2 aspects of this Passover lamb; the flesh and the blood. The blood covered for their sins, it set them apart. The eating of the flesh brought health to their bodies. There's a record in Psalms that speaks of how strong the children of Israel were. Psalm 105:37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. (KJV) The second aspect was in the blood. The shed blood of the lamb was for the atonement or covering of their sins. Sin is simply separation from God, doing your own thing rather than God's. A blood sacrifice makes one holy, spiritually clean. Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (KJV) Without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sin. Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (KJV) People began to get sick because of the sin that had entered mankind from Adam and Eve. Originally mankind had perfect bodies and perfect blood. Pure blood had been contaminated because of disobedience. Sickness follows sin. The shedding of blood from a perfect pure sacrifice was the only way out. Originally, back in Exodus, it was the blood of a male lamb, "without spot and without blemish". The last and final Passover Lamb was our perfect, pure lord and savior, Jesus Christ. He was tempted in all ways, yet without sin. His blood was perfect. Hebrews 4:14-15 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (KJV) The timing of this event, the killing of the Passover lamb, was significant as well. It was to take place in the beginning of months called "Nisan." This month was originally called "Abib". But after the Babylonian captivity and influence, the children of Israel called it "Nisan" (See Exodus chapter 12 and Ester 3:7). They were to select the lamb on the 10th of Nisan and sacrifice it on the 14th (See Exodus 12:3-6, Leviticus 23:5, Numbers 9:3 and 5) at approximately 3pm in the afternoon (Some translations like the Septuagint, renders this, "between the evenings". See also The Works of Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, 6.9.3). Month of Nisan Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 11 (First day of 12 13 14 (Preparation, 15 (Special Sabbath- 16 17 (Weekly of the week) Passover) Feast of Unleavened Sabbath Bread begins 18 (Women appear 19 20 21 (Special Sabbath, 22 23 24 at tomb) 7-day Feast ends) In Biblical times, their new day would start at sunset, unlike ours that starts at midnight. So, at sunset on the 14th, would be the beginning of the 15th. At sunset on the 15th, would be the beginning of the 16th, etc. The Passover lamb was to be eaten the night following the 14th, which was actually the 15th. The 15th started what was known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This feast was to last for 7 days. The first day of this week long feast and the last day were "high days" or "Sabbaths". All of these technical details are significant if we are to better understand the greatness of what Christ accomplished for us in the New Testament. Exodus 12:15-20 15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. 17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. 19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. 20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. (KJV) Why was the use of leaven forbidden? "Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary" says that "The Israelites were forbidden to use "leaven" for seven days at the time of Passover, that they might be reminded that the Lord brought them out of Egypt "in haste..." (Deut. 16:3, with Exodus 12:11) The first and last days of the weeklong Feast of Unleavened Bread were special Sabbaths or High Days. In addition to these "high days" was the regular weekly Sabbath (our Saturday). This Feast began at sunset on the 14th of Nisan, which started the 15th. It lasted until the 21st of Nisan, totaling 7 days in all. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was to commemorate God delivering them from the bondage of Egypt. Month of Nisan Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 11 (First day 12 13 14 (Preparation, 15 (Special Sabbath- 16 17 (Weekly of the week) Passover Feast of Unleavened Sabbath) Bread ends) 18 (Women appear 19 20 21 (Special Sabbath, 22 23 24 at tomb) 7 day Feast ends) To conclude this section, the 14th was when the Passover lamb was slain. They ate it that evening which was the 15th. The 15th started the Feast of Unleavened Bread which lasted for 7 days. Now, with this background, we can look at "3 Days and 3 Nights." 3 Days and 3 Nights (Part 2) When Christ died, we are told that he would be in the grave for 3 days and 3 nights. Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (KJV) This is a literal 3 days and 3 nights. There are some who wrongly say that it was part days or part nights. According to E. W. Bullinger's Companion Bible (page 1249, Appendix 144): "The Hebrew idiom "three days" can be used for parts of three days (and even years): but not when the word "nights" is added...then the expression ceases to be an idiom, and becomes a literal statement of fact." This is further corroborated by the usage of the number 3. Biblically, the number 3 means completeness, Divine fullness or perfection. In E. W. Bullinger's "Number In Scripture" book on page 111 we read: "..it was on the third day that Jesus rose again from the dead...It was the third day on which he was "perfected" (Luke 13:32)...it was for 3 hours (from the 6th to the 9th) that darkness shrouded the...Redeemer...With the light at the ninth hour came the Divine declaration, "It is finished." So divinely finished, completed, and perfected, that now there is no such darkness for those who have died with Christ. Light, uninterrupted light, shines upon all who are risen with him; uninterrupted sunshine-even "the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." That 3 hours' darkness, therefore, testifies to our complete ruin, and our complete salvation, and shows that His people are "complete in him." Tradition has taught us that Jesus died on Good Friday at 3pm and was raised from the dead on Easter Sunday morning. And yet, most of us can count to three. From Friday at 3pm to Saturday at 3pm is one day. From Saturday at 3pm to Sunday morning is a half of a day. So, all we have is a day and a half total. If God said 3 days and 3 nights, He meant it. So, either the Word of God is wrong or tradition and religion are wrong. Jesus Christ our Passover completed the Old Testament. He was the end of the law because he accomplished all that was required to do so. He died on a Wednesday, the 14th of Nisan, just like the original Passover sacrifice in Exodus 12. He was raised on a Saturday, the Sabbath, the 17th of Nisan. With these truths being revealed, we can then count to three and not look so foolish in our efforts. John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. (KJV) Month of Nisan Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 11 (First day 12 13 14 (Preparation, 15 (Special Sabbath- 16 17 (Weekly of the week) Passover, Crucifixion) Feast of Unleavened Sabbath, Jesus Bread begins) raised from dead) 18 (Women appear 19 20 21 (Special Sabbath, 22 23 24 at tomb) 7-day feast ends) As we saw earlier, the 14th of Nisan (a Wednesday in our reckoning) was the preparation day. The next day, it says, was "a sabbath day... a high day". That Sabbath day was not the weekly Sabbath (our Saturday) but a special "high day". It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. There were 2 Sabbaths that week. One was on a Thursday, the 15th of Nisan and another on the 17th, the weekly Sabbath. So, with Christ being crucified on the 14th of Nisan, a Wednesday, the next day being Thursday, was indeed "a Sabbath", the start of The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also known as a "high day". This "high day" could occur on any day of the week, much like Christmas can fall on any given day of the week. Leviticus 23:6-8 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month (Nisan) is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. 7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. (KJV) There could be no work on that special "high day" because it was considered a Sabbath, a holy day, much like the weekly Sabbath. Sunset started a new day. So, all the details for the preparation had to be carried out for the Passover on the 14th, that Wednesday. Jesus Christ was sacrificed on that same Wednesday. Since no work could be performed from sunset, the 15th and forward, not only was the sacrificial lamb prepared and killed, but in Jesus' case, his body had to also be buried before sunset as well. No work was allowed after this time. Mark 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath (the special Sabbath, the high day, the day before our Thursday), (KJV) This helps to fix the proper day of the crucifixion. Three days and three nights later would be Saturday afternoon. This would be the appropriate time of the Resurrection. Because Sunday is Biblically called "the first day of the week". This would be the morning when the women came to the empty tomb. Jesus had been raised the afternoon before. They could not do any work the day before because it would have been another Sabbath, the weekly Sabbath, and our Saturday. Matthew 27:62-66 62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation (our Thursday, the special Sabbath), the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (KJV) The religious leaders of Jesus’ day knew about the 3 days. They were much more concerned about counting accurately than the religious leaders of our day. Luke 23:52-56 52 This man (Joseph of Arimathea) went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 54 And that day was the preparation (the 14th of Nisan, our Wednesday), and the sabbath (the high day, the 15th of Nisan, our Thursday) drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid (by Joseph of Arimathea). 56 And they (the women) returned, and prepared spices and ointments (the 16th of Nisan, our Friday); and rested the sabbath day (the 17th of Nisan, our Saturday) according to the commandment. (KJV) Sometime between our Saturday afternoon and sunset (this sunset started a new day, not midnight as we reckon it today) is when Jesus was raised from the dead. Sunset would be the start of the first day of the week. Luke 24:1-6 1 Now upon the first day of the week (the 18th of Nisan, our Sunday), very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared (they could work after the weekly Sabbath), and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, (KJV) There's not one record in any of the gospels that tell of Jesus' resurrection on the first day of the week, Sunday. It has been assumed that Jesus got up from the dead just shortly before the women appeared at the tomb. This does not fit with scripture. Mark 16:2-6 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. (KJV) Jesus had been raised already the afternoon before on Saturday. The women could not go to the tomb that day because they could not do any work on that Sabbath day. Jewish law forbade them, but they could go down to the tomb as soon as they could on the first day of the week, our Sunday. They did just that because it says they went there "very early in the morning." When they arrived, they found the body of Jesus to be gone already. God had raised him from the dead. The slaying of the Passover lamb took place on Wednesday. As the Jews were killing their yearly Passover sacrifice, our lord and savior, Jesus Christ lost his life on that same Wednesday afternoon, the 14th of Nisan. The next day was a special Sabbath starting at sunset. Jesus had to be buried prior to the start of this Feast of Unleavened Bread, the 15th of Nisan. Counting 3 days and 3 nights after the 14th, a Wednesday, you come to Saturday afternoon the 17th of Nisan, the regular weekly Sabbath. No work could be performed on this day either. The women had to wait until early the next morning to bring spices and oil to anoint the body of Jesus. And as we have seen, they did just that on the first day of the week, our Sunday, the 18th of Nisan. In addition to all this, "seven" is the Biblical number for spiritual perfection. Jesus was raised on the 7th day, Saturday, as our perfect lord and savior. Mankind first saw this risen savior on the first day of the week, Sunday, also known as the eighth day. "Eight" is the Biblical number for a new beginning. The life, death and resurrection of our lord and savior were a new beginning for mankind. Praise God for His wonderful perfect Word and our perfect lord and savior, Jesus Christ! Month of Nisan Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 11 (First day 12 13 14 (Preparation, 15 (Special Sabbath- 16 17 (Weekly of the week) Passover, Crucifixion) Feast of Unleavened Sabbath, Jesus Bread begins) raised from dead) 18 (Women appear 19 20 21 (Special Sabbath, 22 23 24 at tomb) 7-day feast ends) |
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| "Tradition" can not count to 3. The Scriptures tell us in Matthew 12:40 "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." We can get it right by going to the Word of God and take a look at "Jesus Christ, The Passover Lamb" in Part 1 and "3 Days and 3 Nights" in Part 2. |