The whole story of the Bible points to Jesus. His ministry is clearly displayed in the New Testament and it is very evident. The Old Testament is more hidden and shown through prophecy and foreshadowings. The Passover in Exodus 12 is one of those times. Let’s explore how every instruction in this feast is a direct shadow of Jesus who is our sole substance and eternal salvation.
The Shadow of Purity: The Lamb Without Blemish
In Exodus 12:3 God gave Moses and Aaron instructions for the congregation of Israel. They were to tell them on the tenth day of the month to take a lamb. The lamb was to be without blemish (Exodus 12:5) They kept the lamb until the fourteen of the month (Exodus 12:6). The significance is that it was required to be perfect and acceptable to God. The lamb was watched closely for days ensuring it was healthy, calm and clean; making sure it met the Lords standard. Deuteronomy 17:1 states unclean sacrifice is an abomination to the Lord. Jesus went through something similar. Luke 23 gives an account for finding no fault in Jesus by Pilate and Herod. His purity made Him the only reasonable sacrifice. Hebrews 9:14 “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God…”.
The Shadow of Timing: Slain At Twilight
Exodus 12:6 requires the lamb to be killed at twilight. The Hebrew bein ha’arbayim (between two evenings) relates to the historical window between 3:00pm and 5:00 pm when the sacrifices were performed. The timing is important so the meal can be eaten after sunset. The fulfillment is mindblowing. The ninth hour: 3:00pm, the same time the lambs were being sacrificed in the temple is the same time Jesus said his last words “It is finished” and died. Coincidence. NOT.
The Shadow of Shelter: The Blood on the Doorposts
Exodus 12:7 commands the blood be applied to the two doorposts and the lintel of the house that partook in the lamb for a visible sign of protection for the family. It didn’t matter who the family was or what they owned; The only thing considered for passing over the judgement was the blood (Exodus 12:13). It required obedience and faith to listen to Moses and Aaron instructions. They also gave the same instructions to the elders in Exodus 12:21-22, only difference is he told them to take hyssop and dip it in the blood and use that for covering the door. Hyssop is used for purification and cleansing rituals. David asked God to cleanse him with hyssop (Psalm 51:7). It was also used during Jesus’ crucifixion when the soldiers offered him vinegar to drink (John 19:29). This shows that He is the ultimate sacrifice to cleanse our sin once and for all. The blood on the door showed physical protection; Jesus’ blood was eternal protection. Because of His sacrifice, we have now been justified and saved from the wrath of God (Romans 5:8-9).
The Shadow of the Meal: Purity and the Price of Freedom
Exodus 12:8 The lamb was to be roasted on the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. The unleavened bread came from Exodus 12:34 because they had to leave urgently from the land they took the dough before it was leavened. The difference is that it had no yeast. We see in scripture symbolically in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 talks about cleansing out the old leaven and in verse 8 highlights the malice and evil and shows the difference of unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. In 1 Corinthians 11:24 at the last supper Jesus took the bread (unleavened) and said “This is my body, which is for you”. He made it known that he was a sinless man. The bitter Herbs was a reminder of the bondage and slavery in Egypt. It was necessary to remember the suffering because the deliverance was not optional. This is a foreshadowing of the cost Jesus paid for us to be delivered. In the Garden of Gethsemane he asked God to take this cup from him (Matthew 26:39). This cup was God’s wrath and judgement against sin. The herbs were a temporary bitterness but Christ drinking the cup was full, eternal bitterness of the judgement we deserved but he took.
The Shadow of the Fire: Roasted, Not Boiled
Exodus 12:9 When God gives instructions we have to follow it.”Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts.”. Remember that they left in haste so practically roasting it is faster to cook it for a group of people (household). Boiling it would require the sacrifice not to remain whole as practically you would need to cut it up to fit in the pot. Also there are parts that would dissolve naturally in the water which means it’s not fully intact anymore. Spiritually roasting with fire has been associated with holiness, purity and judgement. The lamb being consumed by fire is a direct correlation to Christ taking on God’s full punishment for our sins. Which is why it was not to be eaten raw either. No fire, no cleansing; salvation can not be achieved if someone did not bear the judgment of our sin
The Shadow of the Body: No Broken Bones
Exodus 12:46 The Lord said “…and you shall not break any of its bones.”. This might not seem important but it is extremely significant because we see intentionality in God. We just saw from the other section that keeping it whole made it cook faster and kept everything intact. The physical body had to remain untouched. During crucifixions it was common practice the Roman soldiers would break the legs to speed up the death. Both the people beside Jesus’ legs were broken (John 19:32). But they didn’t break Jesus’ legs, why, because he was already dead when they came to him (John 19:33). Breaking of bones no longer leaves the body perfect. The same way the sacrificial lamb in Exodus required roasting whole, scripture was fulfilled about Jesus being the perfect sacrifice: “Not one of his bones will be broken.”(John 19:36).
From the unblemished sacrifice to the protection of the bones the instructions were intentional, direct and analogous. This establishment for this sacrificing ritual was a marker pointing to Christ. Jesus offering himself once and for all took the burden off of us and put it on him. He was our deliverance from Judgement just like the lamb was their deliverance from slavery.