Sunday School Lesson
Lesson scripture: And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. (Exodus12:14)
Introduction: Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, but before they lrft they killed a perfect lamb and placed its blood over their doorpost to save their first born. When the death angel passed all who house was covered with the blood of the lamb was spared. New testiment believers now follow the example Jesus gave and remember He is the ultimate passover lamb when ever they partake of the Lords supper. Jesus is the scrificial lamb by whom blood all must be covered with when the angel of judgment comes to judge thsi world. Are you covered in the blood of the lamb?
The Passover Lamb
Exodus 12:1-5KJV
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:
Not all months and days are created equal. While our calendar year begins on January 1st, the Jewish calendar began on the 14th of the month known as Aviv (later called Nisan). We know this as spring (March and April). To prepare God’s people for their exodus from Egypt, God told Moses and Aaron, “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.” Israel’s destiny would be attached to the calendar by one salvific act of God. Even before that act, the day of liberation was to be set aside as a key festival. Perhaps it is like a due date for a baby’s birth. The nursery is prepared, the suitcase is packed, and the name is selected in anticipation of that special birth. In many ways, Passover became the birthday of Israel. The God of the Bible is a God of sacrifice. Since the fall of humankind, God used sacrifice as a means of getting the world back. God instructed Israel to sacrifice a lamb as a part of the festival of Passover. The formula was one lamb per household. But that wasn’t intended to be a perfect science. The total number of people and the amount each person could eat also had to be calculated. Smaller households combined with larger ones. The animals used in this Passover meal were to meet certain criteria. They had to be male, one year old, and without defects. They also had to receive special care during the days leading up to their slaughter at twilight.
The Passover Meal
Exodus 12:6-11KJV
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.
The blood that was drained out of the animals also had a sacred use. This blood was applied to the doorframes of the Israelite houses. It was applied with a hyssop branch (think ancient paint brush). This blood served as a sign to God. When God saw the blood on the doorframes, he would pass over those houses.The original Passover meal was one of haste. “This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked in your belt, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand.” Israel was to eat this meal literally standing up. They were to leave Egypt shortly after eating. Therefore the staples were roasted meat, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs.This meal was most engaging. Everyone played a role—father, mother, and children. Israel’s history was rehearsed and relived. God was blessed for his saving power over the gods of Egypt. The elements of the meal were simple (like the Lord’s Supper), but the content of the celebration (party) gave God’s people their identity.
The Passover Purpose
Exodus 12:12-14KJV
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.
14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Perhaps due to the influence of the movie The Ten Commandments, we often talk about the death angel passing over Egypt. God may have used an angel to bring his judgment on Egypt. But the destroyer in this text seems to be God himself. God passed through Egypt and struck down every firstborn child and every firstborn animal. It is not wide of the mark to say that the 10 plagues were God’s judgment on the idolatry of Egypt. Israel’s God defeated the gods of Egypt. God not only passed through Egypt—he also passed over Israel. The other side of judgment is redemption. God’s people were under the blood of the lamb. This became their means of liberation. It was their birthday as a nation, so they were to commemorate it (offer it as a memorial). In many ways Passover was a kingdom preview of the party that Jesus would bring. He is the Passover lamb (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). Without the shedding of his blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus ate the Passover meal with his disciples and took old emblems and invested them with new meaning (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). When we partake of the Lord’s Supper today we are celebrating our liberation from sin. Welcome to the party.
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