Jesus Christ Our Passover Lamb
There is no greater love than a man that is willing to lay down his life for a friend. Our Lord Jesus Christ left his throne in Heaven, clothed himself in the frailty of human flesh, and died a horrible death in order to provide redemption for us. For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son, so that whosoever believes in him, should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). It was no small sacrifice that our Lord made upon the cross of Calvary, for he gave his very life, so that we may live with him in the eternal Kingdom of God. Redemption means to redeem or purchase something. Christ was literally buying us back from Satan through his sacrifice upon the cross.
Because of the disobedience of Adam, the earth fell from perfection into corruption, and Satan became the prince and power of this fallen world. However, Christ became the second Adam, in that through his obedience to the Father, he provided eternal life to all who will make him Lord of their life.
Jesus Christ (Messiah) is our Passover lamb. On the day of preparation, when the Jews killed, as well as prepared the lamb for the Passover meal, our Lord was crucified. Through the shed blood of our Lord, provision was made for sins to be passed over. To properly understand the atonement that Christ provided, we must understand the Hebrew sacrificial system, as well as the holy feasts, and how they were fulfilled by our Messiah.
The Passover lamb had to be spotless and without defect, or God would reject it. The blood sacrifice of the lamb was symbolic of the sacrifice of God’s sinless son upon the cross. Christ was tempted in every way that we are, yet he remained the only sinless man ever to walk the earth. Christ was the only man who could take our place upon the cross.
Following the feast of Passover (commemoration of when God passed over the homes of the Hebrews during the slaughter of the firstborn of Egypt) is the week of unleavened bread. During this holy week, the Hebrews would remove all leaven from their homes, as well as only eat unleavened bread. Leaven was similar to yeast, in that it made bread rise, and it is symbolic of sin. So prior to this holy week, the Hebrews would clean their homes top to bottom, as well as remove all food that contained leaven. This was symbolic of removing sin from their lives. Salvation begins with true repentance of sins. When we make Jesus Christ the Lord of our lives through faith in his atonement upon the cross, he washes us clean, and all of our sins are removed.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
When Christ died upon the cross, the veil in the temple was torn apart. The temple veil covered the entrance to the Holy of Holies. Only the Levitical priest was permitted to enter this most inner chamber. The Ark of the Covenant was kept there. The priest would sprinkle blood upon the mercy seat, between the two cherubim, on top of the Ark. This was done to cleanse the tabernacle, as well as make atonement for the sins of the people. The high priest would offer up an animal sacrifice for himself, as well as the people. When Christ made atonement for our sins upon the cross, his blood was sprinkled upon the mercy seat in Heaven. Christ, our high priest made the final sacrifice for sins. Since the veil was torn from top to bottom in the temple, we now have access to the Holy of Holies (God). The veil of separation between God and man has been removed forever. It was, and is, the custom of the Jews, to wear a Tallit (Hebrew prayer shawl) upon their heads when praying, or reading from the Torah, or the Prophets. However, under the New Covenant, it is a shame for a man to cover his head, because the veil of the Mosaic Law has been removed.
The atonement of Christ also provided for the healing of our bodies. God’s Word states that He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and by His stripes, we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). Christ was scourged with the Roman cat of nine tails. This device had nine leather straps with bone and metal in each strap. Many men died from this type of torture, but our Lord endured it. His stripes provide healing for our physical bodies. God’s Word says that if there be any sick among you to call for the elders, to anoint with oil and pray over the sick, and the prayer of faith will restore them, and if they have committed sins they will be forgiven (James 5:14,15).
Faith is required for healing. When Christ healed the sick and cast out demons, he said that their faith has made them well. When Christ saw the faith of the paralytic, he healed him and said, “Your sins are forgiven you." When Christ healed the two blind men, he said, “According to your faith let it be to you." In some cases, sickness is the result of personal sins. Christ told some of the people that he healed that their sins were forgiven them. When seeking God for a healing, it is good to examine yourself and repent of sins in your life. Sins such as un-forgiveness, hatred, or strife, may block your healing. Faith accompanied by obedience to Christ, is necessary for your breakthrough.
(Matt 9:2) Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."
(Matt 9:27) When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" 28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you."
However, sickness is not always the result of sin. Jesus passed by a man who was blind from birth and his disciples asked him who sinned that this man was born blind. Jesus told them that no one sinned; he was born blind so that the works of God, should be revealed in him. This passage shows that sickness, or deformity, is not always the result of personal sin, but is the result of living in a fallen world (John 9:1-3). There are gifts of healings that God grants to many of his children (1 Cor 12:9). However, not everyone is healed, God grants healings according to his will and timing. The prophet Elisha died from an illness when he was old, also Jacob’s wife Rachel died in childbirth, and their deaths were not the result of sin, or punishment.
The Lord is willing to forgive us of all of our sins, no matter how big they are, if we will repent and turn from them. The Lord is very patient, as well as merciful with each of us; he gives us time to grow in our Christian walk. Will you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior? There is Heaven to be gained, as well as Hell to be avoided. If we repent of our sins, as well as make confession of our faith in Christ, we shall be saved, as long as we continue in that faith unto the end. If you would like to accept Christ into your heart then please pray with me.
Lord Jesus Christ,
I believe that you are the Son of God, the creator of all things.
I believe that you died upon the cross for my sins, and I ask you to forgive me of all of my sins, as I turn from them to everlasting life.
I believe that the Father raised you from the dead, and that by accepting you as my Savior, you will also raise me from the dead when you return.
Please help me to overcome sin and to become a new creation in you.
Lord Jesus, please send your Holy Spirit now to live within me now.
In the most holy name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen!
This prayer alone will not save your soul, unless you pray with sincerity, as well as conviction. Accepting Christ into your heart is the beginning of your Christian walk, not the end. You must remain in the faith, study your Bible, as well as grow spiritually. The Holy Spirit is our helper, counselor, and friend, he is the portion of God’s Spirit that indwells us.
Please consider these Scriptures in regard to salvation.
(Romans 10:9) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
( 1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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(John 15:1) “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
(1 Timothy 6: 11) But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
(2 Cor 7:10) For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
(Luke 15:7) I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
(1 Cor 6:9) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
